Exploring the Pyramids WebQuery

Exploring the Pyramids

A WebQuery for 2nd Grade

Designed by

Naomi Zornes
zornesn@cwu.edu

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Introduction

In this unit, we are going to explore the ancient pyramids of Egypt. Throughout these lessons we will learn about the Pharaohs that ruled Egypt, how the pyramids were built, who were buried in them, and the mummification process. On the classroom blog, and on handouts given in class, you will have access to links to look inside a pyramid and find out if there were hidden secret passages in the pyramids and discuss what those might have been used for. Be prepared to become archeologists and discover the hidden secrets of Ancient Egypt!

What does it look like inside a pyramid?

What is kept inside pyramids? Why?

Did you find any secret passages?

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Task

By the end of this unit, students will be able to understand what it looks like inside a pyramid, what was kept in the pyramids, what went into the embalming and mummification process. The students will choose between the tasks listed below to create an end project that they will present to the class at the end of the unit.

The task could be a:

• Create a diagram of a pyramid, include details about the inside
• summarize the process of mummification
• persuasive message or journalistic account to be crafted;
• Students will create their own mummy
   

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The Process

• First, as a class, we will explore the parts of a pyramid.
• Second, we will talk about the how leading from the chambers are secret passages.
• Third, we will discuss the mummification process.
• I want to start off by finding out what background information the students have on ancient Egypt.
• To start off, I will introduce an Eye Witness book about ancient Egypt to the class. I will read parts and have several copies to pass around for the students to explore.
• I will use the school library to find the Eye Witness books, and take the students there weekly for their own library purposes but also encourage them to find books on ancient Egypt.
• I will introduce the web pages to the students, give them a run through of the information that the websites hold, and how to find a good, credited website.
• After going to the classroom blog site, I will show students were I have posted all of the information for this lesson and any and all websites that could be helpful to the students when they begin their projects.
• There will be pictures and graphics of what the inside of a pyramid looks like and the parts that are included.
• Students will be encouraged to find their own information, but will also have access to anything posted on the blog.
• After we have gone over all of the information and learned about the topic, I will introduce the options for the final project and the students will have the chance to choose which project they think best fits them.

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Resources

http://www.kingtutone.com/pyramids/inside/ Inside the Pyramid: This link gives a description of each of the chambers, the Queen’s chamber, King’s chamber, underground chamber, shafts and the Grand Gallery.

·         http://hem.passagen.se/nightwin/nondoggy/egypt/epyramid.htm A Look Inside the Pyramids: In this link, students will read about a first hand account of a trip through the pyramid of Cheops.

·          http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/pyramidchambers.htm Secret Passages:  Inside this link, students will find a detailed  description of what the inside of the pyramid looks like and in each room, the paths that lead to and from the chamber. Within these pathways were hidden secret passage ways.

·         http://kids.discovery.com/games/just-for-fun/mummy-maker Mummy Maker: Through this link, students will be able to play an interactive role in the mummification process. They will be able to experience the what went on when someone died in ancient Egypt.

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Evaluation

At the end of the unit, we will have a presentation of learning that all students will be able to showcase the project they have chosen to complete with the community the knowledge they have gained through an open house. Students will be able to display their projects for their parents and peers to see. Each student will be graded on a rubric for their project.

Describe to the learners how their performance will be evaluated. Provide students with a clear understanding of the grading criteria which will be used to evaluate their project.

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Conclusion

Throughout this lesson, students have learned about the pyramids of ancient Egypt. They have learned the traditions that go along with a sacred burial, the pharaohs that were kept in the pyramids, and the parts and passages of the great pyramids. By completing their activity, I hope that this subject has become more personalized to each student and they have created lasting memories and knowledge of this experience.

Valentines Day

Valentines day is coming up soon! And if you're like me, this is the time when you get really crafty with your gifts! Regular store bought valentines are great, but they are so generic, and really have no thought put into them. There are some great little crafts out there that are easy to make out of things you probably already have around your house, or out of things that you can get for free! What is better than that!?

   

The first craft is so easy to make, and any teacher knows they have TONS of extra broken crayons laying around the house or classroom. Simply remove the wrapping from the crayons and chop them up into small 1/2 inch peices and place into a rubber heart shapped cookie pan. Cook the crayons at 230 degrees for 15 minutes then let cool. Voila! you have made a cute, more personal valentine for everyone in your class!

 

These cute owl valentines are a great craft idea to do with your class around valentines day. Students are always excited to take valentines a valentine home to thier parents. Print out the pattern onto colored paper for the students to cut out and let them make thier own owl. Encourage them to add something to make thier owl unique.

For younger students, make di-cuts in the shapes they'll need and have them glue them together. Another way to add a little fun to the owl valentines is to use google eyes instead of crate paper.

 

 I know I've posted these before, but I just think they are a great gift for your students. All you need are free paint swatches (available at most stores) ribbon, and a cute hole punch. There you go! Three cute activities and crafts for Valentines Day!

This Book is So.....

If you've ever been in a classroom where the teacher assigned a book to the class, you know the reaction that the student's have. It doesn't matter if the book is an amazing work of literature, the students are never excited about assigned readings. Another problem you may run into, is a student has already read the book you are wanting to present. Use this to your advantage!!!

Create a board in your classroom where students can post books they have read and want to suggest to other students. On the sticky note, have them write the title, author and why they liked the book. Explain to them that the sticky note should not give away the end of the book, or any important parts, but should make the reader want to find out what happens in the story.
Another discussion you should have with your class before putting up this board, is the difference between fiction and non fiction books. The fiction side of your board will always have more books on it, but encourage students to read biographies about important people they are interested about, those count as non fiction too!
When a student is struggling to find a new book, encourage them to go look at the board, read some sticky notes and find a book that sounds interesting to them. At the beginning of the year, the students will need reminders to look at the board, but by the end of the year, students will be searching on their own through the sea of notes to find a book they haven't read yet.

Storytelling Bags

 

When you introduce storytelling to students, they may have a hard time with it at frist. Students may not know what story to tell, or how they want to tell it. By making pre-made story bags, students may use the props to help them tell the story with more creativity and less stress.

All you need to make a story bag, is some kind of background to set the story, some characters on long stir sticks (can get for free at Starbucks), and a small plate holder to hold up the background.

Encourage students to exaggerate once they are comfortable telling their story. Another idea would be to switch up the characters in the story, or change the background and encourage students to come up with a new story.

Make Your Own Rock Candy

I remember making these when I was in elementary school, and it was a great science experiement that we got to eat at the end! What is better than that?

What You Will Need:

• A wooden skewer (chopsticks work too)
• A clothespin
• 1 cup of water
• 2-3 cups of sugar
• a tall narrow glass or jar

How You Make It:

• Clip the wooden skewer into the clothespin so that it hands down inside the glass and is about 1 inch from the bottom of the glass.
• Remove the skewer and clothespin and put them aside for now.
• (With the help of an adult) Pour the water into a pan and bring it to boil.
• Pour about 1/4 cup of sugar into the boiling water, stirring until it dissolves.
• Keep adding more and more sugar, each time stirring it until it dissolves, until no more will dissolve. This will take time and patience and it will take longer for the sugar to dissolve each time.Be sure you don't give up too soon. Once no more sugar will dissolve, remove it from heat and allow it to cool for at least 20 minutes. 
•  Have your adult carefully pour the sugar solution into the jar almost to the top. Then submerge the skewer back into the glass making sure that it is hanging straight down the middle without touching the sides.\
• Allow the jar to fully cool and put it someplace it will not be disturbed.
• Now just wait. The sugar crystals will go over the next 3-7 days.

Why It Works:

When you mixed the water and sugar you made a super saturated solution. This means that the water could only hold the sugar if both were very hot. As the water cools the sugar "comes out" of the solution back into sugar crystals on your skewer. The skewer (and sometimes the glass itself) act as a "seed" that the sugar crystals start to grow on. With some luck and patience you will have a tasty scientific treat! Enjoy! 

Extras To Do In Your Class:

Because this experiment will take a few days, in their science journals, have students record their rock candies progress. You should encourage students to write a descriptive paragraph about what they see in the jar, and to draw a picture to accompany their description.

Reading Nooks

Reading nooks are great in the classroom. Student's should be able to read anywhere, but having a special place to read, whether it be in their home or in the classroom, it should be a special place where only reading takes place.

Reading Lagoon:

One way to make a special reading nook. All you need is a plastic pool, some fun pillows, maybe a throw blanket and an umbrella. It makes a fun, tropical themed reading space in the classroom that students would be excited to go to during Daily 5 or any other reading time. 

Reading Igloo:

At the beginning of the year, send home a letter to parents asking them to rinse and save their old milk cartons. When it starts getting cold, have the parents start to drop off their milk cartons so you as a class can start building your milk carton igloo. Once your igloo is built, toss in some pillows, a lamp, and a blanket to make it cozy. 

 Bathtub Nook:

I had a professor in college who told us that every elementary classroom she's ever had, she had a claw foot bathtub that her student's could read in. I love this idea, filling it with pillows, cushons, blankets, and other warm fuzzy things. 

For all of these reading nooks, it might be a good idea to have a classroom schedule for who gets to use these nooks and when. This will keep to many kids from trying to use the nooks at the same time and damaging them. 

 

 

Paint Swatch Activities

 

Paint swatches are amazing! And they're free!!! There are so many great ways you can use paint swatches in your classroom!

 Easy way for making groups:

 Depending on the sizes of groups you want, have three or four of the same color swatches in the mix, and have student's choose a color.  Student's with the same colors make up a group! 

K-W-L Chart:

It's easy to make a K-W-L charts, but the with the cost of paper going up, and the restrictions in schools on printing getting tighter, finding little ways to cut corners and find a better way  to do things is essential! Paint swatches with three sections are great for K-W-L charts! Even swatches with four sections can work for K-W-L charts, on the bottom section, add a "still want to find out?" section for students to use if they still have questions after the lesson so you know what to cover next time!

Bookmarks:

Paint swatches also make great bookmarks! I've been using random paint swatches as bookmakrs for years, but I never thought of adding a bit of ribbon to the top and adding some cute hole punches to spice them up a bit! These make a great gift for your students for Valentines Day, Christmas, Halloween, almost any holiday!