Lesson plan based on Model Boat

Research ancient and contemporary Egypt and build a Web site that shows the cultural importance of selected towns, monuments, and sights along the Nile River.

Skills and Focus: Research, Writing, Illustrating, Geography, Web Development

Subject Area: English Language Arts

Thematic Connection: Transportation

Grade Level: Secondary School

Time Needed: Three 50-minute class periods

Objectives

• Research the upper and lower kingdoms of Egypt and some of the various towns, monuments, and sights along the Nile.

• Work in small groups to explore in detail specific places along the Nile.

• Understand the cultural importance of different places along the Nile through the creation of an interactive Web site.

Instructional Materials Needed

Stories: Boats in Ancient Egypt and Egyptian Culture

Map

Print resources on ancient and modern Egypt:

• Ganeri, Anita. Focus on Ancient Egyptians. New York: Gloucester Press, 1993. Pp. 4-5

• Harris, Geraldine. Cultural Atlas for Young People: Ancient Egypt. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 1990. (maps throughout).

• Bentley IV, John J. Egypt Guide. Cold Spring Harbor, NY: Open Road Publishing, 1998.

• Exploring Egypt, 2^nd ed. New York: Fodor's Travel Publications, 1998.

• Haag, Michael. Egypt, 2^nd ed. London: Cadogan Books, 1998.

• Insight Guide: Egypt, 5^th ed. London: Insight Guides, APA Publications, 1998.

• Knopf Guides: Egypt. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 1995.

Richardson, Dan. Egypt: The Rough Guide, 3^rd ed. London: Rough Guides, Inc., 1996.

Activity

Step 1:. Divide students into groups of two or three. Each group should use print and online resources to decide which sites they wish to explore. Possibilities include but are not limited to Rosetta, Memphis, Giza, Saqqara, Dendera, Valley of the Kings, Aswan, Thebes, and Cairo. Research should answer questions like these:

• Why is this place important?

• When was it constructed or founded?

• What are the most interesting aspects of this place?

• Is this place part of ancient or modern Egypt?

• If the place is a remnant of ancient Egyptian culture, what happened there?

• What historical figures are associated with it?

• What kinds of Egyptian art and artifacts can be seen there?

• If the place is part of modern Egypt, why was it constructed?

• How important is the place in current life? Do people live in, work in, or visit this place?

Step 2: When each group has chosen a place, students should begin building their Web pages by gathering pictures and using their research to write captions for the pictures. Pictures may come from other Web sites or be scanned from books and magazines. Groups should work together to include clickable maps that will highlight each group’s place and take users to the appropriate pages.

Step 3: Working together, groups should plan the structure of the Web site, assemble each group’s pages, and build the site. When the site is complete, make it available to all students at the school as a resource for information on ancient and modern Egypt.

Goals

This activity meets Illinois State Goal 1: Read for understanding and fluency.

This activity meets Illinois State Goal 3: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.

 

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