Lesson plan based on Mummy Case

Calculate the size of a mummy case and its contents using ancient Egyptian measurements.

Skills and Focus: Measuring, Calculation

Subject Area: Mathematics

Thematic Connection: Counting and Calculating

Grade Level: Elementary School

Time Needed: 90 minutes

Objectives

• Practice measuring in different systems.

• Convert between different measuring systems.

Instructional Materials Needed

21" strip of stiff cardboard (about 2" wide)

3/4" digit and 3" palm templates

Felt-tipped pen

Yardstick or meter stick

Construction paper (or packing paper in one meter wide rolls)

Egyptian cubit measures and Egyptian number chart:

http://www.dia.org/education/egypt-teachers/mathsci/tanke/activity.html

Activity

Step 1: Students can make cubit measuring sticks by marking the cardboard strips in 3/4" intervals (digits) and 3" intervals (palms). Every fourth digit mark should be made more prominent (longer and darker) to mark a palm. Mark the palms on the ruler in Egyptian numbers.

Step 2: Mark out the size of the mummy case on a piece of construction paper (length = 3 cubits, 1 span, 1 digit; width = 5 palms, 1 digit). Measure the size of the mummy case using the meter or yardstick.

Step 3: Working in pairs, have students trace outlines of objects in the classroom on construction paper. Use the cubit ruler to measure the height and width of each object. Cut out the images. Have students estimate which objects will fit into the case and which ones will be too long or too wide. Have students compare each object to the mummy case. How accurate were their estimates?

Goals

This activity meets Illinois State Goal 6: Demonstrate and apply a knowledge and sense of numbers, including basic arithmetic operations, number patterns, ratios, and proportions.

This activity meets Illinois State Goal 7: Estimate, make and use measurements of objects, quantities, and relationships and determine acceptable levels of accuracy.

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