Release week Feb. 19, 2007: Pyramids

Standards

·        Social Studies: Students will identify important buildings in the newspaper.

·        History: Students will report on theories of how the pyramids were constructed.

·        Art, Math, History: Students will create scale models of pyramids.

Activities

1.     Use the News: The pyramids were very important buildings for the ancient Egyptians. What important buildings do we have today? Identify important architecture in today’s society as mentioned or shown in a newspaper. What is it? Why is it important? Is there anything unique about its shape or construction?

2.     The building blocks of the pyramids were large and very heavy. How might the Egyptians have moved them to the building site? Where did they come from? How far were they moved? How did they lift them higher and higher as the pyramids was built. Do some reserch and report on your information. Draw diagrams to explain the methods.

3.     Create a “scale” cardboard model of a specific pyramid or a whole group of them at Giza. Each group of students in your class could choose a section or building in the area to re-create. Then all the parts could be assembled to form a landscape model of Giza. The models could be small, for example, 10mm = 1 foot, or (if you have room) it would be really fun to use a large scale, such as 1 cm (model size) = 1 foot (real size). The large size would require pieces of cardboard up to 6 feet long, such as refrigerator boxes. Large or small, plan your model with diagrams on paper, including the exact measurements you’ll need. Then bring your materials to class and construct your buildings. You might want to include a few properly sized people, camels and palm trees to give it a sense of size.

World of Wonder meets many state educational standards. This guide helps teachers identify standards and related activities generally intended for grade 6, but teachers can modify activities to the appropriate grade level.