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A Lesson on Egypt Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite
A Lesson on Egypt Grade: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Emily Girard
Lesson Length: 1 hour 45 minutes
Keywords/Tags: Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, Main Idea, A Lesson on Egypt
Lesson Description: Students will carefully read the selected passage several times before using details from the text and author's reason to carefully reflect on the article. The readings in this activity will teach students about Egypt's rich history and modern day challenges. The discussion, writing, and vocabulary activities in the lesson will promote the development of several English language arts skills. Students will able to determine the main idea, use context clues to understand grade level vocabulary, use key details from the passage to make inferences, and carefully reflect on the passage to draw conclusions.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.2: Determine the main idea of a text and explain how it is supported by key details; summarize the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.8: Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.9: Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
 
     
     
 
Lesson Content: Reading
Instructions: Please read the following reading passage as many times as needed (aloud and silent) before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of this passage is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this content. Feel free to print the passage if needed.

Egypt

Egypt is a country in Africa. It is at the north part of the continent. The north side of Egypt borders the Mediterranean. East of it is the Red Sea, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west. Other countries are on its other sides. It is in a very special location. It is a place that is close to Asia. 

The capital of Egypt is Cairo. That is a really great city. It has been an important city for a long time. It is the largest city in Africa. If you visit that city, you will find a very modern place. You will see many cars. You will see many businesses, schools, and homes. 

About 82 million people live in Egypt. They have a rich history. Long ago, Egyptians made this the greatest place in the world. They built pyramids. These very smart people invented ways to farm. 

Long ago, Egyptians were wonderful leaders. They built great buildings. They set up schools. They invented a special way of writing. That was called hieroglyphics. They looked like pictures instead of alphabet letters. 

You will still see hieroglyphics in Egypt today. But they are not used to read and write. They are a part of history. Egypt has a long history. It has been a leader for a long time. If you read Egypt’s history, you will know how great this country has been. 

Today most Egyptians live near the banks of the Nile River. This is where the only good land to farm is. It’s a great place to live. There are other parts that are difficult to live—they are deserts. So not many people live there. 

About half of Egypt's residents live in cities. Those big cities are in the area of the Nile River. If you go to Cairo, the biggest city, you will find millions of people. 

Egypt has had some problems. There have been wars. There have been problems of poverty. Poor people in the cities need jobs. They need homes. Egypt is working to solve those problems. 

Egypt is making its schools better. The school leaders are making plans to help students learn more. They are planning ways to help parents help their children learn more, too. 

Egypt is a great country. It has a wonderful history. It will have a great future because people are working hard. They are working together to get more jobs and homes. 
 
     
     
 
Task 1: Vocabulary Activity (40 points)
Instructions: Please complete the following vocabulary activity by choosing the correct meaning of each word selected from the passage and use of each word correctly in a sentence.
Vocabulary Questions
Word/Phrase: banks | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q1 "Today most Egyptians live near the banks of the Nile River. This is where the only good land to farm is." What does the word "banks" mean in this sentence?
A. A business where money is deposited or loaned
B. A place where children attend school
C. The land alongside a river *
D. A difficult task
Which one of the sentences below uses the work "bank" correctly?
A. We went to the bank to deposit our money.
B. Jessica and I sat on the river bank and watched the fish swim by. *
C. A bank of cloud was building up in the dark sky.
D. My mother instructed me to visit the bank after school.
Word/Phrase: history | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q2 "Egypt has a long history. It has been a leader for a long time." What does the word "history" mean in this sentence?
A. Past events *
B. A story about the future
C. Fake or made up events
D. The time it takes to complete a task
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "history" correctly?
A. I lost my history at the park yesterday.
B. I did not turn in my history at school today.
C. I found my history hidden deep in my bedroom dresser.
D. Our class studied the history of Mexico. *
Word/Phrase: hieroglyphics | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q3 "They invented a special way of writing. That was called hieroglyphics." What does the word " hieroglyphics" mean in this sentence?
A. An ancient style of dance
B. A writing system that uses symbols and pictures *
C. A traditional food item used in many different cultures
D. A traditional writing utensil
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "hieroglyphics" correctly?
A. Due to my poor grades, I was not allowed to visit the hieroglyphics.
B. I asked Timothy if I could borrow his hieroglyphic after class.
C. Historians identified the symbols and pictures written on the pyramid wall as hieroglyphics. *
D. I could not find my beloved hieroglyphics anywhere in my room.
Word/Phrase: desert | Tier: 3 | Points: 10
Q4 "There are other parts that are difficult to live—they are deserts. So not many people live there." What does the word "desert" mean in this sentence?
A. A warm and dry area of land *
B. A delicious food treat eaten after dinner
C. An abandoned place
D. A cold place with heavy rainfall
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "desert" correctly?
A. I was not allowed to have desert before dinner.
B. Grace was taught to never desert her friends.
C. I found my lost desert in my backpack.
D. Hanna wiped away her sweat as she hiked through the dry Saharan desert. *
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4,
 
     
     
 
Task 2: Discussion Activity (30 points)
Instructions: This discussion forum will have questions for students to respond. Read the posted questions, and respond to each. Students are responsible for posting one initial and and two peer responses for each topic.
  Topic Title Replies
Message Why do Egyptians live near the Nile River?
The author says, "Today most Egyptians live near the banks of the Nile River." Why do many Egyptians choose to live near the Nile River?
Sent on: Feb 14, 2019 by: Emily Girard		 0
Message Determine the main idea
What was the main idea of the text? Use details from the text to explain your answer.
Sent on: Feb 14, 2019 by: Emily Girard		 0
Message How did the author support his claim...
How did the author support his claim that  "Egyptians were wonderful leaders"? Use the evidence and reason presented in the text to support the author's claim.

 


Sent on: Feb 14, 2019 by: Emily Girard		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.8,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (30 points)
Instructions: The author explains how Egypt is a wonderful country with a rich history, however, the country has been troubled by modern day problems. Write two organized paragraphs explaining how Egypt should address their current issues and solve their modern day problems. You may use examples from the text to support your answer. Be sure to also use your own conclusions and inferences developed through careful relfection on the text to support your answer.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.9,
 
     

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