LessonFarm.Com
Home | Search/Browse Lessons | Questions? 		Welcome Guest
Login | Register
     
 
All about Egypt Export Lesson as PDF | Save As Favorite
All about Egypt Grade: Grade 4
Subject: English Language Arts
Created by: Lynn Krivoruchka
Lesson Length: 2 hours
Keywords/Tags: Banks, Pyramids, Hieroglyphics, Present, Future
Lesson Description: This lesson is designed to help students about Egypt. To understand a little about the past and what the present and future hold. Learning how to do a little research and citations as well. Seeing if they understood what the passage was saying about Egypt and how it got to where it is now.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.4: Determine the meaning of general academic and domain-specific words or phrases in a text relevant to a grade 4 topic or subject area.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.9: Integrate information from two texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2b: Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.
 
     
     
 
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 (20 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: Pyramids | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q1 The author of this passage says, "They built pyramids." What does the word pyramids mean in this sentence?
A. Block of Marble put together
B. A stack of cheerleaders
C. Block of stone/sand put together *
D. Rocks put together
From the meaning of pyramid above, which sentence means the opposite of the meaning?
A. They built the pyramids out of marble
B. The Cheerleaders but a pyramid for the crowd. *
C. They built pyramids in math class today
D. They built the pyramids in Egypt.
Word/Phrase: Hieroglyphics | Tier: 3 | Points: 5
Q2 "They invented a special way of writing. That was called hieroglyphics." What does the word "hieroglyphics" mean?
A. Invented way of writing *
B. Writing in a cursive
C. Writing on a wall
D. Special Cursive writing
In the sentences below, which one uses the word, "hieroglyphics" correctly?
A. My friend and I made up hieroglyphics so we could talk to each other. *
B. Our pets names are made up of hieroglyphics.
C. My teacher writes in hieroglyphics.
D. Hieroglyphics do not need to be made up to know what they are.
Word/Phrase: Banks | Tier: 2 | Points: 10
Q3 The author in the passage says, "Today most Egyptians live near the banks of the Nile River." What does the word "banks" mean in this sentence?
A. The side of a sidewalk
B. Where you can deposit money
C. The side of the beach
D. The side of a river *
Which one of the sentences below uses the word "banks" correctly?
A. I went to the bank to cash my check today.
B. I was playing on the river bank after school today. *
C. I hit the bank of a sidewalk while running today.
D. I played on the beach bank while on vacation.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.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 What would you use?
If you where to build a pyramid in todays time, what type of material would you use?
Sent on: Feb 26, 2017 by: Lynn Krivoruchka		 0
Message Hieroglyophics
If you could create your own hierpglyphics what would they look it? What would they represent? Find three images online of what best represent some of your hieroglyphics and see if people can figure out what they are?
Sent on: Feb 27, 2017 by: Lynn Krivoruchka		 0
Message Could you live there?
Most people live on the bank of the Nile River, because that is where the best farming lands are. Do you think you could live on the bank of the Nile River by everyone? Would you see if you could farm more in-land? Could you handle all the neighbors? (Pretend all up and down the river is full)
Sent on: Feb 27, 2017 by: Lynn Krivoruchka		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (50 points)
Instructions: Research what the city of Egypt is like now. Find one bad aspect of the city and write a 500-750 word essay (does not have to be five paragraphs) on what you would do to fix this probelm. CIte at least two articles that helped you come to your conclusion. 
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.9, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.2b,
 
     

University of South Florida Patent & Copyright Office © 2017 (Tech ID # Pending)