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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: Marianne Foley
Lesson Length: 2 hours 30 minutes
Keywords/Tags: Egypt, English,
Lesson Description: A quick lesson on some general information about Egypt and a short and sweet vocab quiz, discussion and essay question.
Common Core Standards Covered with This Lesson
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1: Refer to details and examples in a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences from the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3: Explain events, procedures, ideas, or concepts in a historical, scientific, or technical text, including what happened and why, based on specific information in the text.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4a: Read grade-level text with purpose and understanding.
 
     
     
 
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 (32 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: 3 | Points: 8
Q1 In the story the author states "Today most Egyptians live near the banks of the Nile River." What does the word "banks" mean in this context?
A. A place to store money
B. Land that is very far away from a river
C. The land close to the edge of a river *
D. A town
Which of the following sentence is correct in using the word "bank" with the same definition as the story?
A. I went to my friends house in the banks of the city, I have to bring my own water because there's no water for miles!
B. I'm so rich I live above the bank I own!
C. I went to the bank to deposit money.
D. My friends came over my house so we could sit on the banks of the river and tan for a while. *
Word/Phrase: Continent | Tier: 3 | Points: 8
Q2 The author states "Egypt is a country in Africa. It is at the north part of the continent". What does continent mean in this context?
A. A circular landmass whose center has collapsed to the bottom of the ocean
B. A large landmass usually containing more than one country *
C. A small landmass containing one country
D. A landmass found in the southern hemisphere
Which sentence uses continent in the correct context?
A. Africa is a country with several other smaller countries inside of it
B. We live in the continent of Florida
C. Egypt is a country inside of the larger African continent *
D. There are over a hundred continents in the world
Word/Phrase: Capital | Tier: 2 | Points: 8
Q3 What does the word capital in the following sentence mean? "The capital of Egypt is Cairo."
A. A form of money
B. The city in a country that makes all of the trouble for the country
C. The money making city of a state
D. The city, or state where government decisions are made *
Which of the following sentences uses the word capital correctly
A. I use capital to purchase things
B. In America there are 50 state capitals and one national capital *
C. Is anybody selling any capital? I would love to buy some!
D. There's only one capital in the world and that is Cairo
Word/Phrase: Resident | Tier: 2 | Points: 8
Q4 In the story the author states "...Egypt's residents live in cities" what does the word resident mean?
A. A person who lives permanently at a specific *
B. A short-term place of living
C. A group of people who continually move
D. People who regularly move from one specific location to another, again and again
Which of the following sentences uses the word resident correctly?
A. I love to resident at the bowling alley, as it has so many activities to do
B. My favorite residents are the homeless
C. I am a resident of Florida, I have lived here for 22 years *
D. Residence is my favorite song!
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RF.4.4a,
 
     
     
 
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 Tone of text
What is the tone of the text? Does the author speak about Egypt in a positive or negative tone? Use examples from the text to support your answer.
Sent on: Oct 9, 2017 by: Marianne Foley		 0
Message The great city
Why does the author state that "[Cario is] a really great city. It has been an important city." Using the text and any background knowledge you may have, explain why Cario is so great and important.
Sent on: Oct 9, 2017 by: Marianne Foley		 0
Message Location
After discussing any background information you may have with your desk buddy, and using the text discuss why Egypt's location may have played into its importance in history.
Sent on: Oct 9, 2017 by: Marianne Foley		 0
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.1,
 
     
     
 
Task 3: Writing Activity (38 points)
Instructions: After researching populations of different countries, write and post here (a minimum) 500 word essay on how Egypt's population may have impacted its downfall and how it can make a comeback. Make sure to provide specific examples.
Standards Covered with This Lesson Activity: CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.4.3,
 
     

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