Lesson Plan - Secrets of the Great Pyramid

Watch a Video
Build background knowledge by watching the video “Let’s Go to Egypt.” Ask: What does the video tell us about Egypt’s ancient civilization? Why did ancient Egyptians build pyramids?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• examine 
• corridor 

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about how new technology can help us learn about the past.

1. What are some questions people still have about the Great Pyramid?
Some questions people still have about the Great Pyramid include what kinds of treasures might be hidden inside it and how exactly it was built without modern machinery.
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2. What is the section “Building a Giant” mostly about?
The section “Building a Giant” is about construction of the Great Pyramid long ago. The section explains that tens of thousands of workers spent about two decades building the pyramid.
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3. What are two facts you can learn from the sidebar “A Quick Guide to Ancient Egypt”?
Sample response: One fact you can learn from the sidebar is that Tutankhamen became an Egyptian pharaoh when he was just 9 years old. Another fact is that in ancient Egypt, people wrote using symbols called hieroglyphs.
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FEATURED SKILL: Reading a Chart
Use the skill builder “How Mummies Were Made” to help students understand the process of mummification and the role it played in ancient Egyptian culture. Explain that pyramids were the burial sites for mummified remains.
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