• Students use this interactive, multiple-choice activity to become familiar with lesson vocabulary words.

• In each exercise, students read a sentence containing a vocabulary word, then use context clues from the sentence to select the best definition for that word.

• Students must select the correct definition for the current exercise in order to move to the next exercise.

 

1. architectural: having to do with the science of designing and planning buildings

2. annual: once a year; yearly

3. yielded: brought forth or brought about; produced

4. privileged: given special rights or treatment; favored

5. pharaohs: the rulers of ancient Egypt

6. linen: thread or cloth made of flax (Flax is a plant that is grown for its fiber.)

7. extravagant: beyond what is proper; lavish or wasteful

 

• Students are introduced to the topic of ancient Egyptian civilization and its many achievements. They read several facts about the pyramids built by ancient Egyptians.

• Students are asked what they already know about the ancient Egyptian civilization. Working in pairs, they create a word web based on their prior knowledge.

• Students learn about some of the remarkable achievements of the ancient Egyptians, including the advances they made in the field of medicine and their development of the solar calendar.

• Students are directed to print out or copy the worksheet (if needed) before proceeding to the reading selection.

"Ancient Days, Egyptian Ways"

• (Skill: Comparisons)

• Students read an article describing what life was like in ancient Egypt. The article contains sections about family life, food and cooking, clothing, housing and furniture, and entertainment.

• Students complete a worksheet asking them to think about the similarities and differences between life in ancient Egypt and life in the United States today. Students complete a chart that prints with the worksheet. To do this, they choose facts from the article and then compare and contrast these with facts about life in the United States today.

Answers will vary. Students should fill in one or more rows in the chart, which correspond to the different sections found in the article "Ancient Days, Egyptian Ways." For each section, students should list at least two details from the article with corresponding comparisons from life in the United States today. Possible responses are listed below. (AE stands for "Ancient Egypt," and US stands for "The United States Today.")

Topic: Family Life
AE:Men were heads of households; US: Different: Both men and women are heads of households.

AE: Women had many rights; US: Same today.

AE: Very few children went to school; US: Different: Most girls and boys go to school.

AE: Some women had jobs outside the home; US: Same today.

AE: Many girls married at about the age of twelve; US: Different: People marry when they are much older.

AE: Marriages were arranged by parents; US: People decide on their own whom they will marry.

Topic: Food and Cooking
AE: People ate a lot of bread; US: Same today.

AE: Popular foods included vegetables, fruits, milk, cheese, butter, fish, and meat; US: Same today.

AE: Wood was the main source of cooking fuel; US: Different: People use gas or electricity.

AE: Cooking was done in clay ovens or over open fires; US: Different: Most cooking is done using gas or electric stoves and ovens.

AE: Kitchen utensils included storage jars, bowls, pots, pans, ladles, sieves, and whisks; US: Same today.

AE: People ate only with their fingers; US: Different: In addition to eating with their fingers, people use forks, knives, and spoons.

Topic: Clothing
AE: Most people wore linen clothes; US: Different: People wear clothes made from many different materials.

AE: Men wore skirts called kilts; US: Different: Men wear pants.

AE: Women wore dresses; US: Women wear dresses and pants today.

AE: Most people were barefoot; US: Most people wear shoes.

AE: Both men and women wore jewelry; US: Similar today, although men usually wear less jewelry than women.

Topic: Housing and Furniture
AE: Most homes were made from bricks of dried mud; US: Different: Homes are made from a variety of materials, including wood.

AE: Windows and doors often were covered with mats; US: Different: Windows and doors often have screens.

AE: Furniture included wooden stools, chairs, and beds; US: Same today.

AE: Candles and oil lamps were used for light; US: Similar today, although electric lights are most commonly used.

Topic: Entertainment
AE: Fishing, sailing, and swimming were popular; US: Same today.

AE: Other popular forms of entertainment included hunting, wrestling, board games, and parties; US: Same today.

Students use this self-evaluation to assess their performance in the reading lesson.

• Students print a worksheet to take home. The worksheet instructs students to have family members help them locate treasured family artifacts -- objects that tell something about their family's history. Students talk with family members about the objects' significance. Students then choose one object and record their answers to various questions about it that are provided on the worksheet.

• You may want to invite students, in small groups, to make a list of objects in the classroom or at school that they think may someday become treasured artifacts. Suggest that they answer questions similar to the ones on the "Artifacts at Home" worksheet for each object in their list. Then have groups share their responses.

Check to see that students have given appropriate answers to all of the questions on the worksheet. Students should tell what the artifact is, what it looks like, how old it is, to whom in the family it first belonged, and its place and importance in the family's history.