Diversity Lesson Plan Purpose: In this lesson, students will expand on their knowledge of the unit of study involving ancient Egypt. Today’s focus will be about the contributions made by Egyptians and how those contributions have had a lasting influence on the present world. More specifically, students will hone in on the development of a written language in ancient Egypt and will focus on the use of hieroglyphics as a form of communication, record keeping, and as a means of preserving and passing down history. They will also be able to draw connections from then and now through an understanding of different forms of communication between people and cultures. Students will learn basic information about the alphabet and how to decode hieroglyphic messages. Students will also practice using hieroglyphics to create messages of their own. VA Standards: ● History SOL 2.1 The student will explain how the contributions of ancient China and Egypt have influenced the present world in terms of architecture, inventions, the calendar, and written language. ● English SOL 2.2 The student will expand understanding and use of word meanings. a) Increase listening and speaking vocabularies. b) Use words that reflect a growing range of interests and knowledge. c) Clarify and explain words and ideas orally. d) Identify and use synonyms and antonyms. e) Use vocabulary from other content areas. Objectives: ● On an exit slip, students will be able to name hieroglyphics as the writing system of ancient Egypt correctly after learning about and practicing it by writing their own messages on “papyrus” paper (paper bags) in the Egyptian hieroglyphic alphabet (chart provided). ● On an exit slip, students will be able to list a diverse fact about communication one time (Reason for the importance of communication around the world, that there are different forms of communication used between people and cultures across time, etc.) Procedure: ● Introduction ○ While the students remain at their desks, grab the class’s attention. ■ “One, two, three, all eyes on me!” (​
A​
) ■ “One, two, eyes on you!” ■ “Good morning students! I am happy to be here with you! Today, we are going to learn some really cool things about ancient Egypt, but first, there is a game I would like to play. Are you ready?” ■ “Yes!” ○ In Dari: (​
A​
) ■ “Please stand up, push in your chairs, and stand side­by­side where we usually line up.” ■ Students are confused. ■ “What?” ■ Spoke in a different language. ■ “You’re right! I spoke in Dari which is the language that I speak at home with my parents. We communicate in a different language. Let’s try that again.” ○ Repeat in English. (​
A​
) ■ “Please stand up, push in your chairs, and stand side­by­side where we usually line up.” ○ Tell students that they are going to play the game “ducks in a row”. (​
A​
) ■ “In this game, you will line up according to your height, BUT you have to do it without talking. Should we do tallest to shortest, or shortest to tallest?” (​
K​
) ■ Students choose. ■ Explain how to play again if needed. Remind students of the rule that they are not allowed to talk! (​
A​
) ○ Once students have attempted to line up in the correct order, acknowledge how they did, and then have them return back to their seats. ○ Talk about communication. Explain to students how there are many different ways of communicating. Ask students to raise their hands and list some of those ways. (​
V & A​
) ■ Verbal (sounds and speaking); use language example ■ Nonverbal (body movement and gestures­ASL); use game example ■ Written (symbols, pictures, and letters); use writing example ○ Talk about the importance of being able to communicate and how this looks different all over the world. (​
A​
) ○ Segue into an introduction of hieroglyphics. ● Development ○ Tell the students that they will be learning about hieroglyphics today. ○ Using the projector, show the presentation/artifacts. (​
V & A​
) ■ Begin by asking students if they can define “contribution” ● If not, define (an act of giving or doing something). ■ Explain how Egyptians have made a lot of contribution to the world still used today. Give the example of language (hieroglyphics) and focus in. (​
A​
) ■ Compare English alphabet (26 symbols) with ancient Egyptian alphabet (over 2,000 symbols). Show artifact. (​
V & A​
) ■ Show students an example of symbols representing pictures that they would recognize (I love you). (​
V & A​
) ■ Explain how ancient Egyptians also invented the world’s earliest paper out of papyrus plants. Show artifact. (​
V & A​
) ■ Leave the final slide up on the projector. (​
V​
) ○ Inform students that they will be writing their own names using hieroglyphics on “papyrus” paper. (​
T​
) ■ Show an example by writing own name and Mr. G’s name in hieroglyphics on white board. (​
V​
) ■ Call on two helpers to pass out materials (paper bags and hieroglyphic chart). (​
K​
) ○ While students work, walk around observing and helping students. ○ For advanced students: ■ Ask students to write their full names and/or a message ■ Suggest students create a sentence using hieroglyphics and trade with a friend. See if they can translate each other's’ sentences accurately ■ Have students create their own alphabet using symbols ○ For struggling students: ■ Offer assistance from teacher or from peers ■ Write name for student and have them decorate ● Summary ○ Have students clean up their materials and throw away trash. ○ Call on several students to share their work. ○ Ask students what they learned today about communication. Does it look the same everywhere? Why is it important? ○ Ask students what they learned today about Ancient Egypt. ○ Hand out exit slips. Have students complete the two questions. Materials: ● Paper bags ● Markers ● Individual hieroglyphics chart ● Powerpoint slides of artifacts ● Dry erase markers ● Exit slips Evaluation A: ● Students will demonstrate and discuss the importance of different forms of communication around the world. Students will use hieroglyphics to write their names on papyrus paper in order to create a more­rounded understanding of the writing system used in ancient Egypt. To evaluate the lesson, the teacher will hand out an exit slip at the end of the lesson asking two summative questions: what the system of writing used by ancient Egyptians is called, and something they learned about communication. The teacher will collect their artwork for display and their exit slips to check for understanding of the material presented. Evaluation B: ● Did the students meet the objective? ● Were the needs of all students met (advanced learners/strugglers)? ● Strengths of the lesson? ● Weaknesses of the lesson? Name ____________________________________ 1. The Egyptians used a way of writing that included drawings and symbols. What was this particular way of writing called? __________________________________________________ 2. List one thing that you learned about communication today. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________ Name ____________________________________ 1. The Egyptians used a way of writing that included drawings and symbols. What was this particular way of writing called? __________________________________________________ 2. List one thing that you learned about communication today. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________ Name ____________________________________ 1. The Egyptians used a way of writing that included drawings and symbols. What was this particular way of writing called? __________________________________________________ 2. List one thing that you learned about communication today. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________ Name ____________________________________ 1. The Egyptians used a way of writing that included drawings and symbols. What was this particular way of writing called? __________________________________________________ 2. List one thing that you learned about communication today. ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________