The following assignments must be turned in to your Social
Studies teacher within two weeks of our return to school. These
assignments will be graded as homework. Your Social Studies
teacher will be available for questions about these assignments
for the first three days upon your return to school from 7:157:30 AM. Consideration will be given for students who do NOT
have internet access from home. They will receive this lesson
or a comparable lesson upon our return to school.
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphics
Egyptian hieroglyphic writing was lost and undecipherable to historians until AD 1799. A
soldier digging for a new fort near the Nile River unearthed a large black stone with what
appeared to be writing. There were three distinct sections of writing. The first two were
unreadable to historians at the time. However, the third section was written in Greek, a
modern language. With the Greek translation, historians were able to decipher the two
sections that were written in separate forms of hieroglyphics. This amazing discovery
allowed archaeologists and historians to better understand the history of the Egyptian
people.
Travel back in time 4000 years. The year is 1986 BC. You are twelve years old and have
been taken from your family on orders from the pharaoh. The pharaoh, King
Tinstmanaton, has personally chosen boys and girls from throughout the kingdom to
compete for the job of Royal Scribe. The winner will work for the duration of the
pharaoh's reign as Royal Scribe and will enjoy a life of ultimate luxury. The losers will be
forced to live a life of hard labor building the pharaoh's new palace.
Although it is an honor to be chosen, the stakes are extremely high. Good Luck!
The Task
You are to copy a one-stanza (four lines) poem that honors the greatness of King
Tinstmanaton. King Tinstmanaton is very picky and will not tolerate anyone who disobeys
his commands. Therefore, you should be sure to follow all of his directions for each day of
this lesson or face the possibility of a life of hard labor.
Day 1 Task
1) Today you will begin the assignment by printing a copy of the Blank Hieroglyphic
Layout shown above. You will use this as a template for the poem you will be copying
in honor of the great King Tinstmanaton. Remember, the stakes are high and you
need to impress the king. Plain, white paper is all that is required, but "authentic"
paper could be what it takes to catch the attention of our pharaoh.
2) Use the Hieroglyphic Layout, as a guide for preparing the poem.
3) Translate the king's message using the Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Letters &
Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphic Numbers, as a guide.
Hieroglyphic Project Layout
T i n s t m a n a t o n
All six (6)
side boxes
should be
personal
hieroglyphs
of your
choosing.
Each
should be
different
and have
special
meaning to
you.
My name is___(first name here)___.
is________________
I attend sixth grade.
Mr T is teaching me,
how hieroglyphs are made.
Decorative Hieroglyphs of your choosing (Centered)
All four (4) corners
should be identical
decorative hieroglyphs.