Hieroglyphics: It's Not Greek to Me! (It's Egyptian!)
Subjects
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Arts & Humanities
Art History, Foreign Language, Language Arts, Visual Arts
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Educational Technology
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Social Studies
Anthropology, History, World History, Regions/Cultures
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Grades
3-5, 6-8, 9-12, Advanced |
Brief Description
Students can use hieroglyphic characters to spell a name, write a sentence, and create their own Rosetta stones. They can have fun using online hieroglyphic translators too.
Objectives
Students will
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use a phonetic reference resource to spell their names using hieroglyphic characters.
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use plaster of paris to create their own Rosetta stones with secret messages.
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use an online translator to see common words in hieroglyphic characters.
Keywords
hieroglyphic, Egypt, ancient, Rosetta stone, translate, translator, secret
Materials Needed
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computers with Internet access, or printed pages from Internet resources
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lids from plastic containers (optional)
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plaster of paris (optional)
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pencil
Lesson Plan
Provide students with a printed reference about the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt. (Students with online access can view the sources online.) Each reference should offer a key to the common hieroglyphic symbols and their sounds/pronunciations. Following are a handful of online resources that might be used:
Have students cut or trace symbols from these resources to spell/write/draw their names.
Extension activities:
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Have students use the hieroglyphics alphabet to write a sentence. Then ask them to translate one another's sentences.
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Introduce students to such online tools as the Egyptian Name Translator or the Online Hieroglyphics Translator, in which students can get the hieroglyphics translation of a word or name.
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For each student, fill the lid of a plastic container with plaster of paris. Before it dries, allow the student to use the tip of a pencil to carve into the plaster his or her name or a message. When the plaster is dry, students will have their own Rosetta stones.
Assessment
Students use their hieroglyphic pronunciation keys to translate a grade-appropriate word, phrase, or sentence from English into hieroglyphs and from hieroglyphs into English. Lesson Plan Source
Education World
Submitted By
Gary Hopkins
National Standards
FINE ARTS: Visual Arts
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GRADES K - 4
NA-VA.K-4.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures
NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
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GRADES 5 - 8
NA-VA.5-8.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures
NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
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GRADES 9 - 12
NA-VA.9-12.4 Understanding the Visual Arts In Relation to History and Cultures
NA-VA.9-12.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and Other Disciplines
LANGUAGE ARTS: English
LANGUAGE ARTS: Foreign Language
SOCIAL SCIENCES: World History
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GRADES 5 - 12
NSS-WH.5-12.2 Early Civilizations and the Rise of Pastoral Peoples
NSS-WH.5-12.3 Classical Traditions, Major Religions, and Giant Empires
TECHNOLOGY
See more lesson ideas in Education World's History Center.
Return to the Bring Ancient History to Life! lesson plan page.
Originally published 8/23/2002
Last updated 07/14/2011