Egyptian Pharaohs: Time, Continuity, and Change

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8

*Click to open and customize your own copy of the Egyptian Pharaohs Lesson Plan.

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Egyptian Pharaohs, and supports the standard of analyzing the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early Egyptian civilization. Students demonstrate understanding through a variety of projects.

Step 1: ACTIVATE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Display an image of Egyptian pyramids, such as the one shown below:

Ask students:

  • What do you already know about this structure?
  • What can you infer about why the Egyptians built pyramids?

Step 2: BUILD KNOWLEDGE

  • Read the description on the Egyptian Pharaohs topic page.
  • Play the Movie, pausing to check for understanding. 
  • Have students read one of the following Related Reading articles: “Did You Know?” or “In Depth”. Partner them with someone who read a different article to share what they learned with each other.

Step 3: APPLY and ASSESS 

Students take the Egyptian Pharaohs Challenge and Quiz, applying essential literacy skills while demonstrating what they learned about this topic.

Step 4: DEEPEN and EXTEND

Students express what they learned about Egyptian pharaohs while practicing essential literacy skills with one or more of the following activities. Differentiate by assigning ones that meet individual student needs.

  • Make-a-Movie: Make a video diary from the point of view of an Egyptian pharaoh about a day in your life that answers this question: What are some of your responsibilities and challenges as a ruler?
  • Make-a-Map: Make a concept map identifying and explaining key details about a pharaoh’s religious, financial and symbolic power. 
  • Creative Coding: Code a digital museum exhibit featuring famous Egyptian pharaohs and symbols from their history. 
  • Primary Source Activity: Examine a mural from King Tutankhamun’s tomb and cite evidence to answer the accompanying questions.

More to Explore

Time Zone X:  Egyptian Pharaohs: Play an interactive timeline game challenging students to put historical events in chronological order.

World History Unit: Continue to build understanding around societies and civilizations by exploring more BrainPOP history topics.

Teacher Support Resources:

Lesson Plan Common Core State Standards Alignments

Related:

    Filed as:  3-5, 6-8, BrainPOP, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RH.6-8.7, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.1, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.2, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.3, CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7