Theme for the Day:
The Egyptians built huge pyramids that looked like they were made of gold. They decorated tombs with huge wall paintings and sarcophagi were often ornate pieces of artistry. They wore jewelry and wealthy Egyptians wore clothes made from fine fabrics like silk. The Egyptians were active participants in trade from around the world.
Imagination Station Addition:
Place Scrubbing the Brick in Nana's Kitchen. The children will enjoy the task of cleaning the brick.
Early Morning Explorations:
I Know My Animals in Spanish
For all children - Help the children sort through the cards identifying the animals and fruit pictured. Tell the children the English and Spanish name for each animal and fruit. The children can match the sets of cards together reinforcing word recognition. Children can also match the cards to the small animals in the box. The children will have a visual, auditory, and tactile learning experience using the card boxes.
Writing My Numbers
For all children - Have each child trace the Sandpaper Numbers with their first two fingers. After this have the children practice writing the number in their sand filled plate. The children can write a number, "erase" it, and then write another number. This will help the children prepare to write with a pencil. Preschool children can practice writing larger two digit numbers for a challenge.
- paper plates filled with sand
- Sandpaper Numbers
Who's Your Mummy?
Check out this (kinda creepy) movie about making mummies
Reading Adventure:
The following books should be read to the children to supplement the day's explorations. Books can be read in conjunction with one of the explorations or used as a transition activity between explorations. The Reading Adventure is a crucial part of the children's literary education.
Food for Thought:
fruit and dates
Dates were a popular Egyptian food. The Egyptians grew many fruit, and many were dried in order to preserve them. Jars of raisins were allotted by the thousands to the Nile god temple by Ramses III, as were dried dates.
The following questions in addition to information taken from the Theme of the Day should be used to stimulate discussion with the children while they are having their snack.
- What is silk? Linen? Cotton?
- What do we use the fabrics for?
- What is the softest thing you have ever felt?
- What is the roughest thing you have ever felt?
Exploring the Culture:
Muslims pray five times a day, asking God for his love.
This is a Muslim prayer: "Oh God! You are Peace and from you, is Peace; Blessed are you, O Lord of Majesty and Bounty."
Morning Primary Exploration: Textile Textures
For all children - Remind the children that life was not the same for all Egyptians. The life of a poor Egyptian was very different from the life of a rich Egyptian. Even the clothes worn by poor Egyptians were different. Let the children explore the swatches of fabric. Encourage the children to speculate as to what the rich wore and what the poor wore. Explain to the children the source of the different fabrics and how that played a part in the value of the fabric. When the children are finished exploring the fabric, they can work with the Rough and Smooth Boards. The children can compare the sensation of touching the boards to that felt with the fabric.
Supplies you will need:
- Rough and Smooth Boards
- a swatch of each of the following fabrics: wool, linen, cotton, and silk
Morning Art Exploration: Making Paper (Continued)
The Egyptians were one of the first to create a form of paper to write on. Before Egyptian paper was made people wrote on clay tablets which were heavy and broke easily. Egyptian paper is different from the paper we use today though. Most of our paper is made from pulp that comes from trees. The Egyptians made their paper from a reed that grew along the Nile called papyrus. The Egyptians not only used the papyrus themselves, but they sold and traded it for other materials from around the world. People in West Asia, Greece and Rome all used Egyptian papyrus paper.
For all children - Have the children spray their papyrus to moisten it. The children can then continue hammering the reeds until they begin to break down and form one sheet. Keeping the reeds moist will speed the process along. At the end of the exploration set the papyrus paper aside to dry.
Supplies you will need:
- reeds layered and hammered Wednesday
- newspaper to cover the tables
- smocks
- small hammers or wooden mallets
Morning Outdoor Adventure: Mud Bricks (Continued)
For all children - Have the children remove their mud brick from the pan. The tops of the bricks should be fairly dry. Take the bricks out of the pans and turn them over so the bottom side is up. Egyptians flipped the bricks over so they would dry faster and more evenly. If the bottoms are still very moist you can try patting in some extra straw to help absorb the moisture. Ask the children why the Egyptians put straw in the bricks. The straw makes the bricks stronger.
Supplies you will need:
- mud bricks made yesterday
Yoga: Camel Pose
Yoga Video of the Camel Pose
- Kneel on the floor with your knees and feet hop width apart and your toes curled under.
- Place your hands on your lower back, with your fingers pointing down.
- Press your thighs and the front of your pelvis forward, while you tuck your tailbone down and under.
- Inhale as you lift your ribcage and lengthen through your spine.
- Press your shoulders back and allow your upper arms to follow.
- Lift your heart toward the ceiling and then bend your upper body backward.
- Keep your head upright and look straight ahead to keep your neck long.
- Reach your right hand back to you right foot and place your palm on your heel or ankle.
- Reach your left hand back to your left foot and place your palm on your heel or ankle.
- Lengthen the back of your neck and then tilt your head to look up at the ceiling.
- Make sure you keep your neck long.
- Hold the pose.
- To come out of the pose, inhale as you lift your upper body and return to a kneeling position.
Afternoon Primary Exploration: Egyptian Jewelry
For all children - The Egyptians wore jewelry and makeup, especially the wealthy elite Egyptians. Archeologists have found jewelry in many of the tombs that have been excavated. Egyptian paintings and sculptures also show Egyptians wearing beautiful jewelry. The children will enjoy making their own jewelry with the After School Curriculum Kit Beads!
Supplies you will need:
- After School Curriculum Kit Beads!
Afternoon Secondary Exploration: King Tut Sarcophagus
For all children - Explain to the children what a sarcophagus is. This is how Egyptians buried the pharaohs after their deaths. The pharaoh was the most important man in Egyptian culture so it was also important that he be buried in a beautiful sarcophagus in a pyramid filled with his favorite and nicest things. The Egyptians believed he would need these things in the afterlife. King Tut's sarcophagus is made of gold. The beautiful decorations on it are made from glass and semi precious stones. Let's make our own sarcophagus design.
Have the children use the foils or papers to design a sarcophagus. The children can cut or tear the foils or papers to the sizes and shapes they desire. Encourage the children to be ornate like the Egyptians. Have the children
Supplies you will need:
Afternoon Outdoor Exploration: And the Band Plays On
For all children - Review the names of each instrument as you pass them out to the children. Let the children march around the playground as they play original songs with the instruments.
Supplies you will need:
- woodwind and percussion instruments
Teacher Resources:
Ancient Egyption cards
Tell us what you think! If you have a question, a suggestion, a correction, and idea for an activity to enhance Our Perspective, or if one of our activities worked particularly poorly or particularly well for you, we would love to hear from you!
