My Pyramid - Preparing for a Journey

An Educator's Reference Desk Lesson Plan

Date: May 1994

Grade Level(s): 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

Subject(s):

• Language Arts/Writing (composition)

WRITING DOMAIN: Descriptive/Persuasive

THINKING LEVEL: Synthesis

LESSON DESCRIPTION: The students will write a three paragraph paper describing the treasures they would stock in their pyramid and explaining why their Ka would want and/or need these items on its journey.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Thinking Skills: The students will
   • Define---evaluate their values in terms of what they feel would be treasures to carry into their next life.
   • Invent---use hieroglyphs to inscribe their name and one descriptive sentence about themselves.
   • Imagine---create a pyramid and floor plan.

2. Writing Skills: The students will
   • write descriptively about the stocking of their pyramid.
   • write persuasively about the items they chose to take with them.
   • write a concluding paragraph about their preparations.

PREWRITING:

1. OUR WORLD YESTERDAY AND TODAY; Scott, Foresman; pp. 112-115; "Civilization Along the Nile."
2. TUTANKHAMEN by Dearoches-Noblecourt class viewing/book passed
3. "Pyramid", a video documentary by David Macaulay.

PROMPT: The student will have a finished product of three to four pages to include a hieroglyph with their name and descriptive sentence; a sketch of a pyramid's external structure and floor plan; a sample of a wall graphic; and a three paragraph composition explaining the items they chose to stock in their pyramid.

PRECOMPOSING:

1. Two class periods will be spent in small group activities using four learning centers.
   • PYRAMID by David Macaulay. Book available as a refresher on building with a pyramid and setting up the floor plan.

   • Fun With Hieroglyphs, an activity program by Catharine Roehrig which can be used for the hieroglyphics or as inspiration for designing hieroglyphs.

   • Coloring Book of Ancient Egypt which can be used for the tomb graphic or as inspiration for the student's creative design.

   • TUTANKHAMEN by Dearoches-Noblecourt

   • NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC; March '77; Vol. 151, Number 3. Tutankhamen's treasures and Egypt today.

2. Double Clustering, first identifying items stocked by the ancient Egyptian kings; then extending the cluster to reflect the needs and treasures of today.

WRITING: The students will be assigned as part class, part homework the completion of their rough draft in three days.

SHARING: Using writing groups to share rough drafts.

• Emphasize positive comments (what you enjoyed the most, thought the best, etc).
• question any parts you did not understand.
• allow time to return to desk with individual papers and ink in revision ideas, areas that need clarification, etc.

REVISING: Selecting a partner, make sure the writing is clear and incorporates any ideas/suggestions made in the writing group.

EDITING: Use edit sheet to determine if all criteria emphasized for this assignment have been met.

1. complete sentences (no sentences beginning with "so", "when", "because", "since".)
2. no sentences beginning with "and".
3. at least one sentence per paragraph beginning with
   • --ly word, and
   • --ing word.
4. no misspelled words.

EVALUATION:

1. Teacher evaluation using rubric for composition part of the assignment.
   • topic sentences for each paragraph
   • introductory paragraph listing the items the student wishes to stock (minimum 3 / maximum 6)
   • persuasive paragraph on the importance of the items stocked to the student's health and happiness in the next stage of his life
   • concluding paragraph pulling together the preparations and the comfort the student feels his Ka will now have.

2. Teacher evaluation for remaining part of assignment
   • pyramid and floor plan design
   • hieroglyph of name and descriptive sentence
   • wall graphic

3. Bulletin board display to include each child with his or her "best" of the assignment on display.

These lesson plans are the result of the work of the teachers who have attended the Columbia Education Center's Summer Workshop. CEC is a consortium of teacher from 14 western states dedicated to improving the quality of education in the rural, western, United States, and particularly the quality of math and science Education. CEC uses Big Sky Telegraph as the hub of their telecommunications network that allows the participating teachers to stay in contact with their trainers and peers that they have met at the Workshops.