The ancient Egyptian project for middle school social studies and language arts students will allow students to integrate their knowledge in two classes. Language arts teachers and social studies teachers can each focus on different parts of this project in their classrooms.
Teachers can collaborate and students can have one project count in two classes. This is a "win-win" project. In many state standards, the Egyptians are studied in the sixth grade. However, this project would work with any middle school group of students.
Ancient Egypt Topic and Grouping Ideas
Each group should include three to five students. Teachers can group students in a variety of ways. Teachers need to decide if they want heterogeneous groups or random groups. It is important that students become responsible for one or more parts of the project and that there is one leader in the group. Once students are placed in groups, each group needs to select a topic. The following are suggested group topics for this project:
- Art & Hieroglyphics
- Architecture: pyramids
- Government: Social Roles: Pharaohs to the slaves
- Religion: Pyramids, Mummies, afterlife, gods/goddesses
- The Nile River
Egyptian Group Project Details for Language Arts Class
In the language arts class, groups will research one of the suggested topics and complete a research paper. Each research paper will have three main topics.
Each person will write a proper research paper using the MLA or APA format on a smaller sub-topic of the larger topic. Students will need to work as a group to decide who will research what topics. They may struggle with this part of the project. Teachers may need to have subtopic ideas prepared. One great place to start looking for subtopics is in their textbooks.
This paper will include the proper format, introduction, body, conclusion and works cited page. Some middle school students have not written a research paper in a proper format before and may need additional help with the format.
Social Studies Project Directions
In the social studies class, the three main topics from each paper will become slides for a PowerPoint presentation. Each student will be responsible for three slides.
If students are not familiar with completing a slide presentation or do not have access to computers, they could make a collection of posters.
Each group will present its finding using the slide presentation or the posters. All students need speak, and an introduction and conclusion needs to be added to the content of the speech.
This project is a great way to integrate two subject areas. The Egyptian project for middle school social studies and language arts covers many indicators in both subject areas, and students will have fun in the process.
Resources/references:
Ancient Egypt links for teachers
Kellie Hayden - She is a 19 year veteran teacher with a master's degree in education and NBCT, 2000. Kellie teaches 8th grade language arts, TAG and ...
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