Egypt Research Project You are a historian and you and your colleagues just discovered a time machine tucked away in the basement of an old, abandoned museum. After the cobwebs have been cleared away and straws have been drawn, it was decided that you would be the lucky one to go on this trip of a lifetime. You step inside the machine. Upon closer inspection of the control panel, you notice you are able to select any time period you would like to visit. Since you have always been intrigued with pyramids, pharaohs, mummies, etc, you choose without a moment s hesitation to go back in time to ancient Egypt. As a historian, you feel it is your duty to make careful observations and describe as accurately as possible some aspect of the daily lives of its people. After your return, you have been commissioned to show your findings to the National Historian and write an article for their quarterly journal. Directions: Choose one of the research projects from below. Each project must include some type of visual (picture, model, etc.) and a written journal article. You must use at least 3 sources 1 book, 1 encyclopedia, and 1 website. Pictures must be hand drawn. 1. Ancient Egyptian civilization developed along the banks of the Nile River. Make a map of the Nile River Valley. Make sure your map marks the locations of the cataracts, major tributaries, source, and mouth. Write about why people tend to settle near waterways and its advantages. 2. Draw two maps comparing the boundaries of ancient and modern Egypt. Develop a hypothesis and write about why they are different. 3. Write a story about the daily life of a boy or girl or what life as a soldier would have been like. 4. Use a Double Bubble Map to compare/contrast the lives of women in ancient Egypt to women today. Write a compare/contrast essay. 5. Make a flipbook with illustrations and examples and write about the mummification process. 6. Write and illustrate a children s science book that explains the process of mummification. Include the reason the Egyptians used this method. 7. Pretend you are a museum guide. Write a speech for a group of visitors that explains what modern people have learned about ancient Egyptians by the mummies that have been found and examined.
8. Make a model of a sarcophagus and write about its purpose. 9. Make a cross-section of a pyramid. Show chambers, rooms and passages. Write about the various ways used to protect the pharaoh and his treasures. 10. Write about the different theories people hold today that explain the construction of the pyramids. For example, how could pyramids, some of which cover an area greater than that of 10 football fields, be built without the use of any modern equipment like cranes and bulldozers? 11. Write a skit in which some of the workers are discussing things such as what tools and methods they are using to build the pyramids and how they were recruited. 12. Pretend you are one of the 1954 archaeologists. Write a report that explains what you found in the boat pit near the Great Pyramid and what you later learned about your discovery. 13. Write and illustrate an article for the fictitious magazine Ecology Today. Stress how air pollution is currently affecting the pyramids. 14. Design the Canopic jars that you would use for your pyramid. Write about the designs and purpose of each jar. 15. Howard Carter is looking for a few good men to accompany him on one of his expeditions. Write about some of the problems that might be encountered, the kind of person he would want on his expedition, etc. Make an advertisement on poster board 16. Write a play, poem, or rap about Howard Carter and the curse believed to be visited upon anyone who disturbed the tomb of King Tut. 17. Pretend you are Howard Carter who found the sealed entrance to Tut s tomb in 1922. In a series of journal entries, write about your great discovery. 18. Research one of the following pharaohs: Tutankhamen, Seti I, Ramesses I, and Ramesses II. Write an appropriate obituary. 19. Pretend you are a leading Egyptian historian. Write about a new book of yours that explains what happened to Sesostris s town and what historians like you have learned about the Egyptians from it. 20. The ancient Egyptians worshipped hundreds of different gods. Each one had a specific purpose. Select three ancient Egyptian gods or goddesses and draw/paint pictures of
him or her in the style of ancient Egyptian art. goddess and write about his or her purpose. Include the name of the god or 21. Pretend you are a tour guide at the Giza Pyramids. Write the speech you would give tourists to explain what the Sphinx is and why it is there. 22. Pretend you are the Sphinx. Write about what you saw on the day that Pharaoh Khafre was buried. 23. Make a model or a drawing of the Sphinx and write about its history including location, dimensions, meaning, etc. 24. Pretend you are an expert on Egyptian history. Prepare a speech in which you explain why pharaohs were buried with boats and so many other possessions. 25. Find out all the steps involved in this type of papermaking and write about how ancient Egyptians made paper from the papyrus plant. Draw pictures to illustrate the process. Make paper then make the paper into a scroll. Write a message in hieroglyphics on this scroll with its translation on the back. 26. Create a timeline and write a description explaining one of the following: Show the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms, along with important events, reigns of pharaohs, and conquests. The importance of the gods and dates and events relating to them. The evolution of clothing in Egypt using dates and pictures of different types of clothing. The practice of medicine and science using names and discoveries. The arts and artifacts including pictures, dates or reigns of pharaohs. 27. Pretend it is 1799 and you work for a newspaper. Write a news article about the discovery of the Rosetta Stone. You may include quotes from Jean Francois Champollion. 28. Research and write about the different tools used to make the pyramids. Make models of each tool. 29. Make an invitation to Queen Cleopatra s birthday party, BYOA (Bring you own asp!) Information must reflect that time period. On a separate sheet of paper write about Who would be invited? What type of clothing would be worn? Plan a menu for the party. What kind of entertainment might there be?
30. Queen Cleopatra was an influential figure in Egyptian history. Write about how she became queen, her reign in Egypt, her contributions, and her death. 31. Research the game Senet and write about its history. Learn how to play the game and teach the class. 32. Research and write about the invention of the Egyptian calendar. Make a poster explaining the calendar. 33. Write about the process of excavating a new discovery in Egypt. Describe what you might have found, the time period of the artifact, who might have lived there, what they did, etc. 34. Interview someone from this time period. Write the questions and answers to each question. 35. Write a myth or legend explaining the yearly flooding of the Nile River. 36. Write a song or poem with at least four stanzas. 37. Choose one ruler of Ancient Egypt, e.g., Menes, Khufu, Hatsheput, etc. and write about/describe the following: the date of their reign their achievements/accomplishments and the dates relating to them what life was like during their reign what problems were encountered and how they were handled what religion/important gods were worshiped during that time period what crowns were worn for different occasions and why their burial customs including pyramids any additional fascinating facts 38. Write a newspaper and include articles about the key people, events, etc. of the time. 39. Make an ancient Egypt ABC book about only one topic. 40. Student option (to be approved by the teacher)