H E L E N   K E L L E R  M I D D L E  S C H O O L
360 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT 06612
Telephone:  203-268-8651
Fax:  203-268-6105

One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar...Helen A. Keller

THE WONDERS OF ANCIENT EGYPT
Mrs. Brodeur and Mrs. Henry

As an enrichment activity to our unit on Ancient Egypt, students will complete a multi-step, multi-media research project on one of several topic choices. Students may work alone or with a partner who chooses the same research topic. The final products of this research will be presented in the classroom and displayed at our annual “Ancient Egypt Day” in the cafeteria. The basic steps of this assignment are listed below:

1. Choose a research topic from the list provided that interests you most. If there is another topic you’re interested in, please see the teacher for approval.
2. Research will be conducted in the media center, the classroom and at home (if needed.) The results of the research must be in the form of PowerPoint slides or a written report that follows the criteria provided.
3. Students must create a labeled visual (no larger than a desktop in size) that relates to their topic.

Your final PowerPoint slide or last paragraph of your report must answer the following Big Question:

If you could speak with anyone from Ancient Egypt, who would it be and why? What question would you ask that person and what do you think their response would be?                                                           

PROJECT CRITERIA

• This project may be completed alone or with a partner, but the requirements for this project will be greater and the expectations higher if students work together. Each student will receive an individual grade for his/her contributions to the project.
• Choose one of topics on the attached sheet, where you will also find ideas for visuals. If there is a topic of interest to you that is not listed, please see the teacher to discuss it. NO MORE THAN THREE INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS OR PARTNERS IN THE CLASS MAY CHOOSE THE SAME TOPIC.
• All research must be kept in a labeled, Egypt Folder that will remain in the classroom. Each student must also maintain an electronic file for this project under Student Work on the HKMS Network.
• A Works Cited Page (minimum of three sources) is required using Citation Machine.
  
  
• The final product of this project will include:
  1. A polished report or PowerPoint on your topic (minimum of two typed pages or six PowerPoint slides if you work alone, three pages or eight slides if working with a partner).
  2. All work must be written in the student’s own words!
  3. An appropriate-sized visual that relates to the chosen topic.
  4. The report or PowerPoint must contain at least two graphics (scanned or inserted as jpegs.)
  5. The Works Cited Page must be attached to your report or be the final slide of your PowerPoint.
  6. If doing a PowerPoint, students must submit a hard copy of the presentation.
  7. The “Big Question” must be included in all projects.
• All students will present their projects to the class, and then display their work at our “Egypt Day” exhibit.
• This project is double-weighted and will be assessed according to the attached criteria.
• STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO USE THE PROJECT CHECKLIST TO MAKE SURE EACH REQUIREMENT HAS BEEN MET!

TOPIC CHOICES

• Famous Pharaohs: choose a male or female leader from ancient Egypt and describe, in detail, his/her life, reign, beliefs and effect on that culture.
• Who’s Your Mummy?: write a detailed description of the mummification process, when and why it began and ended, how long it takes to mummify a body and the reason for each step in that process.
  1. Great Giza!: describe the pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and other well-known Egyptian structures, telling where, when and why they were built.
  2. The Ba, the Ka and the Afterlife: describe how ancient Egyptians viewed death and the afterlife. Tell about the “ba” and “ka,” and comment on Egyptian funerary customs.
  3. The Mighty Nile: fully describe the physical characteristics of the Nile River and its influence on the development of the Egyptian civilization.
  4. A Day in the Life: describe what daily life was like for someone from the middle, lower or slave class of ancient Egypt. Mention their shelter, clothing, food, activities, jobs, customs, beliefs, etc.
  5. Great and Gruesome Gods and Goddesses: tell about the religious beliefs of ancient Egyptians, giving details about five or six specific gods and goddesses that they worshiped or feared.

IDEAS FOR VISUALS
In addition to the samples shown in class, other ideas for visuals include a model pyramid, funerary mask, a doll “mummy”, a sarcophagus, a drawing or model of the Nile, “portraits” of pharaohs, a diorama depicting daily life, replicas of items from ancient Egypt, an ankh, a crook and flail, a map of an archaeological dig, etc.

REMEMBER: YOUR VISUAL MUST BE NO LARGER THAN YOUR DESK TOP – POINTS WILL BE LOST FOR OVERSIZED PROJECTS!