Life and Death in Ancient Egypt: Journey to the Afterlife (Day 2)

 Lesson Focus Question   What was the role of religion in ancient Egypt?

Journey to the Afterlife: Overview  Now that we all clearly understand some of  the important terms and concepts related to ancient Egyptian religion, it's time to begin our investigation into the ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife. Your task is to gather important information about each step an Egyptian would take on his or her journey to the afterlife. You will take notes using the document Journey to the Afterlife - Study Guide which can be found in your Social Studies Google Classroom. 

Ultimately, we will use our collected information to construct an Egyptian Afterlife Instruction Manual, which you will design for an ancient Egyptian pharaoh to help him or her successfully navigate the journey to the afterlife. More to come.

Today, however, we will begin working as a whole-class by examining an excerpt from your Social Studies textbook featured below entitled "Journey tot he Afterlife." Make sure as we read to add important information to your Study Guide. 

Journey to the Afterlife: Group Read and Investigation  Now we will break up into groups and dig even deeper for critical information related to the journey to the afterlife. I will provide each of you with a copy of the book The First Civilizations which also features a section entitled "Journey to the Afterlife" beginning on pg. 40. You and your group will read the section together, identify important information, and add key details to the pertinent sections of your Study Guide.  

Homework  Complete your Journey to the Afterlife - Study Guide. Due: Friday, November 6.

Life and Death in Ancient Egypt: Journey to the Afterlife

Lesson Focus Question   What was the role of religion in ancient Egypt?

CNN Student News and Current Event Mapping  As we watch CNN Student News today, identify one or two news stories that you can pinpoint geographically and place on the Current Event layer of your Social Studies World Map via Google Maps. 

Egypt's Sinai Penensula; Syria; Paris, France; and Chagrin Falls, Ohio were all featured in today's segment. After pinning at least one of these places on your map, consider the most important question: What happened here? You should include a title for the event, the date(s) the event took place, a brief summary of what happened, and include an appropriate photo or video.

Writing Warm-Up  Today we begin to learn about ancient Egyptian religious beliefs about death and the afterlife. But before we learn what they believed, let's consider some of our own beliefs. What do you believe happens after we die? Do you believe in life after death? If so, what does that mean to you? Share some of your ideas here. 

Journey to the Afterlife: Vocabulary Study  Today we are going to learn key words and concepts related to ancient Egyptian beliefs about death and the afterlife. You can find the assignment Journey to the Afterlife - Cognitive Content Dictionary in your Social Studies Google Classroom. After locating your assignment, I want you to make a prediction about what you think each word means by closely studying the images and accompanying questions below. We will then learn the definitions together, select a visual representation for each word, and use each word in self-constructed sentences to demonstrate our developing understanding. 
  

Do you believe in an afterlife?

Who or what do you think resides in the underworld?

What might an archaeologist find in a tomb?

If Osiris makes the final judgement of a dead person's soul, what decision is he making?

What are some of the steps in the preparation of a mummy?

Why do you think Ramses II wanted to become a mummy? 

Homework  Complete the assignment Journey to the Afterlife - Cognitive Content Dictionary. Due: Friday, November 6.

Google Mapping

Assignment Turn-In  Happy Halloween! Let's begin the day by making sure that  you have turned in the following assignments, which are due today: Hatshepsut and Ramses II - Comparison-Contrast Paragraph, Hatshepsut and Ramses II - Venn Diagram, Hatshepsut Notes, and Ramses II Notes.

CNN Student News and Current Event Mapping  As we watch CNN Student News today, identify one or two news stories that you can pinpoint geographically and place on the Current Event layer of your Social Studies World Map via Google Maps. 

China, Washington D.C., and South Carolina were all featured in today's segment. After pinning at least one of these places on your map, consider the most important question: What happened here? You should include a title for the event, the date(s) the event took place, a brief summary of what happened, and include an appropriate photo or video. 

Mapping Ancient History  Let's also continue using the 'Ancient History Layer' of your  Social Studies World Map today by adding some of the important historical events that you have learned about so far this year to your map. 

I've provided a list below of some of the historical events we've studied below (along with the page numbers you can learn about them from your Ancient Civilizations textbook). 

Once you've decided on an event, you need to research where it took place. Some of the places from ancient history no longer exist, so you may need to consult both historical and modern maps and compare them to figure out where the event should be pinned on your Google Map.

What happened there? Who was involved? When did it happen? Why was it significant? These are just some of the questions that good reporters ask. After you title your historical event on your map, include the answers to some of this questions as part of the accompanying text. In addition, to your textbook you may also consult reliable online sources to learn more about these historical events. And remember, you can also include an appropriate image or video that relates to the event. Have fun!

Mapping History

CNN Student News and Current Event Mapping  As we watch CNN Student News today, identify one or two news stories that you can pinpoint geographically and place on the Current Event layer of your Social Studies World Map via Google Maps. 

Syria and Kodiak, Alaska were both featured in today's segment. After pinning at least one of these places on your map, consider the most important question: What happened here? You should include a title for the event, the date(s) the event took place, a brief summary of what happened, and include an appropriate photo or video. 

Mapping Ancient History  We have spent a sizable part of our Social Studies class time mapping events that are taking place around the world right now. But what about events about ancient history? Today you will have an opportunity to use the 'Ancient History Layer' of your  Social Studies World Map by adding some of the important historical events that you have learned about so far this year to your map. 

First, make sure you've added an 'Ancient History Layer' to your Google Map and that is it checked. You may also consider temporarily unchecking the 'Current Events Layer' so there is not confusion about what layer you are working on. 

 
Next, decide which events from ancient history that you've learned about so far that you would like to pin on your map. I've provided a list below of some of the historical events we've studied below (along with the page numbers you can learn about them from your Ancient Civilizations textbook). 

 
Be selective. You can't pin all of these events today. Which are you most interested in learning more about? Once you've decided on an event, you need to research where it took place. Some of the places from ancient history no longer exist, so you may need to consult both historical and modern maps and compare them to figure out where the event should be pinned on your Google Map.

What happened there? Who was involved? When did it happen? Why was it significant? These are just some of the questions that good reporters ask. After you title your historical event on your map, include the answers to some of this questions as part of the accompanying text. In addition, to your textbook you may also consult reliable online sources to learn more about these historical events. And remember, you can also include an appropriate image or video that relates to the event. Have fun! 

Homework  The following assignments are all due tomorrow, Friday, October 30:  Hatshepsut and Ramses II - Venn Diagram, Hatshepsut Notes, Ramses II Notes, and Hatshepsut and Ramses II - Comparison-Contrast Paragraph. 

Writing Comparison-Contrast Paragraphs

 Today's Writing Objective   Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey information through the use of comparison/contrast.

Warm-Up: Selecting Your Similarities and Differences  As you know, today we will begin writing compare-contrast paragraphs in which we explain the similarities and differences between Hatshepsut and Ramses II. Before we do, however, we must decide which similarities and differences we find most important and want to feature in our paragraphs. 

Your task: Review the Hatshepsut and Ramses II Venn Diagram from yesterday. Using the highlight function, highlight the similarities and differences that you find most important from your venn diagram and that you may want to include in your compare/contrast paragraph.  

What Does a Comparison/Contrast Paragraph Look Like?  When you write to compare or contrast something, the topic sentence tells what you're comparing. The details tell how things are alike or different. 

Check out the example below. 

Also notice how the paragraph uses what we call signal words. Writers use signal words to show when they are comparing or contrasting. Signal words help the reader see that the writer is telling how things are alike or different and showing the connections between ideas. 

Lists of signal words can be found below. Make sure you utilize some of these words in your own paragraphs.

Notice how the example paragraph below employs signal words to show both similarities and differences. 

Lastly, what are the key elements of a good comparison-contrast paragraph? Check out the checklist below. 

Writing Your Hatshepsut and Ramses II Comparison-Contrast Paragraph  Now that you have examined a couple of examples and understand the essential elements of an good comparison-contrast paragraph, it's time to start writing your own. You can find the assignment Hatshepsut and Ramses II - Comparison-Contrast Paragraph in your Social Studies Google Classroom. You will have today and tomorrow to work on your paragraph in class, and it will be due on Friday, October 30.    

Comparing and Contrasting Hatshepsut and Ramses II

 Today's Social Studies Objective   Understand the significance of Queen Hatshepsut and Ramses the Great

 Today's Writing Objective   Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey information through the use of comparison/contrast

Introducing Comparing and Contrasting  To compare means to tell how two things are alike. To contrast means to tell how they are different. To better understanding comparing and contrasting, check out the video below. 

Applying the Skill: Comparing and Contrasting Hatshepsut and Ramses II  Today we will utilize the skill of comparing and contrasting in order to identify the similarities and differences between the two Egyptian pharaohs Queen Hatshepsut and King Ramses II. What do these two pharaohs have in common with each other? How are they different? 

You will use the document Hatshepsut and Ramses II - Venn Diagram, which you can find in Social Studies Google Classroom, to make note of these similarities and differences. As most of you know, when using a venn diagram, similarities are recorded in the overlapping section of the circles, while the differences between two subjects are made clear in the outer labeled areas of the circles which are not overlapping.

Today, you and your teammates are going to closely examine the two text sets related to Hatshepsut and Ramses II, as well as your Hatshepsut Notes and Ramses II Notes, and try to identify both similarities and differences between these two subjects. You will then record your findings on your Hatshepsut and Ramses II - Venn Diagram. Towards the end of class we will do a whole-class share-out, as each group will have the opportunity to share their similarities and differences with each other. 

Tomorrow, we will begin to construct compare and contrast paragraphs about Hatshepsut and Ramses II based on the similarities and differences we come up with today.  

Homework  Complete your Hatshepsut and Ramses II - Venn Diagram by tomorrow, Tuesday, October 27, so you can use it as a resource to help your write your upcoming Hatshepsut and Ramses II compare/contrast paragraph.

Egyptian Pharaoh Study: Ramses II

 Today's Learning Objective    Understand the significance of Ramses the Great

Warm-Up: What makes a great leader?  Today I want you to consider what makes a leader great? What qualities do great leaders possess? What do great leaders do? Can you think of any examples of great leaders? Share your ideas here.  

Examining Ramses II from Multiple Sources  Ramses II is considered by many to be the greatest leader in Ancient Egypt's history. But was he? In order to understand his significance we will be consider Ramses using multiple sources. We will examine a section from our Social Studies textbook, a primary source that includes Ramses's own words, a short documentary video, and finally a Powerpoint presentation designed by a teacher. By examining a text set composed of a variety of sources, my hope is that you will develop a more comprehensive understanding of this complex and remarkable figure from history.

You will use the document Ramses II Notes to document the important things you learn about him and his reign. 

We will begin by reading an excerpt from our Social Studies textbook below.    

Abu Simbel

Now we will read Ramses's own words (an example of a primary source), in which he blames his own troops for the failures of the Battle of Qadesh.

Ramses the Great and the Battle of Qadesh 

Next, we will watch a video that takes a critical look at Ramses and cast him as essentially a propagandist who built shrines and monuments in his honor as a way of covering up his own failures. Is this a fair perspective?    

Finally, let's check out a PowerPoint presentation designed by a fellow teacher, which tries to take a more balanced view of Ramses II.