Webquests: A Journey Into Ancient Egypt for Middle School Students

Webquests: A Journey Into Ancient Egypt for Middle School Students
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An Ancient Egypt Webquest

The Egypt webquest below enables you to take your students on a journey through the Egypt known to the Ancient Egyptians while it gives

them experience locating and using Internet content.

A webquest is an exceptional teaching tool. It lets students discover new material on their own, or in this case, allows your students to enhance knowledge they have gained from previous lessons on Ancient Egypt.

(Use this handout of the assignments in this webquest complete with grading rubrics.)

Part I: Questions and Answers

Use the website below to answer these questions about Ancient Egypt. Answers are provided here but are not on the handout in the media gallery.

Explore the Pyramids at National Geographic.com

giza

1. What did the Ancient Egyptians believe happened to the Pharaoh upon his death?

They thought he became Osiris, king of the dead.

2. Why was it thought to be essential to mummify pharaohs?

Since the ka, (the spiritual energy of a person’s soul or essence), stayed with the pharaoh’s body, it was essential to keep the body in good form so the pharaoh could fulfill his duities as king of the dead.

3. Define mastabas and benben.

Mastaba-flat, mud-brick or stone tombs. The word means bench in Arabic.

Benben- pointed stone symbolizing the sun’s rays.

4. What new structures were built during the Old Kingdom?

Pyramids

5. What was the main purpose of these structures/monuments?

Pyramids served as tombs for the pharaohs.

6. Which Pharaoh built the first pyramid?

Djoser

7. Who was his architect?

Imhotep

8. Was it a true pyramid?

No. It was a step pyramid consisting of a series of stacked mastabas.

9. Which Pharaoh built the first true pyramid and what was it called?

Snefru ‘s third attempt at a pyramid, the Red Pyramid, was a true pyramid shape.

10. Were slaves responsible for pyramid construction?

No.

Part II: Build a Pyramid

Use the Pyramid Index at National Geographic.com, the Pyramids and Temples of Egypt, and Who Built the Pyramids? for the following:

  • Choose a pyramid you would have liked to work on. Pretend you are part a work gang building this pyramid for your pharaoh.
  • Name your work gang and explain the significance of its name.
  • Why did you choose this pyramid? Explain your answer with details about the pyramid, the time within it was built, and the pharaoh it was built for.

Part III: Gods and Goddesses

Visit the BBC’s Ancient Egyptian God’s Gallery and read the description of each deity in the gallery.

Osiris

Go to the Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt and explore the catalogue of gods, read the creation story, and take the challenge.

  • Choose a god or goddess and compose a prayer. Your entreaty must be suitable to your chosen deity’s purpose and function. See the rubric.

This post is part of the series: Ancient Egypt Lesson Plans

Introduce your students to the land of the Pharaohs, mummies, and pyramids.

  1. Ancient Egyptian Scribe Schools
  2. Ancient Egypt Timeline: The Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms
  3. An Ancient Egyptian Lesson on Hatshepsut
  4. Teaching Creepy but Fascinating Mummy Facts in this Lesson Plan
  5. Egyptian Webquests for the Classroom