Egyptian pyramid society

4th Grade – History (Italian educational system)

young-ancient-egyptian-boy-pointing-towards-pyramids-at-giza-clipart

Materials for the class

Tin cans, A4 sheets, pencils, scissors, glue, tape, paper ball.

Layout of the classroom

Phase 1-2: the activity will be performed in the classroom. You have to form groups based on the pyramid society.

Phase 3-4: you need a free space (without desks) inside the room.

Phase 1

The teacher introduces the topic: she/he will speak about Ancient Egypt in general and then about the pyramid society (pharaoh, nobles and priests, scribes, soldiers, artisans and merchants, farmers, servants and slaves).

Phase 2

The teacher divides the children into groups: nobles and priests, scribes, soldiers, artisans and merchants, farmers, slaves. Each group finds out objects that characterize the social status of the group. The children draw objects and men on paper stripes that they will stick on the tin cans. The number of cans has to be appropriate to build a pyramid.

Phase 3

Each group finds out features of the given social status (rights, duties, tasks,…) and writes them on a sheet.

The children have now to hit the can pyramids with the ball: the points are given according to the social status represented by the pyramid (1 for a slaves can, 2 for a farmers can,…). In order to get the points, the group has to answer some questions about Ancient Egypt; it has also to recognize a particular social status by reading the files prepared previously by the groups.

Phase 4

The teacher discusses the activity with the children and asks them if they know societies/states that still have pyramid societies.