Social Studies, Reading, Math,

and Writing

Discovering Ancient Egypt

Book Exploration

Classic Games

Map It

Website Browsing

Build Your Own Pyramid

Books magazines will be available on the subject of Egypt. Subjects will included pyramids, mythology, mummification, life in the society, and politics.

The children can read these during our specified “silent reading” times throughout the day (for example, if they finish an assignment early).

I could build in activity time while we study about Ancient Egypt, such as, “Share with a partner one thing you learned from the book you have been reading. Then we will share with the class.”

Introduce to the class that ancient Egyptians played board games,

and that board games have been around for thousands of years.

“Senet” which means “passing,” such as from this life to the next, is a

board game in which the players take turns trying to get to the end of

line, passing good-luck symbols as well as “collecting” things they

would need for their journey into the afterlife.

Although it sounds macabre, it introduces children to the heavy belief

the Egyptians placed on the afterlife.

Blank maps of Egypt will be provided and the students will be

assigned cities and monuments to locate.

Each student is assigned a city and or site and they can put label it

on the larger version blank map on the bulletin board as they finish

their assignment.

This is a great assignment that they can turn in at their own pace (at

least until the end of the unit), and I can check it off in my grade book

as they come in.

Let the students use laptops to explore

webquest sites, as well as other

informational sites on ancient Egypt.

Some sites can include ancient-egypt.org,

egypt.mrdonn.org, or

guardians.net/egypt/kids/index.htm, which

lists several interactive websites in one

location.

This a great activity in which the students

can construct their own paper pyramid and

design the interior images and exterior

images that would reflect their

understanding of Egyptian burial and

afterlife ceremonies.

At the end of the unit students could

showcase their pyramids for the class in a

“show and tell” style event.

Book and magazines on the subject of

Ancient Egypt (and modern Egypt, too).

Bulletin Board, as showcased in my visual

Blank maps

Laptops

Reproducible/laminated games of Senet

Beat the Teacher Math

Tangrams• this is one of my favorite math activities. Not only can the kids try to solve the

manipulative, but they can also use tangram shapes to create their own art. This is one of those math activities that can span the grades seamlessly.

Math Games• There visual and special games available such as dominos, Mancala, Othello,

Qizmo and Tri-Onimos. These can be used for center times when all other work is complete.

Extra Credit• There will be several manila folders available with extra worksheets

in them that pertain to the most current lessons happening during the core instruction, as well as several previewing sections to come. That way if a student finishes their homework early, he or she can try and solve problems from tomorrow’s concept.

enVision Games• Use games designed by the curriculum in the

classroom. For example, EnVisions offers a variety of team and pair games that coordinate with each section covered in the text. Those could also be available for students to take back to their desks.

Stump the Teacher• Design your own problem: create several math

problems designed to stump the teacher (all questions must have an answer before I will try to solve, hence the “Beat the Teacher” center title). I have used this in the past and it is quite fun as older kids try to prove they are smarter than their teacher.

Math games such as Dominoes, Mancala,

Othello, Tri-Ominoes

enVision reproducible games

Notebook paper, pencils

Tangram sets (plastic and paper cut-outs

Turn-in station

“Rockin’ Reading

Writing Journal• each student will have a composition notebook that they will keep

notes in about the book they are reading. The notes will require the students to keep tract of indicating words about the setting of the story as well as new words, words they liked or scenes that stood out to them.

Book Summary• Each child will fill out a book summary after completing each book

(they must finish one 200 page book per month) and turn in the completed sheet into a “submit” folder.

Genre Board• There will be a genre poster near the reading rug in which the

children can write their finished books on a post-it and place it in the coordinating section. They must write on it who they think would like to read the book and why (ie Molly should read this because she loves horses).

“May I Quote You?”• There will be a bulletin board available that the

children can post their favorite quotes from the

books they have just read.

Genre Game• There will be a box of books that need categorized

as to what genre they belong to. The books will

rotate monthly and each student must use clues

from the text to prove which genre it is.

Bulletin Board for two activities

Blank notebook paper

Composition notebook for each child

A plethora of grade-level novels

“Write Away”

I Wonder Prompts• Such as “I wonder what would have happened to

Katniss Everdeen if she never volunteered for tribute?” or “I wonder which event changed Esperanza’s life the most?” (A book my 6th graders read).

Picture Prompts• Using images such as Chris Van Allsburg The

Mysteries of Harris Burdick,” students can create a story based on the picture promts. 6.W.3 Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

Add On• A student can pick a story that is already in action and build

upon what is already typed on the prompt paper.

Slipping, Sliding, Tumbling• Reinforcing Cause and Effect Through Diamante

Poems found on readwritethink.org, a great activity for having poetry be present in the classroom

Free Choice• If a student is motivated for this activity they can

free write about anything they want.

Small boxes or containers with laminated

stips of paper for the “I wonder prompts”

Laptops

Turn-In station

Box for Add-On story prompts

box or folder for picture prompts

Blank notebook paper, pencils

Each center has a variety of activities that can be modified to be appropriate for the academic levels of any of my students, which is a great asset for any teacher.

Both the Reading and Writing center will need a larger space along a wall to pull off, but will be accessible for all students.

The math center can be done in a small amount of space which is great.

The social studies center is short-lived but could be a permanent social studies location. It, too, will need a larger wall and display area. However, they can showcase all of the work the class is doing which is great for not only the students but also any classroom visitors we might have.