"Hi" in Hieroglyphics
Grade Levels: 2 - 6
Overview
Students explore Web resources and translate names and common words from English into hieroglyphics, and vice versa.Objective
- Students will become aware of an ancient writing system,
- Students will practice translating their names and common words from English into hieroglyphics, and vice versa.
Materials
- World atlas, or map of Egypt
- Printouts from Great Scott!, a website with a section all about hieroglyphics.
- "Hi"
in Hieroglyphics worksheet.
Procedure
- Before you present the lesson to the students, familiarize yourself with
the site by going to the Great Scott! website.
- Print copies of the hieroglyphic table, one for each child or each pair
of children, and transform a few names into hieroglyphics to see how the feature
works. Notice the word-length restrictions.
- Introduce the topic of hieroglyphics by asking children if they know what
hieroglyphics are and where they came from. Discuss aspects of ancient Egyptian life
that the children may know about such as pyramids and mummies. Then help children
locate modern Egypt using the atlas or map you brought to class.
- Distribute the hieroglyphic charts from the website and the "Hi"
in Hieroglyphics worksheet. Use the hieroglyphics translation tool on National Geographic Magazine's website. Input a few children's names into
the transformation feature so they can see how it works.
Have them look at their hieroglyphics table to find the English letter equivalents
of your examples.
- Tell students they are going to guess at three common words that you are going to put into the transformation tool. Use words such as "hi,"
"yes," and "no," but don't tell the class what they are. Transform the
words one at a time and have students "translate" them using their hieroglyphics
tables. Have them write their guesses in English on their "Hi"
in Hieroglyphics worksheet. When students have finished writing, have
them check their answers.
Home Connection
Have students take their hieroglyphic tables home and help family members transform their names into hieroglyphics.
Extension
Have students draw hieroglyphic representations of names and common words for their classmates and quiz each other.
