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Our World of Wonders, The Pyramids of Egypt, Thematic Unit Study

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What we know about ancient civilizations comes from what those civilizations left behind.

We know for sure that the Pyramids existed because they're still with us. Rising out of the desert sands, the Pyramids of Egypt stand as a monument to the skill and determination of the Egyptian pharaohs and their ability to get thousands of people to do hard labor for generations.

The word "pyramid" actually comes from the Greek word "pyramis," which means "wheat cake." The word "pyramis" was used to describe the ancient Egyptian buildings because they reminded the Greeks of pointy-topped wheat cakes. The ancient Egyptian word for the pyramids was "Mer."

Sometimes it's a shard of pottery, part of a tool, a piece of jewelry that will be the beginning of the journey of discovery. Archaeologists scour the earth for any pieces of ancient civilizations to piece together a picture of the past, like a puzzle.

In Egypt there are clues to the past that are hard to miss: they're six and a half million tons, taller than the Statue of Liberty, and as wide as 10 football fields. You don't need to dig and search, or use a trowel and a brush to discover these artifacts; they are easily seen from space!

This Lesson Plan and Unit Study examines the How, Why and Where of the Egyptian Pyramids and provides links and resources, as well as activities to enhance your study.

Intro. Image from Miscrosoft Clipart

The Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid. It is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence.

Intriguing and Mysterious Egypt

I have never visited Egypt, I have always had it on my list of places to visit. Being a prolific photographer of anything and everything, I see myself at sunrise, sunset and any other given time, photographing the colossal pyramids, gazing in awe at the Sphinx, marveling at the tombs and creations and creators of Ancient Egypt.

Of course the desert itself has an alluring and magical quality, the strong winds blowing the sands from the mighty Sahara Desert, ruthlessly and impartially burying everything in their way... images of the Nile, and the great pyramids against a setting sun... yes, I would love to go... maybe one day I shall.

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What are the pyramids and where can they be found?

The Egyptian pyramids are ancient pyramid-shaped buildings that can be found in Egypt, and as at 2008 there were 138 pyramids discovered in Egypt. Most of them were built as tombs for the country's Pharaohs and their consorts during the Old and Middle Kin

The earliest known Egyptian pyramids are found at Saqqara, northwest of Memphis. The earliest among these is the Pyramid of Djoser (constructed 2630 BCE-2611 BCE) which was built during the third dynasty. This pyramid and its surrounding complex were designed by the architect Imhotep, and are considered to be the world's oldest monumental structures constructed of dressed masonry.
It is estimated that the number of workers it took to build the pyramids have a wide range from a few thousand, twenty thousand, and up to 100,000. No one really knows with any certainty how many people were required to build a pyramid, or how long it would take them.

Historians still don't know for sure how exactly the pyramids were built. There are many theories about this. The stones used to build the Pyramids were massive, weighing many tons. These large stones were way too heavy for people to carry to the tall heights of the top of the Pyramids.

It is thought that slaves used a series of logs rolling on the ground to move the giant stones. Then they put them in place as parts of a pyramid. But again, other experts believe that slaves did not build the pyramids but workers with specialized skills were employed to do the job.

Stones to build the pyramid were cut from rock quarries using chisels, hammers, and mallets. Since the stones were so large and heavy, the quarries were near the building sites so they would not have to be transported long distances. After all, they were built before cars, trains, or even electricity!

To make it easier to move the stones to the pyramid researchers believe that they were placed on wooden sleds that were pulled through canals of water leading to the building. No one knows exactly how the large, incredibly heavy blocks were first lifted and then put into place. Some researchers believe cranes or a system of levers were probably used to position the large blocks. It also seems certain that ramps were used to make it easier to move the blocks.

When huge blocks of rock were cut from places many miles away and taken by boat to Giza and other places where pyramids were being built.
The most famous Egyptian pyramids are those found at Giza, just outside of Cairo. Some of the Giza pyramids are counted among the largest buildings ever built.

The Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid. It is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence.

The Shape and Symbol of the Pyramids

The shape of Egyptian pyramids is thought to represent the mound from which the Egyptians believed the earth was created. It is also thought to represent the rays of the sun, shining down. Most pyramids were painted with polished, highly reflective whi

Pyramids were often also named in ways that referred to the shine and reflection from the sun. For example, the proper name of the Bent Pyramid at Dahshur is The Southern Shining Pyramid, and that of Senwosret at el-Lahun was Senwosret is Shining.

While it is generally agreed that pyramids were burial monuments, no real agreement has been reached as to the religious thoughts behind building a burial tomb in the shape of a pyramid. One suggestion is that they were designed as a type of "resurrection machine."

The Egyptians believed the dark area of the night sky around which the stars revolve was the physical gateway into the heavens. One of the narrow shafts that extends from the main burial chamber through the entire body of the Great Pyramid points directly towards the center of this part of the sky. This suggests the pyramid may have been designed to serve as a means to magically and immediately send the deceased pharaoh's soul directly into the home of the gods.

All Egyptian pyramids were built on the west bank of the Nile, which as the site of the setting sun, was associated with the world of the dead in Egyptian mythology

The first pyramids were called "Step Pyramids" because they looked like giant steps. The pyramids we most recognize today, the smooth ones, were built later. Some researchers believe the steps were meant to symbolize a stairway to the sky, for the dead pharaoh to climb and become a star.

Until the Eiffel Tower was built in France in 1889, it was the tallest building in the world!

Other pyramids followed, ordered built by other pharaohs. Historians still don't know how many pyramids were built in all because they are always finding remains of others buried beneath the constantly blowing sands of the Sahara Desert.

Pyramid Fast Facts! Let's Recap!

Things you may not have known!

The pyramids of Egypt started out as flat, square buildings called mastabas.

The pyramids can actually be seen from space!

The pyramid is the final remaining wonder from the original Seven Wonders of the World.

The pyramids were built to protect the bodies of dead pharaohs and contained items the pharaoh might need in the afterlife.

Not every pyramid is a smooth 4-sided pyramid, some are actually called "step-pyramids".

No one knows quite how the pyramids were built, nor do they know how many people it took to build a pyramid or how long it took them.

The Nile River was probably used to transport the big building blocks to Egypt, where they were taken to Giza to be used for the pyramids.

The pyramids as we know them have 4 sides and each side is an equilateral triangle. This means each one of the three sides of the triangle is exactly the same as the other two. Each of the four triangles making up the four sides of the pyramid is the same.

In 2008 only 118 pyramids had been discovered in Egypt. Many pyramids had been buried under sand during fierce sandstorms in the Sahara Desert.

Pyramids - Double Puzzle

Unscramble each of the clue words. You will find all the words in the text on this page.

Take the letters that appear in boxes and unscramble them for the final message. Answers at the bottom of this lens.

Tip: Right click this image, and save to your computer. Print it out and have your child try his or her hand at the puzzle.

A Pyramid Jigsaw Puzzle

Jigsaw Puzzles reinforce Motor Coordination and Critical Thinking Skills

Puzzles are activities which require matching, sorting and problem solving to complete a challenge or task. Jigsaw puzzles are the most common version of puzzles, but there are lots of other versions available as well - particularly as children get older. Cubes, pyramids and other 3 dimensional puzzles are popular with older kids, as are IQ type puzzles with ropes, rings and balls.
300 Piece Mysteries of The Pyramids Pyramid Puzzle Art by Ciro Marchetti

300 Piece Mysteries of The Pyramids Pyramid Puzzle Art by Ciro Marchetti

Amazon Price: $12.07 (as of 06/03/2012)Buy Now

As soon as your child opens their eyes, the whole world is a puzzle, and there are a million things they need to decipher and solve as they grow up. Different puzzles and logic toys will help your child develop different skills, but there are some overarching benefits that are common throughout.

They help to stimulate the thinking side of your child's brain, and force them to focus on problem solving skills such as process and logic. They begin to understand that there are several ways to attack a problem, and will experiment with ways which work best for them. The more puzzles and logic toys your child explores, the stronger their personal sense of process will be.

The problem solving skills learned through puzzles can be transferred to every area of your child's life.

Lesson Plans

To enhance your unit study you may wish to take a look at these well-researched and substantiated lesson plans.
Egypt's Pyramids: Monuments with a Message
In Egypt's Pyramids: Monuments with a Message (3-5), students theorize about the purpose of the pyramids and describe what the pyramids tell us about the people of Ancient Egypt. This lesson contains three separate, but integrated, activities.
Ancient Worlds Workshop: Egypt
In Ancient Worlds Workshop: Egypt (3-5), students explore the ancient civilization of Egypt. They learn about the geography of Egypt, read about daily life in ancient Egypt and conclude by writing letters describing one aspect of life in ancient Egypt that they find interesting.
River Sources and Stories
In River Sources and Stories (3-5), students learn about the differences in precipitation levels and elevation in the regions of the Nile and its source rivers-the White Nile and the Blue Nile. They then learn about the importance of the source rivers to civilization in Egypt.
The Mystery of the Scroll: Ancient Egyptian Culture and Geography
In The Mystery of the Scroll: Ancient Egyptian Culture and Geography (6-8), students examine the design and location of ancient Egypt's tombs and pyramids, including the Great Pyramid. They examine cultural and geographic evidence as clues for understanding the structure and placement of these historical landmarks.
Guided Comprehension: Monitoring Using the INSERT Technique
In Guided Comprehension: Monitoring Using the INSERT Technique (3-5), students learn about the Great Pyramid and other information about ancient Egypt, as they use the INSERT technique, which teaches them to monitor their thinking and comprehension using a coding system.

Pyramids, Crossword Puzzle

Read the clues below and fill in the crossword puzzle. Right-click and save to your computer, print out and have your child complete.

Across

2. The pyramids were built using huge pieces of stone.
3. It's like a secret, not much is known about it.
5. The name given to the step-pyramids.
8. This River runs through Egypt.
10. This is said to guard the pyramids.
11. An old relic or remnant of the past.
12. Another word for huge.
13. The Sahara is one of these dry places.
14. The person who draws plans for buildings.

Down

1. The pyramids are the last remaining one of these.
4. What the Egyptians called their kings.
6. The pyramids were built on this side of the Nile.
7. The name of the tombs in Egypt.
9. Very, very old.

Answers at the bottom of this lens.

Pyramids Fallen Phrase

Hmmm.. want to give this a try? It's called a Fallen Phrase, and is really a process of elimination - sort of!

A fallen phrase puzzle shows the spaces for a statement or phrase. The letters are directly below the column in which they will fit, but jumbled within the column.

Right click and save the image to your computer, then print it out. The answer (Fallen Phrase) is at the bottom of this lens. Good Luck!

Make an Origami Pyramid

This 7 minute video will show you, step-by-step, an easy and interesting Origami project. All it takes is a square of paper. Worth a try!
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Instructions for a Pyramid Poem

A pyramid poem is a poem about a person, place or thing that is written in a pyramid or triangular shape. It starts with a single word in the first line and builds until the fourth line, which is the longest one in the poem.

Taught in elementary and middle schools to help children with grammar and word choices, a pyramid poem is a carefree exercise in basic poetry. Following a simple formula, anyone can have fun creating a four-line pyramid poem.

You'll Need to use a Dictionary or thesaurus to help choose words that will fit your poem's theme and formula.

Write down one noun in the center of a piece of paper. This noun will be the theme of the pyramid poem and is the entire first line of the four-line poem. As an example, the first line could be "Rainstorm".

Write down two adjectives that describe the noun; center them below the first line. Separate the two adjectives by a comma. The second line of "Rainstorm" could be "Wet, shivering."

Write down three action verbs, ending in "ing" (the participle form of the verb), that describe the noun; center them beneath line 2. Follow the first two verbs with a comma. This is the third line of the poem. In "Rainstorm," line 3 could be "Hiding, running, waiting."

Write a short phrase or statement, or a combination statement and a question that relate directly to the noun in the first line of the poem. Center these words so the line becomes the base of your pyramid. This is the fourth and final line of the poem. Make sure the fourth line is not too long; six to eight is probably the right number of words. "Left my umbrella on the bus once again," could be the final line of "Rainstorm."

Write a final draft of the poem on a clean sheet of paper. Usually only the initial letter in the first word in each line is capitalized. "Rainstorm" will look like this - with each line centered:

Rainstorm
Wet, shivering
Hiding, running, waiting
Left my umbrella on the bus once again

Tips
~ To get some ideas, skim through a dictionary or thesaurus before you start to write.
~ Invite your friends or family to join you in writing pyramid poems and take turns reading them.
~ Read the poem aloud to hear how it sounds.

References: Kilkenny Nat School: Pyramid Poems

How to Make a Paper Pyramid

Pyramids are 3 dimensional objects that have a polygon for a base and triangles for faces. The triangle faces meet at a common point or vertex. You may wish to make a paper pyramid for a Social Studies project or a Math project or just for fun!

Reference wikiHow

Paper pyramids are easy to make when following some basic directions. You can add your own creative touches to make them extra special.
Steps
Mathematical Pyramids
  1. Decide what type of paper to use to make your pyramid. Card stock will make a sturdy pyramid. Construction paper will work, but it is not as sturdy as card stock. Poster board is a little harder to fold and crease because it is so thick, but it will make a larger size pyramid that is sturdy. All of these paper products come in a variety of colors. You can pick your favorite color or choose a color that can be easily decorated.
  2. Locate a pattern for the net of a pyramid. Patterns can be found by searching online. Try to find a pattern that uses tabs to attach the sides to each other. Tabs are long strips of extra paper that run down one side of the edges of the pyramid. Tabs are made for gluing. You will glue each tab to the back of the faces of the pyramid.
  3. Trace around the pattern on the paper you have chosen. Cut out the pyramid.
  4. Decorate the pyramid any way that you would like at this time. While the net of the pyramid is lying flat, you can use markers, crayons, or paint to add designs to the pyramid sides.
  5. Fold and crease the edges of the paper pyramid. There should be lines on the pattern that show you where to fold.
  6. Tape or glue the faces of the pyramid together. Tape will show from the outside. Tape will need to be used if there are no tabs. Glue can be used if there are tabs, and it will not show. Patterns with tabs make a more stable paper pyramid.

Egyptian Pyramids
  1. Follow the same directions for making mathematical pyramids. Most Egyptian pyramids have a square or rectangular base.
  2. Color the net of the pyramid to resemble an Egyptian pyramid. You could use gray paper and draw lines for the blocks with a black marker. If you are using a heavy paper, you may want to decorate the pyramid by covering the faces of the pyramid with glue and sand.

Tips
  • There are several different types of mathematical pyramids. The difference has to do with the base. Try making simple mathematical pyramids such as triangular or rectangular. More complex pyramids would be hexagonal or pentagonal.
  • Egyptian pyramids can be made in different sizes and can be placed together for a nice display.

Things You'll Need
  • Pyramid pattern
  • Paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Markers
  • Crayons
  • Paint

Sources and Citations

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Original wikiHow article on How to Make a Paper Pyramid. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

Coloring Pages and Printable Templates

Pyramid Coloring Page from Edupics
880 x 640 Pyramid Coloring Page
Pyramids Coloring Page from Hello Kids
621 x 900 Pyramids Coloring Page
Camel and Pyramid Coloring Page from SuperColoring
Camel at Pyramid Coloring Page
Coloring WS - Country of Egypt Coloring Pages
20 printable blackline coloring pages depicting pyramids, Egyptian dieties, pharaohs, heiroglyphs, and more
Pyramid Printable (Halloween) Craft Template
This Halloween pyramid box is easy to make using the free printable template that is on the next page. The template is available in two sizes. The small pyramid box is ideal for holding tiny Halloween treats. The larger pyramid box would hold some candies for trick or treat. Make a number of the Halloween Pyramid gift boxes and hang them from trees as decoration or hang them from a ribbon or cord for an unusual garland idea.

Throw an Egyptian, Cleopatra or Mummy Themed Party

Historical Egypt is still a fascinating location. From mummies and pyramids to pharaohs and scarabs there is plenty of fuel for that fascination pyre.

Maintain in mind nevertheless, the goal right here is for that children to have an excellent time, not to be frightened so maintain the scary things to a minimal if possible (even when your child is brave to a fault that does not imply that some of the friends won't be frightened and you would like the experience to be nice for everybody).

Use Egyptian party ideas for Halloween or as a birthday party theme. With Egyptian party ideas you can't take everyone to Egypt, but you can make them think they are actually inside an Ancient Egyptian Pyramid!

Who can't help but be mesmerized with anything that has to do with ancient Egypt, so your party ideas are sure to be a huge hit. With Egypt's colossal pyramids, temples, spine-chilling mummies and remarkable hieroglyphics are only some of the things that draw us to it.

The materials needed to decorate the room with is not at all that difficult to find. An ancient Egyptian birthday party's decorations may come from your stash of Halloween ornaments. What you need to do first is to come up with an idea how to have a pyramid in your own backyard. If you have a canopy or tent available, this will make a great pyramid. If you can paint it, then do so -- you can paint on bricks the color of an Egyptian pyramid. For the items to be found inside the pyramid, you can raid your nearest party supplies shop. Use skulls (leftover from Halloween decorations) on the ground, gold coins (or doubloons, which can be bought fairly inexpensively at many celebration provide shops), sequins that appear like jewels, and fake jewelry that might have been worn throughout the interval. Of course no pyramid is complete without that good old mummy!

If you are nonetheless looking for outstanding actions you are able to bury treasure inside your sandbox (in the event you have 1) and allow all of them get turns digging up treasures and/or artifacts that they can get house with them. Make sure everybody has at least 1 turn and gets 1 factor to get house from your digging.

It doesn't have to be authentic Egyptian food that you serve at your party. You can have a barbecue, hot dogs, pizza and soda -- it doesn't matter; after all, everyone will be too amazed at your Egyptian art and won't be able to take away their eyes off the artifacts around them. Set out some buffet food, lunch meats, salads, rolls on golden paper plates. Make your party food simple...except for the few gory, fun food recipes you can find around Halloween.

If you are having kids at your party, birthday or Halloween costume gala, make up some goody bags. If you can find them try to include items connected with the ancient Egyptian theme. You can include glow sticks, small flashlights, spiders, stick-on temporary tattoos, and candies that resemble treasure items like chocolate coins.

References: Under Creative Commons License: Attribution No Derivatives - Article Snatch, Egyptian Themed Birthday Party andEgyptian Party Ideas

Walk Like an Egyptian!

Get dressed up for your party or class theme day!

The ancient residents of Egypt intrigue us. There is an aura of grandeur and mystery about them. There are some fabulous Egyptian costume available too. Cleopatra, the Mummy, Nefertiti, Pharaoh, and that's only a few of the ideas for costumes that come from Egypt. Some of the wonderful costumes are reason alone to get some Egyptian party ideas.
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Planning a Healthy Party Menu

While not all ancient Egyptian fare suits a menu for children, enough foods remain familiar today to put together an Egyptian snack buffet.

Archaeologists know about the foods that graced ancient Egyptian tables because of tomb paintings depicting harvest scenes and food preparation. Wealthy Egyptians' graves contained food to travel with the deceased into the afterlife; the remnants of these foods also inform researchers about the Egyptian diet at the time the tomb was sealed.

Create your party menu using the following as a basis for the fare.

Bread - Pita bread makes a child-friendly substitute for ancient Egyptian bread. The bread that ancient Egyptians knew did not resemble the fluffy, white loaves we know today. During the Old Kingdom, bread meant a flat, unleavened cake shaped into rounds or triangles. Later breads included yeast. For bread similar to what ancient Egyptians ate, buy coarsely textured flat loaves containing stone-ground emmer wheat. Whole wheat pita bread also resembles ancient breads. Turn wedges of coarse Egyptian-style breads into child-friendly snack food with a drizzle of honey or a yogurt dip; these condiments suit both historical accuracy and the modern palate.

Honey - Honey tastes the same today as it did thousands of years ago. According to imagery in their paintings, the Egyptians knew how to keep bees and harvest their honey since the Old Kingdom period of approximately 2,400 BC. Archaeologists have found jars of honey in tombs including two empty, but labeled honey jars in Tutankhamen famous tomb. Embalmers even used honey to prepare mummies, a fact that parents may choose not to share with kids about to enjoy a snack of honeyed bread. Use honey as a dip for Egyptian-style bread, pour it over tart apricots or mix it into yogurt for a children's snack fit for a young pharaoh.

Grapes and Raisins - Egyptians harvest grapes to eat and to dry as raisins. Grapes thrived in the rich alluvial plains bordering the Nile. Egypt's arid climate lent itself well to drying fruit. Frescoes depict workers harvesting grapes and setting them out to dry into raisins; archaeologists can conclude from these paintings and from written accounts of offerings to gods that the Egyptians ate both grapes and raisins. These portable, mess-free foods make good child-friendly snacks today as they must have for kids in ancient Egypt. Children need little encouragement to enjoy these familiar sweet treats, but presenting them as the food of pharaohs makes them even more appealing.

Dates - Dates date back to antiquity. While the rich used honey to sweeten dishes, less affluent Egyptians used fresh or dried dates as a sweetener. Dates left in graves to nourish the deceased in the afterlife suggest that both the wealthy and the poor enjoyed these sweet fruits. Millennium of careful cross-breeding has left modern dates sweeter than ancient Egyptian varieties, but kids likely will not mind eating a sweeter fruit than what the ancients enjoyed. Serve pitted dates as a snack by themselves or with fresh cheese as the Egyptians might have eaten them.

Other Fruits - Figs and pomegranates were favorite ancient Egyptian snacks. Figs, like dates, grew in Egypt from the earliest recorded times. Egyptians ate them fresh or dried; the soft fruits remain a common snack in present-day Egypt. Apples and pomegranates made their way into Egypt around 2,000 BC, while apricots and almonds did not reach the area until approximately 400 BC. All of these fruits make tasty, healthful and authentic Egyptian snacks for children and can help illustrate how new foods become part of a culture over time.

Adapted from and based on an article on eHow: Ancient Egyptian Snacks for Kids

Egypt Themed Games

Make a Mummy - How about dividing the children up into little groups and, on your cue, race to wrap a member in budget (low-cost) toilet paper or gauze until they look like ancient Egyptian mummies themselves?

Walk like an Egyptian is fun to play. Get some music of the era (perhaps even the song, Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles) and let everyone take a turn walking...like an Egyptian. Have all the guests clap to find the winner. The person who receives the loudest applause wins.

There's always trivia...there are some great questions and facts you can come up with about ancient Egypt and the people who lived in the fertile Nile valley. Ask questions about the River Nile, the clothing, papyrus, the pyramids, the sphinx and the pharaohs. Cleopatra is a great subject too.

Freeze Dancing to songs like "Walk like an Egyptian" is also fun. Mummy Wrap can be a relay game. Make two or three teams...each team member will get a certain length of Mummy Wrap and has to each piece of material and return to the starting line...one at a time. The race for time makes any game more exciting!

Trivia games and Charades are fun to use with Egyptian Party Ideas too. Of course you must use only Egyptian Characters with Charades and Trivia can be from the famous movies we've seen about Egypt...like the Mummy!

Halloween food games would fit in perfectly with this party theme. After all, ancient Egyptians certainly knew a thing or two about mummification and preparing the body for the after life. They had to have removed an organ or two...and here they are...concealed in a bag or box at your party. Waiting to be identified by your dressed up party guests. You know the foods to use, don't you? Cooked spaghetti is guts, peeled grapes are eyeballs, sausage can be intestines...you can figure other gory Halloween games from these simple ideas.

There are plenty of ways to incorporate Egyptian party ideas into a Halloween party, a birthday party, in fact, any kind of a party.

References: Egyptian Party Ideas. <;>Clipart Microsoft

You can watch the Pointy the Pyramid Pumpkin video on You Tube

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How to Build a Karel Drbal Pyramid

Karel Drbal's pyramid is based on the Khufu, or Cheops, pyramid at Giza in Egypt. Many people believe, and have tried to prove, that this shape has special powers including the ability to sharpen razor blades and cure ills.

How to Build a Karel Drbal Pyramid
from wikiHow


Steps

  1. Cut four equilateral triangles from heavy paper or cardboard. The dimensions can be changed depending on what size you need, as long as all sides are equal length.
  2. Construct a pyramid by taping the sides together.
  3. (Optional) Make a false floor that fits inside the pyramid without lifting it up anywhere.
  4. Align the pyramid so that the baselines point at magnetic north and south. Use a traditional compass to find these directions.

Tips
  • Test the Power of the Pyramid:
    1. Put as many used razor blades as you wish on the false floor of the pyramid so that they point east to west. Leave the razor blades overnight and see if they have gotten any sharper by being in the pyramid.
    2. Some people claim the shape has the power to dehydrate organic material. Flowers are a good test of this claim. Place fresh, live flowers inside the pyramid for 24 to 48 hours and see if they dry out.
    3. It is also important that the dimensions of the pyramid scale with that of the real Giza Pyramid. If your familiar with ratios, an easy formula is as follows:


A = The smaller scaled number
B = The actual full-size number (from the actual dimensions of Giza)
P = The smaller percentage you're trying to figure out
100 = The full percentage (100%)
The formlua is like this:
A = P
- -
B = 100
We'll figure out what 20% of 1000 is...
For example...
A = 20
- --
1000 = 100
... We need 100 x A, and 1000 x 20 to cross-ratio
100A = 20000
---- -----
100 = 100
... Because 100 cannot multiply a letter, we need to divide by 100 because it is the coefficient of A, in order to determine the actual value of A... So A equals 20000 divided by 100
20000/100 = 200, so A = 200, therefore 200 is 20% of 1000, (go ahead check it on a calculator)
Warnings
  • Some people suggest sleeping in a larger version of such a pyramid, but there are conflicting reports about this: some people experience nightmares and are dehydrated by the experience. Others say that they are rejuvenated and filled with energy.
  • The pyramid must align exactly to magnetic north-south, so don't forget to take the magnetic declination of your particular locality into consideration.

Things You'll Need
  • Scissors
  • Strong card
  • Pen or pencil
  • Glue or sticky tape

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations


Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Original wikiHow article on How to Build a Karel Drbal Pyramid. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
Image:Khufu's (Cheops') Great Pyramid at Giza, Egypt - Creative Commons

Wonders of Our World - Pyramids Thematic Unit Study

115 pages, only $1.99

This book contains information for parents/educators to utilize with young children in Grades 3 to6, but is easily adaptable to suit older and younger learners. Some activities included are specifically for very little people, and others for much more advanced learners.

Included in the book are lesson plans, worksheets, a crossword puzzle, wordsearches, crafts, vocabulary and grammar exercises, math and counting activities, vocabulary word cards, coloring pages, a comprehensive list of references, printables and further lesson plans, as well as a few puzzles requiring little ones to use their thinking caps..

The theme printables include:

Days of the Week Word Wall Cards
Calendar Pieces
Number Cards
Alphabet Flash Cards
Tic-Tac-Toe board game
Concentration Game.

You can preview the book here

The Best homeschool blogs and Egypt-Themed Squidoo Lenses

If you have a great Pyramid or Egyptian Themed lens, please let me know so that I can add it to this list of seriously awesome lenses!
The Homeschool Club on Facebook
Learn how to make your own web pages about your favorite homeschooling stories and resources. We're all gathered in the Facebook group.
St Aidens Homeschool Blog
Keeping abreast and sharing fantastic new and free educational and parenting resources for the homeschool family.
Ancient Egypt Lapbook
Ancient Egypt is one of the most fascinating of world cultures! What child isn't intrigued with mummies, pyramids, and the complicated religion...
Ancient History Lessons
Spice up your ancient history studies with hands-on crafts and living books. On this page you will find links to a wide variety of projects, ideas, and reso
Egyptian Pyramids for Kids
The Egyptian pyramids at Giza are one of the ancient wonders of the world. We are still awestruck by them.Built during the Old Kingdom as tombs for Pharaohs

My References for this Lens and My Unit Study

The following websites will provide ample information, and some copyright-free images and information for your project.

The Egyptian Pyramids Part 3: HowWere They Built?
The Egyptian Pyramids were one of the 7 ancient Wonders of the World. These huge stone tombs were built to house the bodies of Egypt's pharaohs. We know why the were built but not exactly how.
Wikijunior:World Heritage Sites - Wikibooks, open books for an open world
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place which is listed as being of special cultural importance. Info and images are Creative Commons or Public Domain
Step Pyramid - Candid tips by travel authority Howard Hillman
Be savvy about the Step Pyramid in Egypt. Learn my candid Step Pyramid tips & insights. View photo.
Egyptian pyramids - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Information and images from Wikipedia is provided generally with a Creative Commons or Public Domain license. There are some really terrific images here, and very in depth information.
Pyramids, The Inside Story
The Inside Story. Tour the Great Pyramid in QuickTime VR, follow the current excavation, learn about how the pyramids were constructed and who constructed them.

Ancient Civilizations Resources

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Ancient Civilization Resources | TheHomeSchoolMom.com

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History Pavillon

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Thank you SquidAngel Ilona1 for blessing this lens

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  • amberchina May 24, 2012 @ 9:32 am | delete
    The pyramids have always amazed me! I thought a lot of these ideas would be great for students to use during summer break at home, so I just featured your lens on "The Best Summer Learning Activities and Projects by Subject". :)
  • sukkran May 2, 2012 @ 7:50 am | delete
    beautifully constructed informative lens. ~blessed~
  • davespeed Mar 30, 2012 @ 9:31 pm | delete
    Great lens, Donnette! I enjoyed my visit here today. I would love to visit Egypt and see the pyramids.
  • jaystanley Mar 8, 2012 @ 11:39 am | delete
    pyramids, the most mysterious structures in the world
  • spiritual418 Feb 3, 2012 @ 5:38 pm | delete
    LOL! I've studied Egyptology for about 15 years and haven't come across most of the fun things here! Will have to share these with my daughter...thank you!
  • Zut_Moon Jan 30, 2012 @ 4:58 pm | delete
    Nice lens .... would go well with my lens History Pavilion.
  • batsinthebelfry Jan 24, 2012 @ 10:38 am | delete
    Color me impressed. I have always been intrigued with ancient Egypt and the pyramids and this lens is one that I will definitely bookmark.
  • pinkrenegade Jan 21, 2012 @ 10:29 pm | delete
    Great information you have provided, well researched! Thanks for sharing a historical topic.
  • deluxetravel Dec 13, 2011 @ 10:36 am | delete
    Interesting stuff about the Pyramids if you are interested to make a tour to see them on reality why don't you stop at my lens Cairo Tourist Attractions
    http://www.squidoo.com/cairo-attractions
  • squidooposters Nov 2, 2011 @ 12:35 am | delete
    Wow- what a fabulous pyramids unit study - great presentation, thank-you.
  • NevermoreShirts Oct 8, 2011 @ 10:32 am | delete
    Awesome stuff here - great read!
  • karmicchristian Sep 28, 2011 @ 8:53 am | delete
    Brilliantly done study plan on the ancient masterpiece! Sure to serve as a great educational tool for the reader!
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P.S. What is The Homeschool Club?

THE HOMESCHOOL CLUB is real parents and kids sharing their best resources for great homeschooling. Each day we celebrate learning by opening doors to a world of creativity, knowledge and discovery. In the car, at the kitchen sink, and down by the frog pond - the whole world is our classroom and we explore it with creative projects, games, and activities. This club is a place to share, organize, and discuss how and what we learn in the world. Make a free page to tell your own homeschooling story and share your favorite resources. We can't wait to hear from you!

Answers to the puzzles

These puzzles were created by me using Discovery Education's Great Puzzlemaker Tool. The Crossword Puzzle was created using Eclipse Crossword

ANSWERS TO CROSSWORD
Across
2. BLOCKS-The pyramids were built using huge pieces of stone.
3. MYSTERY-It's like a secret, not much is known about it.
5. MASTABA-The name given to the step-pyramids.
8. NILE-This River runs through Egypt.
10. SPHINX-This is said to guard the pyramids.
11. ARTIFACT-An old relic or remnant of the past.
12. MASSIVE-Another word for huge.
13. DESERT-The Sahara is one of these dry places.
14. ARCHITECT-The person who draws plans for buildings.

Down
1. WONDERS-The pyramids are the last remaining one of these.
4. PHARAOH-What the Egyptians called their kings.
6. WEST-The pyramids were built on this side of the Nile.
7. PYRAMID-The name of the tombs in Egypt.
9. ANCIENT-Very, very old.

ANSWERS TO DOUBLE PUZZLE
Most pyramids were built for the Pharaohs and their consorts

ANSWERS TO FALLEN PHRASE
Rising out of the desert sands, the Pyramids of Egypt stand as a monument to the skill and determination of the Egyptian pharaohs

by

Donnette

Proud Squidoo Rocketmom and Mammoth Squid :) I am first and foremost mom to 6 blessings, wife to Craig Fry,, mama to 6 dogs and 4 cats, and intermittent... more »

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