RETA Curriculum Guide : Recognizing Hieroglyphics Introduction Elementary Math Designed by: Lisa Golden & Kathrine Graham This lesson introduces students to the hieroglyphic numerals of Egypt. They study a chart of hieroglyphics to familiarize themselves with the numerals and then do an online activity. Student Outcomes Students will: Recognize hieroglyphic numerals. Be aware that other cultures use different forms of writing. Content Area and Grade Levels This lesson is appropriate for grades one to four. It is mathematical in content but could be used in cultural studies. Technology Usage Computer Internet Access Resources Online Hieroglyphics (IQuest Museum) http://www.iquestmuseum.com/kids/main.html Egypt People (Odyssey Online) http://carlos.emory.edu/odyssey/egypt/homepg.html Scribes (Odyssey Online) http://carlos.emory.edu/odyssey/egypt/scribes.html Off line Numerals Charts (see attached) Tasks (actions) 1. Students study numeral charts to become familiar with hieroglyphic numerals. 2. Students do online activity to practice recognition and reinforce memory. 3. Students go to online resources to learn more about hieroglyphics. 1
Presentation Students may share what they have learned with others or create paper drawings of the numerals. Assessment Self-assessment of correct answers in the online activity. Finished drawings or posters. Extension Students could demonstrate their ages in hieroglyphics. Students could report on scribes and ancient forms of writing. Content Standards and Benchmarks Mathematics: K-4 1) Unifying concepts and processes Students will understand and use mathematics in problem solving. 4) Unifying Concepts and Processes Students will understand and use mathematical connections. 6) Number and Operation Concepts Students will understand and use number systems and number theory. 2
RETA Curriculum Guide : Recognizing Hieroglyphics Designed by Kathrine Graham & Lisa Golden MISSION In this adventure you will learn to recognize and use Egyptian hieroglyphic numerals! GETTING READY First, you'll want to familiarize yourself with Egyptian numerals. In Egyptian numerals, stands for 1 and stands for 10. There aren't separate symbols for 2 through 9. Instead, you repeat the symbol for one or the symbol for ten as many times as you need to. Another important thing is that Egyptian numerals are written in the reverse order of what we are used to. In Egyptian numerals, you write the ones first, then tens, then hundreds, then thousands. Here are two different ways of writing the number 12: 3
This chart will help you to see how Egyptian numerals are used: When you're ready, go on to Your Adventure and test yourself! Your Adventure Now see if you can recognize Egyptian numerals! [Do Online Activity] If you want to look at the chart of Egyptian numerals again, go back to Getting Ready. 4
Words to Investigate cartouche hieroglyphic ideograms numeral papyrus Pharaoh scribe stylus To learn about the lives of ancient Egyptian scribes, check out Digging Deeper. DIGGING DEEPER Find out more about the scribes of Egypt. How did they get their training? Were they born into their jobs? How were scribes selected? What kinds of materials did scribes work with? RESOURCES Here are some sites to visit to discover more about the lives of scribes: Hieroglyphics (IQuest Museum) http://www.iquestmuseum.com/kids/main.html Egypt People (Odyssey Online) http://carlos.emory.edu/odyssey/egypt/homepg.html Scribes (Odyssey Online) http://carlos.emory.edu/odyssey/egypt/scribes.html 5