"Hi" in Hieroglyphics

Materials

• World atlas, or map of Egypt
  
• Printouts from Great Scott!, a website with a section all about hieroglyphics.
  
  1. Name Translation instructions.
     
  2. Name Translation worksheet.
     
• Paper and pencils for each student

Procedure

1. Before you present the lesson to the students, familiarize yourself with the site by going to the Great Scott! website.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. 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.
   
   
4. Distribute the hieroglyphic charts from the website and the "Hi" in Hieroglyphics worksheet. Have them look at their hieroglyphics table to find the English letter equivalents of your examples.
   
   
5. 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 a separate sheet of paper. 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