Grade 6 Study Ancient Egypt

In Dr. Kennedy’s 6th grade Social Studies classes, students are wrapping up their study of ancient Egyptian mummies.  More truthfully, students have just finished taking a deeper dive into the daily lives of Ancient Egyptians. They discovered that Egyptians never referred to themselves as "ancient Egyptians" at the time—they simply called themselves Egyptians. This sparked a reflection: in 5,000 years, they might also be considered ancient! 

As part of the unit, students wrote narratives that explored the daily life of an Egyptian, depending on their social class. Then, with the help of resources provided by Ms. Kim in Visual Arts, students created portraits that "Egyptianized" themselves. Using pastels and modern photocopying techniques, they produced stunning portraits that blended ancient Egyptian style with their own personal touch, including their name translated into hieroglyphs. 

We’re still hopeful about visiting the Egyptian exhibit before the end of the year. It’s a popular exhibit with limited reservations, but we’re optimistic we’ll get a chance to see it. In the next unit 6th graders will begin their study on Ancient China, just in time for Chinese New Year. It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate the history, tradition, and culture of our host country as we welcome in our second New Year’s celebration—the Year of the Snake. Xin Nian Kuai Le!