Hieroglyphics Translation Workshop: Modern Stories into Scrolls
Created byMaryAnn Bailey
2 views0 downloads

Hieroglyphics Translation Workshop: Modern Stories into Scrolls

Grade 6History4 days
★★★★★
4.0 (1 rating)
In the 'Hieroglyphics Translation Workshop: Modern Stories into Scrolls', sixth-grade students bridge ancient and modern communication by translating contemporary stories into Egyptian hieroglyphics. Through various engaging activities such as a Hieroglyphics Escape Room and creating illustrated scrolls, students explore the historical significance and societal roles of scribes in ancient Egypt. The project emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and historical analysis, aligning with Common Core Standards. Students develop translation skills, artistic expression, and historical understanding, allowing them to creatively convey narratives while comparing ancient communication with modern methods.
HieroglyphicsTranslationAncient EgyptCommunicationScribesStorytellingCreativity
Want to create your own PBL Recipe?Use our AI-powered tools to design engaging project-based learning experiences for your students.
📝

Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we bridge the past and present by translating modern stories into ancient hieroglyphics, and what can this teach us about the communication and societal roles in ancient Egypt?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.
  • How did hieroglyphics shape ancient Egyptian communication and record-keeping?
  • In what ways can modern stories be expressed through ancient symbols like hieroglyphics?
  • What role did scribes play in ancient Egyptian society and how does their work compare to modern professions?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:
  • Understand the role and significance of hieroglyphics in ancient Egyptian culture.
  • Develop skills in translating English text into ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.
  • Create an illustrated scroll that integrates visual art and translated text.
  • Analyze the societal impact of scribes in ancient Egypt compared to modern professions.
  • Enhance understanding of historical communication methods by comparing them with modern ones.

Common Core Standards for History/Social Studies

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1
Primary
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.Reason: Students will analyze modern stories and ancient hieroglyphics as primary and secondary sources to translate and create illustrated scrolls.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7
Secondary
Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts.Reason: The project involves creating illustrated scrolls and integrating visual elements with historical texts.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.2
Supporting
Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.Reason: Students will write and create visual representations of historical narratives through their translation work.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Hieroglyphics Escape Room

The classroom transforms into an escape room where puzzles and clues require students to translate and interpret hieroglyphics to unlock the secrets left by 'Pharaoh Ali'. The goal is to 'escape' by completing the translation of a contemporary short story into hieroglyphics.
📚

Portfolio Activities

Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.
Activity 1

Hieroglyphic Symbol Hunt

In this introductory activity, students will embark on a scavenger hunt to discover and familiarize themselves with common hieroglyphic symbols. This activity sets the foundation for understanding the basics of hieroglyphics and how symbols convey meaning.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Begin with a brief overview of hieroglyphics, explaining their significance in ancient Egyptian culture.
2. Provide each student with a chart of common hieroglyphic symbols and their meanings.
3. Set up a scavenger hunt in the classroom or school grounds where students must find hidden cards with hieroglyphic symbols.
4. For each symbol found, students will match it with the meaning on their chart and jot down a sentence using that symbol.
5. Conclude with a group discussion on the experience and importance of symbols in communication.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA personalized chart with matched symbols and sentences demonstrating basic understanding of hieroglyphics.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1 as students analyze hieroglyphic symbols as primary sources.
Activity 2

Story Selection and Translation Prep

This activity focuses on selecting a contemporary story that students will eventually translate into hieroglyphics and includes preparing translation guides for their work.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Students choose a short contemporary story or narrative as their translation project.
2. Conduct a workshop on basic translation techniques and creating translation guides.
3. Begin preparing a translation guide by identifying key words in the story and finding their hieroglyphic equivalents.
4. Collectively review and refine translation guides to ensure accuracy and consistency.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA translation guide consisting of key words from a modern story and their hieroglyphic equivalents.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1 by allowing students to analyze and translate modern prose into ancient symbols.
Activity 3

Hieroglyphic Storyboard Creation

In this activity, students will create a visual storyboard of their selected story using their translation guides. This activity builds on their translation work by adding visual elements.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Sketch a rough storyboard of the selected story, dividing it into key scenes or segments.
2. Use the translation guide to fill in each segment with appropriate hieroglyphics.
3. Incorporate illustrations that complement the hieroglyphic translations to visually represent story elements.
4. Peer review other storyboards in groups to gain feedback and insights.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA complete storyboard that visually and textually interprets a modern story using hieroglyphics.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7, integrating visual information with textual hieroglyphic translations.
Activity 4

Illustrated Scroll Masterpiece

For the culminating activity, students will create their illustrated scrolls. They will transfer their hieroglyphic storyboards into artistic scrolls that mimic ancient Egyptian styles.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.
1. Research ancient Egyptian scroll designs and materials used to create authentic looking scrolls.
2. Plan the scroll layout, incorporating translated text and illustrations from their storyboard.
3. Create the scroll using art materials, ensuring the design reflects ancient Egyptian artistry.
4. Prepare a brief explanatory note to accompany their scroll, detailing the translation and artistic choices.
5. Present the final scroll to the class, explaining the translation process and design elements.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn illustrated scroll that combines hieroglyphic translations and artistic elements inspired by ancient Egypt.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.2 by creating and presenting informative texts with historical contexts and visual representations.
🏆

Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Hieroglyphics Workshop Assessment Rubric

Category 1

Historical Understanding

Assesses the depth of students' understanding of hieroglyphics and their role in ancient Egyptian culture.
Criterion 1

Cultural Significance

Measures understanding of the role and significance of hieroglyphics in ancient Egyptian communication and record-keeping.

Exemplary
4 Points

Demonstrates sophisticated understanding of hieroglyphics' role in shaping ancient Egyptian communication and society, providing comprehensive evidence in discussions and activities.

Proficient
3 Points

Demonstrates thorough understanding of hieroglyphics' role with clear evidence in discussions and activities.

Developing
2 Points

Shows emerging understanding of hieroglyphics' role with limited evidence.

Beginning
1 Points

Shows initial understanding of hieroglyphics' role with minimal or no clear evidence.

Criterion 2

Scribe Comparison

Evaluates students' ability to compare the societal roles of ancient scribes with modern professions.

Exemplary
4 Points

Provides a detailed comparison of ancient scribes and modern professions, highlighting insightful connections and analyses.

Proficient
3 Points

Provides a clear comparison with relevant connections between ancient scribes and modern professions.

Developing
2 Points

Attempts comparison with some connections but lacks depth.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to make connections between ancient scribes and modern professions.

Category 2

Translation and Language Skills

Evaluates the accuracy and creativity in translating modern stories into hieroglyphics.
Criterion 1

Translation Accuracy

Measures the accuracy of translated text from modern English to hieroglyphics.

Exemplary
4 Points

Translates text with exceptional accuracy and detail, maintaining original meanings flawlessly.

Proficient
3 Points

Translates text accurately with minor errors in maintaining original meanings.

Developing
2 Points

Translates text with some errors affecting meaning.

Beginning
1 Points

Translates text with significant errors, affecting comprehension.

Criterion 2

Creative Expression

Evaluates the creative integration of hieroglyphics in expressing modern stories.

Exemplary
4 Points

Integrates hieroglyphics creatively, enhancing the narrative with innovative visual storytelling.

Proficient
3 Points

Uses hieroglyphics effectively to convey the narrative with appropriate creative elements.

Developing
2 Points

Attempts creative expression with limited impact on narrative storytelling.

Beginning
1 Points

Struggles to use hieroglyphics creatively, with minimal narrative impact.

Category 3

Visual and Artistic Quality

Assesses the quality and historical accuracy of the visual elements in their final scroll.
Criterion 1

Artistic Design of Scroll

Measures the historical accuracy and artistry of the illustrated scrolls.

Exemplary
4 Points

Creates a scroll with exceptional historical accuracy and artistic quality, closely reflecting ancient Egyptian styles.

Proficient
3 Points

Creates a scroll with clear historical elements and good artistic quality.

Developing
2 Points

Creates a scroll with some historical elements but limited artistic quality.

Beginning
1 Points

Creates a scroll with minimal historical or artistic quality.

Category 4

Presentation and Communication

Evaluates students' ability to present their scrolls and explain their translation and design process.
Criterion 1

Presentation Skills

Assesses clarity, engagement, and depth of explanation during the presentation of the final product.

Exemplary
4 Points

Presents with exceptional clarity and engagement, providing deep insights into the translation and design processes.

Proficient
3 Points

Presents clearly with relevant insights into the translation and design processes.

Developing
2 Points

Presents with partial clarity and limited insights.

Beginning
1 Points

Presents with minimal clarity and lacks insights into the processes.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning
Question 1

Reflect on your experience with the Hieroglyphics Workshop. What were some key insights you gained about ancient Egyptian communication and how it differs from modern methods?

Text
Required
Question 2

On a scale from 1 to 5, how confident do you feel in translating a modern story into hieroglyphics?

Scale
Required
Question 3

How did the process of creating a hieroglyphic storyboard enhance your understanding of combining visual elements with textual information?

Text
Required
Question 4

Which part of the Hieroglyphics Workshop did you find most challenging, and why?

Text
Optional
Question 5

What role do you believe scribes played in ancient Egyptian society, and how does this compare to any modern professions today?

Text
Required