Internet Field Trip: The Pyramids

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The Egyptian pyramids — they are the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Do those words paint mental pictures in your mind? Just the mention of the word "pyramid" and minds start generating all kinds of images, from hot sands to camel caravans. The sites below will help you to expand the mental pictures of your students while also giving them lots of terrific information.

Encyclopedia Smithsonian: The Egyptian Pyramid
http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmnh/pyramid.htm
This is a good overview (though perhaps a tad dry?) of the pyramids. This site gives a list of books at the end, so your students will have more resources when they visit the library.

Construction of the Pyramids
http://interoz.com/egypt/construction/construc.htm
Now that you've seen them, and have an overview, it's time to learn about the construction of the pyramids. Of course, since — as I tell my classes — the Egyptians didn't leave us any videotapes about how they did things (my students groan when they hear this), some of the "hows" are of the best-guess genre.

Pyramids and Temples Menu
http://www.discoveringegypt.com/pyr-temp.htm
This page has a map of the Nile River valley, showing the pyramid and temple sites. If you have a browser that is Java-enabled, you will be able to interact with the map, getting images and text immediately. If you don't have a Java-enabled browser, you can simply use the linked list that follows the map. You may want to follow the links down the river, or hit your favorite pyramid first.

Site for Links: Ancient Egypt Resources for K–12
http://falcon.jmu.edu/~ramseyil/egypt.htm
If exploring the pyramids or Ancient Egypt in general, check out this list of resources. It may be suitable for your students, or could offer sites for your own lesson-planning or personal enjoyment.

Internet Field Trip: Worldwide Diaries
Discusses Web-accessible diaries and Web sites with diary-related information. Anne Frank, a soldier stationed in Bosnia in the 1990's, and a southern Civil War-era diary writer are featured.

Must-Have Middle School Reference Books and Tools
Reference tools for the middle school curriculum. Dictionary, atlas, thesaurus, and PDA are must-haves. Also recommends a study guide.

Books to Teach and Motivate the Study of Communication
Books and resources for teachers to use within the classroom to create an interesting and meaningful lesson or unit on communication.

LESSON PLAN	In the News Instructs how to present a lesson plan on Amelia Earhart. Students research her life with the biography Lost Star then write their own newspaper...
UNIT PLAN	A Waikiki Welcome Back A back-to-school lesson that fosters community and teaches about Hawaii at the same time.
ONLINE ACTIVITY	History Mystery Home Hello, history fans! Now you';re on the trail of solving this mystery.
BOOK INFORMATION	Ms. Frizzle's Adventures in Ancient Egypt What happens when Ms. Frizzle hops a flight to Egypt? She parachutes out of the plane and lands in Ancient Egypt, of course! Fans of The Magic School Bus series will love to join the hilarious and informative Ms. Frizzle in her new adventure, exploring the customs and lifestyles of the ancient Egyptians.