5 Fun Ways to Teach Ancient Egypt to 6th Graders + A Must-See YouTube Video About Ramses II
Teaching Ancient Egypt to 6th graders can be such a rewarding experience! From the towering pyramids to the intriguing lives of pharaohs, there’s so much to explore. But how do you make these ancient topics exciting and engaging for middle school students? Here are five fun ideas to bring the magic of Ancient Egypt into your classroom, plus a YouTube read-aloud video that will have your students laughing and learning about Ramses II.
1. Start with Fun Facts About Ancient Egypt
Kids love quirky, unusual facts that make history feel real. Start your Ancient Egypt unit by sharing some unexpected facts about life in the time of the pharaohs. Here are a few to get you started:
- The ancient Egyptians loved their cats so much that they often wore jewelry featuring their feline friends!
- The Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years—until the Eiffel Tower was built in 1889.
- Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, had over 90 children! Imagine trying to keep track of that many kids!
Sharing fun facts like these will grab your students’ attention right from the start and spark their curiosity about the ancient world.
2. Use Humor to Teach About Ramses II
Let’s face it—middle schoolers love to laugh, and humor can be a powerful tool in the classroom. One way to lighten up the heavy history content is by finding ways to tell the story of historical figures with a humorous twist.
Take Ramses II, for example. Known as one of the greatest pharaohs of Egypt, his long reign and numerous military victories were impressive, but there are also some funny and relatable aspects of his life that make great stories for 6th graders:
- Ramses II had huge statues of himself built all across Egypt. Talk about self-confidence!
- His favorite wife was Nefertari, and he built temples in her honor. You could compare him to a modern-day king of romantic gestures—imagine building a giant monument for someone you love!
By presenting Ramses II’s accomplishments with a humorous edge, students are more likely to remember and connect with the material.
3. Bring History to Life with a YouTube Read-Aloud
If your students enjoy hearing stories, try adding a multimedia twist with a YouTube read-aloud! Reading aloud is a great way to make history feel more immediate and exciting, especially when paired with visuals or fun narrations.
Our YouTube Read-Aloud about Ramses II does exactly that. It combines a witty and entertaining storytelling style with important historical facts. This video is perfect for playing at the start of class to get students excited about the lesson ahead, or as a fun recap at the end of the week.
The read-aloud takes students on a journey through the life of Ramses II, using language they can relate to, humorous anecdotes, and engaging illustrations. Whether they’re learning about his military conquests or his ambitious building projects, students will feel like they’re right there in the ancient world!
You can easily link this YouTube video to your lessons or homework assignments, making it a fun supplemental tool that’s both educational and entertaining.
4. Incorporate Fact vs. Fiction Discussions
Another great way to get students thinking critically is by introducing a Fact vs. Fiction activity. Ancient Egypt is full of myths and legends, and it’s fun to challenge students to separate the real from the imagined.
For example, you can ask questions like:
- Did the Egyptians really believe that the heart was weighed in the afterlife to determine your fate? (Yes!)
- Was Ramses II the pharaoh of the Exodus? (Historians are still debating this!)
- Did ancient Egyptians build the pyramids with alien help? (Definitely fiction, but a fun conspiracy theory!)
Encouraging students to explore these questions can spark debates and discussions, making the lesson more interactive and memorable. You can also tie this into a writing assignment where students explore historical truths vs. myths and misconceptions.
5. Create Interactive Activities Around Ancient Egyptian Innovations
Egypt was home to some of the greatest technological and architectural advances of its time. Highlighting these innovations is a fantastic way to show students just how forward-thinking the ancient Egyptians were.
For instance:
- Have students build their own mini pyramids using sugar cubes or clay while discussing the engineering feats of the real pyramids.
- Explore the Egyptian method of preserving bodies through mummification. You can do a simple, safe demonstration using an apple and salt to show how the process worked.
- Talk about the Egyptian calendar and how it was tied to the flooding of the Nile. Students can create their own “seasonal calendars” based on events in their own lives.
Interactive activities like these not only teach historical facts but also allow students to experience hands-on learning, helping them retain the information long after the lesson is over.
Conclusion
Teaching Ancient Egypt to 6th graders doesn’t have to be just about memorizing facts and dates. By using humor, interactive activities, and multimedia resources like the Ramses II YouTube Read-Aloud – Sixth Grade Storytime with StudentSavvy, you can turn your classroom into a space where history comes to life. Whether it’s through fun facts, critical thinking exercises, or creative projects, students will leave your class with a deeper understanding of Ancient Egypt—and maybe even a few laughs along the way!
