Pyramid building enquiry

Topics Year 4/5
This unit is part of Earliest Civilisations: Ancient Egyptians Pharaohs and Pyramids

Objectives

History

  • Know and understand significant aspects of the history of the wider world: the nature of ancient civilisations
  • Characteristic features of past non-European societies.
  • Understand the methods of historical enquiry, including how evidence is used rigorously to make historical claims, and discern how and why contrasting arguments and interpretations of the past have been constructed.

Science

  • Identify the effects of friction that act between moving surfaces.
  • Recognise that some mechanisms allow a smaller force to have a greater effect.

Lesson Planning

Appreciate what a hard task it was for the Ancient Egyptians to build the pyramids. Understand that we cannot be sure of the methods that were used to build pyramids and learn of some of the difficulties they may have faced!

Teaching Outcomes:

  • Understand the enormity of the task for the pyramid builders.
  • Appreciate how many labourers would have been needed to build such large structures.
  • Understand that Egyptologists cannot be certain of the methods.
  • Plan and carry out an enquiry to find the best way of moving ‘blocks’ up a ramp.

Children will:

  • Appreciate what a hard task it was for the Ancient Egyptians to build the pyramids.
  • Understand that we cannot be sure of the methods that were used to build pyramids.
  • Understand that friction is a force that slows down objects moving across a surface.
  • Plan an enquiry to find the best way to pull a ‘block’ up a ramp.
  • Present their findings in writing and orally.

You Will Need

  • Access to internet
  • Containers for sand
  • Sand
  • Wood plank/blocks for making ramp
  • Newton meter/force meter
  • Bull dog clips
  • Wood for runners/rollers
  • Water
  • Plastic sheet if water is used