Reading Level:
V

Word Count:
1,911

Page Count:
24

Text Summary
Pyramids is an informational text that covers the purposes of pyramids, how they were built and by whom, how location was determined, and how bodies were prepared for burial in pyramids. By studying pyramids, we can learn a great deal about the civilization of the ancient Egyptians. The text also features several famous Egyptian pyramids and pyramids in other lands. 

Vocabulary
embalmer
endeavor
hieroglyphics
lavish
mastabas
mummification
pharaoh
quarry
sarcophagus
scribe

Reproducible Worksheets
Worksheet 1-Restating facts and supporting details.
Worksheet 2-Time-Order words 

Lesson Objectives

Comprehension
You will likely address a number of comprehension skills as students work to understand the text. The targeted comprehension strategy for this lesson is: Restating facts and supporting details from the text.  

Word Work

Time-Order Words
Identify and list time-order words. 

Visual Literacy
Read and interpret a map. 

Before Reading

Introduce
Introduce the book by showing students the front cover. Read the title.
Ask: What do you see on the cover? What do you think the book will be about?
Turn the book over to the back cover.
Ask: What other information does this give us about the book? 

Elicit Prior Knowledge
Initiate a discussion with students about pyramids. Make a chart on the board with three sections labeled Know, Want to Know, and Learned. Have students suggest items to be put in the Know section related to what they already know about pyramids and ancient Egyptian civilization. Next, complete the Want to Know section by having students suggest questions related to what they would like to find out about pyramids. 

Skim and Scan
Have students turn to Table of Contents on page 3. Explain that the Table of Contents shows what information will be covered in the text and where to find specific kinds of information within the book.
Ask: On what page will you find information about mummification or how the body is prepared for burial? If you want information about where pyramids exist, in which chapter will you look?
Have students locate the word mummification on page 15. Explain that any word in bold type will appear in the glossary and that a glossary defines special words used in a book.
Say: Use the Table of Contents to locate the page of the glossary where you will find the meaning of certain words.
Have a student read the word meaning from the glossary, and encourage students to use the glossary while reading to help with difficult words and their meanings. 

During Reading

Set the Purpose
Introduce Worksheet 1 by placing it on an overhead projector.

Say: You will need to read the text Pyramids. This worksheet outlines the main facts from the book. You will need to list the supporting details related to each fact. It may be easier to read one chapter at a time and fill in the related information as you go.

Hand out the books and have students read quietly at their own pace. 

After Reading

Building Comprehension
Put Worksheet 1 back on the overhead. Refer to each section and ask students to share the details from each. Students should restate the supporting details in their own words. 

Ask: What are the purposes of pyramids? How were pyramids built? Who was involved in building pyramids? What determined the location and position of pyramids? What was involved in preparing the body for burial? In what parts of the world were pyramids built?  

Word Work
Time-Order Words
Explain to students that time-order words help to identify when events happened and in which order. Use the following example: Before burying the dead...page 16. Have students work in pairs to complete Worksheet 2. Students should list any time-order words they find in the text and add any more they can think of. 

Learning Through Visual Devices
Read and interpret a map
Have students locate the map on page 19. Explain the following feature of the map that makes it easier to read and get information from:

Legend or Key: Shows what particular symbols on the map stand for. 

Using this feature, ask students to suggest information they can see in the map. 

Writing Link
Have students complete the KWL chart on their own. Students can then suggest where they might do further research to answer any questions. 

Assessment

• Review student's completed comprehension worksheets to assess whether they understood the reading.
• Have students write a summary paragraph using selected words from the vocabulary list or word work examples from the lesson to demonstrate their understanding of word meaning.
• Review students' completed Word Work worksheets to assess whether they can identify and list time-order words.