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Target Lesson: Finding the Best Evidence with “Egypt’s Pyramids”

PART 1: Warm-Up
Directions: Look at the pictures and answer the questions.

There are over 100 pyramids in Egypt. Today you’re going to read about the ancient
Egyptian Pyramids of Giza, one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World.

● What do you notice about the ancient

Egyptian Pyramids?
● What do you wonder about them?

“Untitled” by NadineDoerle is licensed under CC0.

Take three minutes to jot down your ideas.

The largest pyramid in Egypt is The Great Pyramid, which is
over 481 feet tall.

“Gizeh VI, Egypt, 20090912” by Gilbert Sopakuwa is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

The interior walls of the pyramids are often decorated in

detailed paintings that tell stories about the afterlife.

“Tomb of Ramses IV…” by Tim Adams is licensed under CC BY 3.0.

FInding the Best Evidence: Egypt’s Pyramids 1

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PART 3: Reading and Answering Questions
Directions: Read the text and answer the questions.

Egypt’s Pyramids
by USHistory.org

[1] For centuries, they were the tallest structures on the planet. The
Pyramids of Giza,1 built over 4,000 years ago, still stand atop an
otherwise flat, sandy landscape.

[2] One of the Seven Wonders of the World, the pyramids defy
21st-century humans to explain their greatest secrets. How could a
Paragraph 3
civilization that lacked bulldozers, forklifts, and trucks build such 1. Which detail best explains why the
massive structures? Why would anyone have spent the time and Pyramids of Giza are considered one
of the Seven Wonders of the World?
energy to attempt such a task? What treasures were placed inside
Need help with this skill? Review
these monuments? Part 2.

[3] Only a powerful pharaoh2 could marshal the necessary human A. “For centuries, they were the
tallest structures on the
resources to build giant pyramids. During the flood seasons, farmers planet.” (Paragraph 1)
became builders. Huge stone blocks averaging over two tons in weight B. “Why would anyone have
were mined in quarries and transported to the pyramid site. spent the time and energy to
attempt such a task?”
[4] Egyptologists3 theorize that the workers used either rollers or (Paragraph 2)

slippery clay to drag the blocks from the quarries to their eventual C. “Only a powerful pharaoh
could marshall the necessary
placement on the pyramid. Construction of the larger pyramids took
human resources to build
decades. giant pyramids.” (Paragraph 3)
D. “During the flood seasons,
farmers became builders.”
(Paragraph 3).

1
Also known as the Great Pyramids. Giza is located on the west bank of the Nile and is the third-largest city in modern Egypt.
2
The pharaoh was the absolute ruler of ancient ruler, often associated with the gods or considered to be godlike.
3
An Egyptologist is an archaeologist, historian, linguist, or art historian who specializes in the study of ancient Egypt.

FInding the Best Evidence: Egypt’s Pyramids 3

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Why Pyramids?

[5] Pyramids were built for religious purposes. The Egyptians were one
of the first civilizations to believe in an afterlife. They believed that a
second self called the ka lived within every human being. When the
physical body expired, the ka enjoyed eternal life. Those fortunate
Paragraph 7
enough to pass the test of Osiris4 wanted to be comfortable in their
2. What word best describes those
lives beyond earth. The Great Pyramids were simply grand tombs of who were buried in the pyramids?
powerful pharaohs. A. Average
B. Powerful
[6] Three pyramids were built at Giza, and many smaller pyramids
were constructed around the Nile Valley. The tallest of the Great
Paragraph 7
Pyramids reaches nearly 500 feet into the sky and spans an area
3. Which piece of evidence from the
greater than 13 acres. The Great Sphinx was sculpted nearby to stand
text best supports your answer to
watch over the pyramids. It stands 65 feet tall and consists of a human question 2?
head atop the body of a lion. A. “Those fortunate enough to
pass the test of Osiris wanted
[7] Many believe that the Sphinx was a portrait of King Chefren to be comfortable in their lives
(Khafret), who was placed in the middle Pyramid. The lion symbolized beyond earth.” (Paragraph 5)
B. “The Great Pyramids were
immortality.
simply grand tombs of
You Can Take It with You powerful pharaohs.”
(Paragraph 5)
[8] Egyptians who ranked high in status often wanted to take their C. Three pyramids were built at
most prized possessions with them in death, so the ka could enjoy Giza, and many smaller
pyramids were constructed
them in its next life. Gold, silver, and bronze artifacts were loaded into around the Nile Valley.”
the interiors of the great tombs. Fine linens and artwork adorned the (Paragraph 6)

secret chambers. D. “The lion symbolized

immortality.” (Paragraph 7)
[9] In the early days, dead nobles were often interned5 with their living
slaves and animals. Because this practice eventually proved too costly,

4
Osiris was the brother and husband of Isis, and the god of resurrection and the dead, as well as ruler of the underworld. The test was daunting; the dead spirit would
have their heart weighed against a feather, and if it was deemed lighter than the feather, the spirit could move on to a peaceful afterlife. Ma’at, the goddess of justice,
is typically depicted as weighing the heart, but the entire series of trials is referred to as the Judgement of Osiris.
5
to confine (someone)

FInding the Best Evidence: Egypt’s Pyramids 4

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artists instead depicted scenes of human activity on the inside walls.
Some pyramids were even equipped with a rest room for the pharaoh.

[10] Great precautions were taken to protect the tombs from looters.
Egyptians believed that a defiler6 of a pharaoh's resting place would be
cursed for eternity. The entrance to the inner chambers was carefully
hidden. The pharaoh's mummy was placed in a huge coffin called a
sarcophagus,7 which was made of the hardest known stone blocks. But
Paragraph 11
despite such warnings and precautions, tombs were raided over the
4. Which piece of evidence from the
years by grave robbers. text best illustrates a precaution
that protected the pyramids from
[11] The pyramids, however, have stood the test of time. Although looters?
their outer limestone layers have long since been stripped or passed A. “Gold, silver, and bronze
into dust, the pyramids still stand. About 80 dot the horizons of artifacts were loaded into the
interiors of the great tombs.”
modern Egypt. They remain as time capsules cast forward by a (Paragraph 8)
once-great civilization. B. “Egyptians believed that a
defiler of a pharaoh's resting
place would be cursed for
eternity.” (Paragraph 10)
Egypt's Pyramids by USHistory.org is licensed under CC BY 4.0.
C. “The entrance to the inner
chambers was carefully
hidden.” (Paragraph 10)
D. “Although their outer
limestone layers have long
since been stripped or passed
into dust, the pyramids still
stand.” (Paragraph 11)

6
A “defiler” refers to someone who spoils or ruins something, especially something sacred.
7
A “sarcophagus” refers to a stone coffin typically decorated with a sculpture, painting, and or inscription.

FInding the Best Evidence: Egypt’s Pyramids 5

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