By: Ann McCracken, Wainwright Middle School, Lafayette, IN, 6/15/97

Purpose:

Identify cultural characteristics of regions (language, nationality, religion, etc.) that influence cultural development.

 Grade Level: 6

 Geography Standards addressed:

• #10) The characteristics, distribution, and complexity of Earth’s cultural mosaic.
• #12) The processes, patterns, and functions of human settlement.

Materials Required:

• internet access
• hieroglyphic stamp set and stamp pad or hieroglyphic stencils 

Objectives:

Upon completion of this lesson/activity, students will be able to identify cultural characteristics of regions (language, nationality, religion, etc.), specifically, writing, that influence cultural development.

Procedures:

Go to Hieroglyphics: Say What? at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/nova/pyramid/ hieroglyph.

As students work through the lesson, they should record their answers to the questions posed at the web site. They should also formulate and record their own ideas about the benefits and problems of written language.

After completing the internet activity students should draw trace or stamp their names to make their own cartouche.

Share and discuss student work.

Evaluation:

Student participation, lists, and cartouche.