Researching Egyptian Lifestyle

Overview

Duration: 60 minutes
Class size: 18 students
Unit: Exploring Egyptian Life (Lesson 3 of 8)
Year group: 4
Subject: English

National Curriculum Links

This lesson supports the following English and cross-curricular objectives from the National Curriculum for England (Key Stage 2, Year 4):

English: Reading - Comprehension
- Retrieve and record information from non-fiction texts.
- Develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read by identifying themes and conventions in a range of books.
English: Writing - Composition
- Plan writing by discussing and recording ideas.
- Draft and write by organising paragraphs around a theme.
Computing: Information Technology
- Use search technologies effectively and be discerning in evaluating digital content.

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils will be able to:

Use Chromebooks to independently research specific aspects of Egyptian life (food, clothing, daily activities).
Extract relevant information from digital texts and record notes effectively to support writing.
Collaborate in pairs to share findings and discuss their understanding of how Egyptians lived.
Demonstrate appropriate use of key subject vocabulary (e.g., linen, papyrus, Nile, diet).
Begin organising collected information to plan a descriptive paragraph about Egyptian life.

Success Criteria

Pupils confidently navigate child-friendly websites to find relevant information.
Pupils record at least three key facts for their chosen topic area neatly in their research sheet.
Pupils can explain the significance of one fact they found during discussion.
Pupils create an initial plan for writing that groups facts logically (e.g., food facts together).

Resources Needed

Chromebooks (at least one per two pupils)
Research worksheets with guided prompts and space to write notes
Whiteboard and markers
Projector (optional) to model research techniques
Visual vocabulary cards for Egyptian life
Editable mind map template (paper or digital) for organising findings

Lesson Structure

1. Starter (10 minutes)

Activity: KWL Chart – What I Know, What I Want to Know

Pupils recap previous lessons on Egyptian life with a quick discussion.
Teacher models filling in the "K" and "W" sections on a large class KWL chart focused on food, clothes, and daily activities of Egyptians.
Pupils share what they already know and what they want to find out in today's research.

National Curriculum link: Engages prior knowledge and sets a purpose for reading (English – Comprehension).

2. Introduction (10 minutes)

Activity: Modelling Research Skills with Digital Tools

Teacher projects a child-friendly research site or use offline PDFs on Egyptian life.
Demonstrate how to skim webpages for headings and subheadings related to food, clothing, and daily life.
Show how to take notes efficiently, paraphrasing key information.
Highlight importance of using keywords and filtering relevant vs irrelevant information.

National Curriculum link: Use technology purposefully (Computing – IT), understanding text features (English – Comprehension).

3. Main Activity (30 minutes)

Activity: Paired Research and Note-Taking

Pupils work in pairs, each pair selects one aspect of Egyptian life (food, clothing, or daily activities).
Using Chromebooks, they search and gather facts (minimum 3) on their topic, guided by the worksheet.
Teacher circulates, scaffolding research and encouraging questioning: e.g., "Why was linen important?", "What foods were common at meals?"
Pupils fill in notes and begin grouping facts logically on mind map template for later writing.

National Curriculum link: Retrieval of information, collaborative work, using technology responsibly and effectively.

4. Plenary (10 minutes)

Activity: Sharing and Reflecting

Pairs briefly present two interesting facts learned to the class.
Teacher asks reflective questions: "Was anything surprising?", "How can these facts help when we write?"
Complete KWL chart "L" – what have you learned?
Highlight connections between research and effective writing skills.

National Curriculum link: Speaking and listening skills, summarising, reflecting on learning (English – Spoken Language).

Assessment

Formative: Teacher observations during paired research to check understanding and note-taking quality.
Pupils’ notes and completed research worksheets checked for relevant information and neat organisation.
Oral presentations in the plenary used to assess comprehension and ability to articulate findings.

Differentiation

Support: Provide sentence starters and vocabulary cards for pupils who need additional help with note-taking or phrasing ideas.
Challenge: Encourage more able pupils to find additional facts, explain why Egyptians lived a certain way, or begin comparing Egyptian life with modern life.
Allow use of voice-to-text tools for pupils with writing difficulties.

Cross-Curricular Links

History: Factual understanding of ancient Egyptian lifestyle.
Computing: Effective use of the internet and digital literacy skills.
PSHE: Collaboration and respectful communication during paired work.

Extension Ideas

Pupils create a short digital presentation or poster for homework summarising their findings.
Use role-play in next lesson to re-enact Egyptian daily activities based on researched facts.

Teacher Notes

Ensure internet safety protocols are in place and all accessed websites are age-appropriate.
Encourage pupils to use their own words rather than copying directly to develop comprehension and writing skills.
Reinforce vocabulary by displaying key terms throughout the lesson.

This lesson builds on previous knowledge and digital literacy to deepen pupils’ understanding of Egyptian life, empowering them to become confident researchers and writers. The use of Chromebooks engages modern learners, while close alignment with the National Curriculum ensures purposeful progression in English and computing skills.

Teaching Instructions