The Best Ancient Egypt Unit: A Simple Guide Teachers Can Actually Use

 

Planning an Ancient Egypt unit can feel overwhelming. There’s so much content—pharaohs, pyramids, gods, mummification, daily life—and only so many days in the schedule. The key isn’t cramming everything in. It’s choosing the right mix of activities that build background knowledge, hit key standards, and keep students actively involved in learning.

After years of designing and refining Ancient Egypt lessons, I’ve landed on a simple formula for a unit that works every time. It’s content-rich, student-centered, and flexible enough to fit a variety of classrooms.

Here’s my step-by-step guide for teaching Ancient Egypt in a way students actually remember.

Step 1: Teach and Review Vocabulary Every Day (Without Worksheets)

Ancient Egypt vocabulary is unavoidable—and honestly, it’s one of the biggest barriers for students. Words like hieroglyphics, mummification, and afterlife can quickly become overwhelming if they’re introduced once and never revisited.

Instead of front-loading vocabulary and hoping it sticks, build in daily exposure and review.

What works best:

--- Visual vocabulary students interact with

--- Repeated use across the unit

--- Low-pressure ways to revisit terms daily

HOT TIP: Doodle-style vocabulary activities are especially effective because students aren’t just copying definitions—they’re processing meaning through visuals, annotations, and personal connections. This makes vocabulary review feel quick, engaging, and purposeful instead of tedious.

Result: Students actually understand the words they’re seeing in readings, stations, and discussions.

Step 2: Teach Ancient Egypt Through the GRAPES Framework

If you want students to truly understand Ancient Egypt as a civilization (not just memorize facts), the GRAPES framework is essential.

A strong unit explicitly addresses: Geography, Religion, Achievements, Politics, Economics, and Social Structure.

Rather than lecturing through each category, hands-on learning stations are a powerful way to let students explore GRAPES independently. Stations encourage movement, collaboration, and inquiry—while keeping students responsible for their own learning.

Interactive elements like posters, visuals, and response tasks help students:

--- Compare aspects of civilization

--- Make connections across categories

--- Stay actively engaged (no passive listening)

This part of the unit often becomes the anchor experience students reference later.

HOT TIP: Turning learning into an interactive representation of Ancient Egypt is especially effective. Check out this interactive sphinx poster for inspiration!

Step 3: Go Deeper With a High-Interest Focus Lesson

Once students understand the big picture, it’s time to zoom in.

Every strong Ancient Egypt unit needs at least one lesson that dives deeper into a fascinating cultural practice—and mummification is always a student favorite.

A focused lesson on mummification and canopic jars allows students to:

--- Apply vocabulary in context

--- Read informational text with purpose

--- Connect religious beliefs to real practices

HOT TIP: Adding a hands-on craft element, like constructing canopic jars, transforms this lesson from “just another reading” into a memorable experience. Students read, extract key information, and then create something that represents their learning.

This is where engagement skyrockets.

Step 4: Reinforce and Review With Meaningful Practice

The final piece of the formula is intentional review.

Instead of test-prep-style worksheets, use activities that encourage students to synthesize information, make connections across topics, and show understanding in multiple ways.

One-pagers and task cards work especially well here because they’re flexible. They can be used for:

--- Independent work

--- Partner practice

--- Small groups

--- Learning stations

--- Review days before an assessment

HOT TIP: This type of review reinforces content without feeling repetitive—and gives you valuable insight into what students actually understand.

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That's it! That's my simple formula for putting together the best ancient Egypt unit. This approach keeps teaching content-rich, student-centered, flexible, and super engaging! Most importantly, it moves away from textbooks and slide decks where students are talked at. Instead, students are reading, thinking, creating, and interacting with Ancient Egypt every step of the way.

Great news! I've put together print-and-teach resources that fulfill every aspect of this formula. Check it out here!

Thanks for stopping by,

Mary Beth

P.S. If you're looking for more ways to make teaching Ancient Civilizations interactive, this blog post is filled with ideas!

Low-Prep Valentine's Day Classroom Ideas

Is there a Valentine Grinch—a grouchy Cupid who rolls their eyes at classroom holidays? If so, I have to admit that early in my teaching career, that was me. Valentine’s Day felt like a distraction from real learning, not something I wanted to build lesson plans around.

Over time, my grouchy Cupid heart softened. I realized that Valentine’s Day classroom activities don’t have to interrupt instruction. With the right approach, a holiday like Valentine’s Day can actually increase student engagement and support meaningful learning—especially when activities are simple, purposeful, and easy to manage.

If I were planning the perfect, learning-rich Valentine’s Day in the classroom, I’d focus on three things.

💗 First, a fact hunt or doodle poster activity to get students moving and thinking. I'd hide different facts around the classroom for students to find and use to fill out a super engaging doodle infographic all about Valentine's Day. (DOWNLOAD HERE.)

💗 Next, a quick Valentine-themed brain break to spark creativity without losing focus. Something like a timed writing prompt or jumbled joke is the perfect way to get kids thinking while still celebrating Valentine's Day. (CLICK HERE.)

💗 And finally, a low-prep Valentine’s Day craft that students will actually use. These FREE Candy Heart Corner Bookmarks make the perfect gift to give to students or serve as an awesome activity to celebrate reading and the holiday. (GRAB FOR FREE HERE.)

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It took me a while, but I’ve finally found a way to embrace Valentine’s Day in the classroom. With a few low-prep, meaningful activities, the day can be both fun and focused on learning.

1. Valentine's Day Fact Hunt and Doodle Poster

2. Brain Breaks and Games with a Valentine Theme

3. Free Candy Heart Corner Bookmarks

Happy Valentine’s Day,

Mary Beth

P.S. Surprise! Here’s another Valentine’s Day freebie—just call me the Cupid of the Classroom.

Please pin! 🠟

3 Common Mistakes Teachers Make When Teaching Parts of Speech (and How to Fix Them)

Teaching the parts of speech can feel like a never-ending challenge. Students confuse nouns and verbs, tune out during grammar lessons, or forget everything by the next writing assignment. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are the three biggest mistakes teachers make when teaching the parts of speech and how you can fix each one with an engaging, year-round resource that blends art and grammar.

Mistake #1: Skipping the Mini-Lesson
Many teachers assign a worksheet or workbook page and hope students “get” nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. But without a short, clear mini-lesson to teach the concept, many students just guess or memorize superficially.  It’s tempting to hand out a worksheet and hope students remember what a verb is. But without modeling and examples, most students just guess.

How We Can Help:
We have a ready-made mini-lesson for you! Each level in our Differentiated Parts of Speech Pop Art Coloring Pages includes clear instructions and examples, making it easy to introduce the concept before students dive into hands-on practice. The color-by-part-of-speech format turns identification into an active learning experience.

Mistake #2: Making Practice Boring or Repetitive
Traditional drills and grammar worksheets can drain the fun out of learning, especially for upper-elementary and middle-grade students.

How We Can Help:
Our Pop Art Grammar Activities transform practice into creativity. Students color vibrant, seasonal designs like apples, snowmen, bees, and ice-cream cones based on the part of speech. It’s self-checking, visually engaging, and keeps students motivated to practice grammar accurately.

Mistake #3: Teaching It Once and Moving On
A single grammar unit won’t make parts of speech stick. Consistent review throughout the year helps students retain and apply what they learn.

How We Can Help:
The All-Year Pop Art Collection includes five differentiated levels, from starter to advanced, so you can revisit parts of speech in small doses all year long. Use them as morning work, centers, early-finisher tasks, or seasonal reviews. Your students get repeated exposure without feeling like it’s the same lesson again.

The Takeaway
When grammar is visual, creative, and consistent, students remember it and even enjoy it. Bring color, confidence, and engagement to your classroom with the Differentiated Parts of Speech Pop Art Coloring Pages – All Year Collection by Art with Jenny K. and me, Brain Waves Instruction. You’ll have everything you need to review grammar all year long without ever hearing “Do we have to do grammar again?”

And we have VERY good news for you. If you'd like to avoid all these mistakes for FREE.  Check out this Parts of Speech Pop Art freebie. Download it HERE.

We hope you have fun teaching parts of speech in your classroom!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mary Beth and Jenny K.

P.S. If you're ready to get students learning ALL YEAR LONG...click here.

Teacher Appreciation - 10 Reasons Teachers Should Rule the World

I was thinking the other day about how amazing teachers are — the work you do, the energy you give, and the unsung sacrifices you make every single day.

And it hit me… if anyone has the skills, stamina, and heart to run the world, it’s educators.

You already lead, motivate, problem-solve, and bring order to chaos on a daily basis — all before lunch. So really, world domination would just be another item on your to-do list. (Download your free poster here.)

TOP 10 REASONS TEACHERS SHOULD RULE THE WORLD:

10. We can quiet a room with just one look.

Forget microphones — teachers have mastered the “teacher look.” It’s silent, powerful, and instantly effective.

9. We can organize chaos faster than most world leaders can organize a meeting.

A surprise fire drill? Indoor recess? No problem. Teachers are chaos coordinators with style.

8. We manage 25+ unique personalities before 9 a.m. — with a smile!

Negotiating, motivating, and mediating — all before your second cup of coffee.

7. We move desks and chairs like chess pieces, navigating peace treaties daily.

Every seating chart is a delicate balance of friendships, chatter, and learning styles — and you make it work.

6. We can build a community of learners on a $5 budget and a handful of leftover markers.

Teachers could stretch a dollar further than any finance minister.

5. We can eat lunch in under four minutes while grading, emailing parents, and mentoring a student.

Efficiency is your superpower (and yes, it still counts as lunch even if it’s standing up next to the copier).

4. We have superhuman skills — like reading upside down, backward, and from 10 feet away.

It’s basically a sixth sense. You can also hear whispering from across the room and sense off-task behavior without turning around.

3. We might get discouraged, but we never give up — even when the Wi-Fi and copier quit at the same time.

Because perseverance isn’t just something you teach — it’s something you live.

2. We can turn anything into a teachable moment — a fire drill, a broken pencil, or a disastrous lesson.

Nothing is wasted in a teacher’s world. Every moment becomes a lesson (or at least a good story).

1. And honestly, if we can teach poetry, handle administrators, and stay calm through standardized testing... world peace doesn’t sound that hard.

Let’s be real — the world could use a few more teachers in charge.

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So the next time you’re juggling 47 things before lunch, take a deep breath and remember — you already have the skills to rule the world.

To make sure you never forget it, I created a free printable version of this Top 10 list you can download and display in your classroom.

It’s your daily reminder that you’re keeping the world spinning, one lesson at a time. 

👉 Download your free printable here!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mary Beth

P.S. Don't forget to grab this PERSEVERANCE freebie for your classroom. 

5 Signs You’re Already an Amazing Teacher (Even If You Don’t Feel Like It)

Teachers are often their own toughest critics. You pour your energy, your creativity, and your heart into your classroom, and yet—sometimes—you still wonder if you’re doing enough. (Spoiler: you are.)

Here are 5 light-hearted but true signs that you’re an amazing teacher:

1. You’re reading this.

I’m so glad you’re here! If you clicked on this post, it’s not because you had nothing else to do (we both know your to-do list is about a mile long). You’re here because you care about your students and your craft. The best teachers are always learning, and the fact that you’re reading this proves you’re one of them.

2. You lose sleep over that kid.

You know the one—the button-pusher, the struggler, the quiet one who slips through the cracks if you’re not careful. Every class has a “that kid,” and if you’ve ever stared at the ceiling at 2 a.m. wondering how to reach them… congratulations. That’s proof of your heart and your dedication. Amazing teachers look for ways to inspire—whether it’s through doodles, brain challenges, calming corners, or community building. You're an amazing teacher because you don't just teach your students; you see them, care about them, and refuse to give up on them.

3. You sometimes wonder if you’re in the right place.

Strange sign of greatness, right? But here’s the truth: only people who care deeply about what they’re doing stop to question it. That little voice that asks, “Am I making a difference?” is a reminder that you want to. And if you want to, you already are. The next time you doubt yourself, remember the positive affirmations you deserve: you are capable, you are making a difference, and your students are lucky to have you.

4. You laugh at yourself.

Spilled coffee on your favorite teacher shirt? Forgot to submit attendance… again? Or maybe your classroom observation included a mispronunciation (or two). Teaching is full of unexpected curveballs, and you know the power of fun and laughter to carry you through. If you can laugh at yourself in those moments, you’ve unlocked one of the best survival skills in education. Your joy is contagious, and your students notice it.

5. You celebrate the small wins.

Sure, your classroom may not be Pinterest-perfect. Maybe you totally forgot about the school assembly until the announcement came over the loudspeaker. But when your grammar lesson is met with grins instead of groans, or when the quiet student finally raises their hand, or when someone who usually gives up finishes their work—you cheer. You recognize that those little victories are actually big deals. And over time, those small wins add up to something extraordinary.

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So, if you’ve ever doubted yourself, take a deep breath and remember: the very fact that you care enough to worry, to wonder, to laugh, and to celebrate means you’re already the kind of teacher students will always remember.

Keep up the good work!

Mary Beth

P.S. You deserve a little treat! Check out this 40-page FREEBIE!

Checks for Understanding: Quick Ways to See What Students Really Know

We’ve all been there—teaching a lesson we’re excited about, only to realize halfway through (or worse, the next day) that some students didn’t quite “get it.” That’s where checks for understanding come in. 

Quick, low-stakes checks during or right after a lesson can save you from reteaching later, while also giving students instant opportunities to reflect on their learning.

The best part? They don’t need to be fancy, complicated, or time-consuming. With just a few minutes and the right strategy, you can gather valuable insight into what your students understand—and where they need support.

Here are some smart and creative formative assessment ideas you can try tomorrow:

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Sideways, Thumbs Down 

This understanding check-in is simple but powerful.

How it works: After explaining a concept or posing a question, ask students to show a “thumbs up” if they feel confident, “thumbs sideways” if they’re partially sure, and “thumbs down” if they’re confused.

Why it works: It’s immediate, visual, and gives you a pulse on the room in seconds. Plus, students feel less pressure since it’s not tied to grades.

Sample Quick Assessment – Figurative Language:
After reading a passage with examples of similes, metaphors, and personification, ask:

----  👍 = “I can identify and explain figurative language in a passage.”

---- ➡️ = “I can spot figurative language, but I’m not sure which type.”

---- 👎 = “I don’t recognize figurative language yet.”

Exit Tickets with a Twist 

Exit tickets are a teacher favorite for a reason—they’re quick, targeted, and effective. But let’s go beyond the usual “one thing you learned today.

How it works: At the end of lesson give students a This or That Exit Ticket. Students can choose to the "this" task to report on their understanding or the "that" task. Tasks are engaging, everything from doodles, to questions, to personal reflections. Students complete the ticket as a pass out the door.

Why it works: They make learning visible and help you adjust tomorrow’s lesson.

Sample Quick Assessment – Literature Study: After reading a short story like "Thank You, Ma'am," have students connect their learning to their own life or their world. Hand out a This or That Exit Slip. Give students a chance to choose a task to respond to. Then, collect and review students exit tickets to assess their understanding before the next class.

The "Stoplight" Self-Check

Students use red, yellow, or green to show how well they understand a concept.

How it works: Give each student a red, yellow, and green card (or let them color sections of a sticky note). At different points in your lesson, ask them to hold up a color to indicate how well they understand:

---- Green = I’ve got it.

---- Yellow = I need a bit more practice.

---- Red = I’m lost.

Why it works: It promotes honest self-reflection while giving you a quick snapshot of understanding.

Sample Quick Assessment – Parts of Speech:
Ask students after a grammar mini-lesson:

• Green = “I can confidently identify nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in a sentence.”

• Yellow = “I can do it with help.”

• Red = “I mix them up.”

FOUR CORNERS CHECK-IN

How it works: Label each corner of your classroom with an answer choice (A, B, C, D). Pose a multiple-choice question related to your lesson, and have students move to the corner that represents their answer.

Why it works: It gets students moving, makes their thinking visible, and sparks discussion when you ask students in different corners to defend their choices.

Sample Quick Assessment – Persuasive Writing:
Question: “Which is the strongest evidence for persuading readers?”

---- A = A powerful statistic

---- B = An emotional story

---- C = An expert quote

---- D = A personal opinion

Students choose a corner, then justify their answer using one sentence.

ONE-MINUTE SHOUT OUT

Students share one quick takeaway, connection, or question.

How it works: At the end of class, ask for a quick round of “shout-outs.” Each student shares one takeaway, connection, or question from the day. Keep it fast-paced—think popcorn-style responses.

Why it works: It’s low-prep, energizing, and gives even quieter students a chance to voice their learning.

Sample Quick Assessment – Finding Theme:
At the end of a story or chapter, ask students to do a “popcorn shout-out”:
“In one sentence, shout out what you think is the story’s theme.”

Encourage students to listen for patterns—if multiple students name similar themes, you know the class is on track.

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Assessments don’t have to be long quizzes or complicated rubrics. Sometimes the smallest checks give the clearest insights. Whether it’s a thumbs-up game, a doodle exit ticket, or a quick movement-based activity, these strategies help you see your students’ thinking—and help them reflect on their own learning.

When you build these checks into your daily routine, you’ll catch misunderstandings early, adjust instruction with confidence, and (best of all) watch your students feel more empowered in their learning.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mary Beth

P.S. Be sure to check out this blog post with 25 ideas for reviewing for any test!