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The Egyptian Pyramids

A complete A2 classroom lesson built around a short English reading. Use it as a 45–60 minute lesson, or choose individual sections for a shorter class.

A250–60 minutesHistoryPrintable
Teacher lesson: What pictures or ideas come to mind when you hear ancient Egypt ? Write three words or phrases. Work through the nine panels in order, or choose the sections that suit your class. Teacher answers and the listening script are stored separately.
Teacher AnswersOpen original reading
1 Lesson Goals
The Egyptian pyramids under a clear sky

By the end of this lesson, I will be able to:

  • understand the main ideas and key details in The Egyptian Pyramids.
  • learn and use important vocabulary from the lesson.
  • use the lesson language in speaking or writing.
Start here: What do you already know about this topic? Tell a partner one idea.
2 Reading
Before you read:

What pictures or ideas come to mind when you hear ancient Egypt? Write three words or phrases.

The pyramids of ancient Egypt were built as monumental tombs for kings and other important people. The most famous stand at Giza, near modern Cairo. The Great Pyramid was built for the pharaoh Khufu more than 4,500 years ago. Thousands of workers quarried, moved and carefully placed enormous blocks of stone. Archaeological evidence shows that many of these workers lived in organised settlements near the building site. The pyramids were part of larger complexes that included temples and smaller tombs. Their size and precise construction still impress visitors today. Although many questions remain about the exact building methods, the pyramids show the extraordinary planning, skill and resources of ancient Egyptian society.
3 Vocabulary
Words: tomb · pharaoh · quarried · evidence · settlement · precise

Choose four words and write a short meaning or synonym for each.

4 Check Your Understanding

1. What were the pyramids mainly built as?

2. Where are the most famous pyramids?

3. Who was the Great Pyramid built for?

4. What does the reading say about the workers?

5. Why do the pyramids still impress visitors?

5 Language Focus

Change these active ideas into passive sentences.

1. Workers moved enormous blocks of stone. → Enormous blocks of stone .

2. Ancient Egyptians built the Great Pyramid for Khufu. → The Great Pyramid .

3. Archaeologists found evidence of organised settlements. → Evidence of organised settlements .

6 Listen & Speak

Listen

Listen to your teacher and complete the missing words.

Word box: Giza · tombs · Khufu · workers · stone

1. The most famous pyramids are at .

2. The pyramids were built as .

3. The Great Pyramid was built for .

4. Huge blocks of were moved.

5. Many lived near the building site.

Speak

Discuss with a partner.

• What would have been difficult about building the pyramids?
• Which skill seems most important: planning, strength, organisation or engineering? Explain.
• Name a famous building in your country. Why is it important?

The Egyptian Pyramids — Continued
7 Use Your English

Something New

Write three statements about the pyramids. Two are true and one is false. Read them to a partner. Can they find the myth?

Write

Write a paragraph of 70–90 words: Why are the Egyptian pyramids still interesting today? Use at least three details from the reading.

8 Puzzle or Game
Vocabulary Detective

Choose four words from the Vocabulary panel. Write a short clue for each word without writing the word itself. Swap with a partner and see how many you can guess.

Bonus: Use one of the words in a new sentence.

9 Success Criteria ✓

Tick each statement when you can do it.

  • I can explain the main idea of the lesson.
  • I can use at least three new words correctly.
  • I can complete the language task.
  • I can share an idea in spoken or written English.

One thing I am proud of today:

10 Show What You Can Do
My final challenge: The Egyptian Pyramids

Plan: Write 5 useful words or ideas from the lesson, or make a quick labelled sketch.

Write: Write 5–7 sentences that show what you learned. Try to use at least 3 words from the Vocabulary panel.

Share: Explain your work to a partner for about 30 seconds.