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Spectacular Sphinx & Pyramid

Spectacular Sphinx

The Taj Mahal is an enormous mausoleum in Agra, India. Students will explore its history and create a 3D replica of this magnificent marble structure.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Toothpick(s)

Steps

  • Step 1

    The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most recognizable statues in the world. Carved out of limestone, it depicts a reclining sphinx, a mythical creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion. It is the oldest known monumental sculpture in Egypt. Have students explore its history. When was it created? How long did it take? What were the circumstances surrounding its creation? Who was Khafre and when did he reign? 

  • Step 2

    Have students look at images of this immense and magnificent structure. Ask them to create a replica of the Sphinx out of Air-Dry Clay using the images as reference. They can use toothpicks to etch features into the sculpture and then paint it when it is complete. The Sphinx is situated near the Great Pyramid in Giza, so they might want to create a pyramid out of clay as well. 

  • Step 3

    Have students present their sculptures and discuss some of the facts they learned about this historic monument.

Standards

SS: Culture: Create, learn, share, and adapt to culture. 

SS: Time, Continuity, and Change: Read, reconstruct, and interpret the past. Imagine the future. Place oneself in various times and spaces and reflect on change. 

Adaptations

Most pyramids were built as tombs for Egypt's pharaohs during the Old (2700-2200 BCE) and Middle (2040-1782 BCE) Kingdom periods. Have students investigate their symbolism, what was buried with them, and artwork around the tombs.

Have students investigate the riddle of the Sphinx, a brain teaser that travelers were asked to solve before being allowed to pass. If they couldn't answer it, a monster would eat them. The question was, "What creature has four feet in the morning, two feet in the afternoon, and three feet at night?" Encourage them to try to figure it out before researching the answer. Don't worry, there are no monsters standing by!