Project-Based Learning: Egyptian Place Value & Fractions

Looking for some new PBL? I wanted a snazzy way to engage my fifth graders in a place value review AND teach the new fraction concepts we were studying. That's why this project was created!

This literacy, math, art, and problem-solving project engages students in the following:
1. Place value review to the millions place, using Egyptian hieroglyphs, using expanded, standard, and written form.
2. Reading the history of hieroglyphs, cartouches, fraction systems, and an Egyptian myth.
3. Writing about mathematical thinking.
4. Creating their own hieroglyphic fraction system to explore mathematical patterns and symbols.
5. Learning about the real fraction system Egypians employed.
6. Creating their own Egyptian cartouche to represent their birthdays.
7. Creating an artistic representation of the fraction system they developed, so that it looks like a wall in an ancient Egyptian temple.
8. Comparing and contrasting their fraction system to the actual Egyptian fraction system.
9. Creating large numbers using whole number hieroglyphs.
10. Reading hieroglyphic fractions, decomposing fractions and mixed numbers.
11. Understanding unit fractions.

This product includes the following:
1. 4 pages of Teacher Talk notes
2. 6 pages of reading passages (in both color and black and white)
3. Two place value practice sheets with keys (black and white)
4. One Egyptian hieroglyph whole number chart (black and white)
5. 18 task cards with student response sheets & keys(8 pages, black and white)
6. 3 Fraction workout sheets with keys (black and white)
7. Student directions and higher level problem-solving pages (9 pages colored and black and white)
8. One stationary page for the final write up (color and black and white).

My students ADORED this project. It cemented our fraction concepts and gave us a fun way to review place value.