Project
The Pyramids – a cross-curricular trip Sunita Biswas
T
here is an old Arabic proverb which translates to “Man fears time, time fears the pyramids”. The Great Pyramids at Giza, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world, were built to endure an eternity, and they have done just that. And this year, as the world battles a pandemic that threatens to change life as we know it, these 4500 year-old symbols of life everlasting made headlines as they were lit up to convey a global message – Stay home. Stay safe. For centuries, the pyramids of Egypt have fascinated us with their jaw-dropping size. People have pondered and researched and hypothesized about the complexities in the construction process (especially in hoary, ancient times that pre-date even the generally accepted pre-mechanical age!), the men who created these enduring marvels, and the possible reason/s for erecting these colossal structures. There are even doubts about these man-made mountains that suggest they were built using extra-terrestrial technology and were possibly advanced time machines!! More than any other artificial structure on earth, the Great Pyramid has been measured, studied, analyzed in every detail and theorized about from every possible angle. Photo: Wikipedia
26
TEACHER PLUS, JULY 2020
Since Napoleon’s failed, but historically significant, expedition to Egypt, an entire academic discipline called Egyptology has blended humanities and the sciences into a fascinating and challenging field of study, and an exciting and rewarding career option. In the school curriculum, however, because these structures belong to a long bygone past, pyramids have found a place only under the subject of History. And even there, because they belong to a rivervalley civilization that flourished in ancient times, by the method of syncing historical periodization with school levels, the Gift of the Nile and its incredible legacies are confined to the junior and middle school levels. Rarely, if at all, do students engage in finding out more about this civilization in the higher classes. However, even if we remain in the middle school, we can definitely take the pyramids out of the brief mention in a “chapter” in the history textbook, and allow students
