Test out Galileo’s gravity experiment

Investigating velocity and acceleration down a slope

In this fun STEM activity for kids, learners will discover how to write numbers in hieroglyphics.

This free resource is aimed at primary school children and could be used as a main lesson activity, to teach learners about the works of the ancient Egyptians contributing to learning in design and technology, history, and mathematics or as an alternative method of reinforcing learning in basic numeracy.

Additionally, this could be used to start a discussion on ancient Egypt or to introduce the concept of people using different languages. It could also be used in conjunction with other activities in this theme, ‘Making Papyrus’ and ‘Write like an Egyptian’.

This is one of a set of resources designed to allow learners to use practical methods to support the delivery of key topics within design and technology, history, and mathematics. This resource is based on the use of Hieroglyphics for mathematical activities by the Ancient Egyptians.

Using hieroglyphic symbols, learners will write down three numbers with values between 1,000 and 10,000,000. They will then swap their numbers with a peer. Can they tell each other the correct values of the numbers?

A free presentation for teachers is provided. The presentation includes a slide showing how the ancient Egyptians represented fractions using hieroglyphics, which could be used for extension work. Additionally, learners could write and solve maths problems using hieroglyphics.

This practical and engaging activity will test students’ maths abilities as it challenges children to think about the value of numbers, rather than just processing stated values.

Tools/resources required

A length of channel or guttering
A tape measure
A protractor
A stopwatch
The results table
A pen or pencil
An egg (plastic or boiled or solid)
Weighing scales (for extension activity 2 only)

The engineering context

An understanding of numbers is vital for engineers to solve lots of interesting problems. For example, factories need to know the quantity of materials in order to make their products and farmers need to know how much food to produce.

Suggested learning outcomes

By the end of this exercise students will know what Hieroglyphics are, they will be able to use Hieroglyphics to represent numbers of values up to 10,000,000 and they will be able to carry out basic numeracy functions.

Download the free Galileo’s gravity experiment activity sheets, including teacher notes, presentation and curriculum links along with a bonus wordsearch using words from the activity to enhance learning.