Ancient Egypt Comes to Life at Archway Arete

Archway Arete January 5, 2026 -

The multipurpose room was transformed into ancient Egypt as first graders at Archway Arete welcomed visitors to their Ancient Egyptian Living Museum. For the second straight year, students used creativity, research, and imagination to turn their history studies into an interactive, hands-on experience.

“Our first graders have been studying ancient Egypt,” explained Jaime Baij, a first-grade teacher at the academy. “Each student was given a role to research and was asked to come up with three facts about their character to present to our museum visitors.” Those visitors included faculty members and parents.

Each “exhibit” featured photos, drawings, and models that students used to educate the adults who visited their installation. Students researched three key facts about their assigned historical figure. “When you come to a student, you can ask who they are, what they do, and why they were important in ancient Egypt,” Baij shared.

Visitors met a variety of ancient Egyptian figures dressed in full costume, adorned with wigs, Egyptian jewelry, linen tunics, usekh collars, and sandals. Notable historical characters were represented, ranging from Queen Hatshepsut, Pharaoh Amemhotep, and Julius Caesar to a Nile River farmer and even a Nile crocodile.

The multipurpose room was filled with wonder as visitors made their way through lines of eager students excited to share their knowledge. “I’m so proud of each student and all the hard work they put into their role,” said Baij. This annual event is just one of the many ways Great Hearts brings literature and history to life for students at Archway Arete and across all of its academies.

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.