Ancient Egyptians
Unit 8 Mummy
1. Whole class instruction
Objective: To explain the purpose of mummification
and how it fitted in with religious beliefs.
1.1. Go to Multimedia section 7
“What was the point of mummification?”
! There are two things to know here: why
mummification was thought important, and how
it was carried out. Explain that it was a religious
ritual.
! The multimedia chapter explains about life after
death. Discuss how most religions believe in life
after death, and perhaps discuss why they do.
Explain that there are multiple beliefs about life
after death today just as there were in the past.
! The Ancient Egyptians believed that a soul would
survive provided the person was remembered.
So it was all a matter of figuring out the best way
to be remembered: as a mummy was one way
as it was thought that the mummified remains
would exist forever. To make sure of this, multiple
caskets were used to house the mummy, together
with a sarcophagus and perhaps even a pyramid.
Discuss also who was mummified. Mummifying
was expensive, so only those with the resources
could be mummified. But that still meant very large
numbers of people (as well as animals) – enough,
in fact, for later peoples to regard the mummies
with disdain, grinding them up for fertiliser, making
them into potions and so on. Discuss whether
people ought to have treated religious burials in
this way. Do we allow it now for our own ancestors?
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Develop the idea that
good leaders plan
ahead.
© 2012 Atlantic Europe Publishing
2a. Group exploration
How salt dries things
! This activity is all about finding out how drying
works. It can be cross-curricular with science,
changing materials. Children could find out how
removing moisture works. They can each make up
a saturated solution of brine in a small jar with a
closely-fitting top (add salt to water and stir until no
more dissolves). Then add a piece of raw carrot and
look to see what happens over the next few weeks as
the carrot dehydrates in the brine solution.
2b. Literacy activity
Go to Literacy>>Unit 8 Mummy
! The literacy activity “The real curse of the mummy”
is a parody on science fiction books and Victorian
horror stories.
3. Plenary session
! Get children to say what they think about
mummification and religious beliefs of people in the
past.
4. Further work/homework
! Ask children to find out about famous surviving
Check school
health and safety
regulations for this
and if necessary
do a single
demonstration.
Literacy
Workbook
Unit 8
The real
curse of
the
Mummy
Creative Topic Mummy
mummies such as Ramesses II (Now in Cairo
museum, but the British Museum web site has
details of other mummies).
© 2012 Atlantic Europe Publishing
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