Mummification Rituals Unwrapped

Curriculum Area

This lesson supports the Key Stage 1 National Curriculum in History, focusing on "events beyond living memory that are significant globally" and "the lives of significant individuals in the past". It provides opportunities for Year 2 students to explore the past through engaging tasks while developing critical thinking and historical inquiry skills.

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Lesson Overview

Duration: 60 minutes

Class Size: 25 students

Unit Context: Lesson 7/10 in "Ancient Egyptian Civilization"

This engaging lesson will introduce Year 2 pupils to the fascinating process of mummification, a central ritual in ancient Egyptian culture. Pupils will explore why mummification was crucial, its unique steps, and how it reflects broader cultural and religious values. Through storytelling, group discussions, and an exciting hands-on simulation, students will recreate aspects of this ancient ritual in a way that aids retention and sparks curiosity.

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Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, pupils will:

• Understand the purpose of mummification in ancient Egyptian society.
• Learn the steps involved in the mummification process and their symbolic meanings.
• Explain the cultural and religious significance of the preservation of the dead.
• Connect the ancient ritual to modern practices of memorialising loved ones.

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Key Competencies Developed

• Historical Inquiry and Research: Gathering and interpreting historical knowledge from visual and textual sources about mummification.
• Critical Thinking: Analysing why certain rituals were important to the ancient Egyptians.
• Chronological Understanding: Placing mummification in the context of ancient Egypt's society and timeline.
• Making Connections to Modern Life: Linking ancient practices to modern ways of honouring life and memory.

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Resources Needed

• Storytelling prop: A large scroll (or printed paper) with a "Mummification Story" written in simple language.
• Materials for hands-on activity: white bandages (pre-cut strips of cloth or tissue paper), a doll or stuffed animal for each group, salt (or rice), empty canopic jars (small containers), and markers to write hieroglyphs.
• Large classroom timeline visual with ancient Egypt highlighted.
• Flashcards with pictures of ancient mummification tools, sarcophagus designs, and hieroglyphs.
• Interactive classroom board or projector.

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Detailed Lesson Breakdown

1. Starter Activity: Historical Hook (10 minutes)

1. Set the Scene – Dim the lights slightly and dramatically unroll the "Mummification Story" scroll. Tell a captivating 3-minute tale of a young ancient Egyptian boy saying goodbye to his grandmother as she journeys to the afterlife. Incorporate exciting details about her preparation as a mummy and the belief in eternity.
2. Class Connection – Ask the students:
   • "Why do you think the ancient Egyptians went through a long process to preserve the body after death?"
   • Encourage speculative answers, linking to their prior knowledge of Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife (from earlier lessons).

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2. Main Teaching Activity: Exploring Mummification (20 minutes)

Step 1: Visual Exploration (5 minutes)

• Show flashcards or display images of mummification-related artefacts and tools: canopic jars, embalming tools, linen bandages, and decorated sarcophagi.
• Briefly explain the role of each item in the mummification process using simple, age-appropriate language, e.g.:
  • "The brain was removed to make space for thoughts in the afterlife!"

Step 2: Demonstrating the Process (6 minutes)

Using one of the dolls, demonstrate the six main steps of mummification on the classroom board or table:

1. Wash the body.
2. Remove internal organs for storage in canopic jars.
3. Cover the body in natron (salt) to dry it out.
4. Wrap the body in linen bandages.
5. Add amulets for protection.
6. Place the mummy in a sarcophagus.

Explain how each step reflected Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife.

Step 3: Hands-On Mummification Simulation (9 minutes)

• Divide the students into groups of five.
• Each group will mummify their "pharaoh" doll or stuffed animal:
  • Wrap "internal organs" (represented by beads or paper slips) in foil and place them in mock canopic jars.
  • Use the salt/rice to "dry out the body."
  • Wrap the stuffed animal in pre-cut fabric strips (bandages).
  • Decorate or write on the "sarcophagus" (a shoebox or an outline on paper).

Support groups as they work, ensuring they understand the symbolism.

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3. Plenary: Reflection and Connection (15 minutes)

• Discussion Circle (5 minutes): Gather the class together to reflect on what they learned during the hands-on activity. Prompt questions such as:

  • "How would you feel if you were preparing a loved one like this?"
  • "What does this tell us about how ancient Egyptians cared for and remembered people?"
  • "Why do you think they believed the body needed to be preserved for the afterlife?"

• Making Connections (5 minutes): Ask students to think of ways modern people remember and honour loved ones (e.g., keeping photos, writing names on gravestones). Comparatively discuss the cultural differences and commonalities.

• Quick Quiz (5 minutes): Test knowledge using a fun multiple-choice format on the classroom board:

  1. "What was used to dry out the body?"
  2. "Which organ was thrown away?"
  3. "What were bandages for?"

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Differentiation Strategies

• For Higher Ability Students: Encourage them to create a hieroglyphic nameplate for their "mummy" by copying from sheets with simple hieroglyph symbols.
• For Lower Ability Students: Provide more direct support during the hands-on simulation. Pair them with a learning buddy for encouragement. Use flashcards with simple labels for visual learners.
• For EAL Students: Use visual aids (drawings/symbols) and assign roles in groups based on simple actions like wrapping. Support them with verbal instructions using gestures or pointing.

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Assessment for Learning

1. Observation: Monitor pupils' engagement and understanding as they participate in group tasks and hands-on activities.
2. Plenary Reflection: Assess their retention and ability to connect ideas during the discussion and quiz.
3. Work Sampling: Collect and review their "sarcophagus" designs to ensure they understand the cultural context of decoration.

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Extension Activity

For students who finish early or wish to explore further, provide materials to create their own illustrated "Book of the Dead" page. Ask them to draw protective charms or write a short good-luck message for the mummy's journey.

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Teacher Reflection

• Were students engaged during the simulation?
• Did they grasp the symbolic meanings behind mummification steps?
• Could they articulate connections between ancient and modern memory practices?
• Which areas need more focus in the next lesson?

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By crafting an immersive and interactive experience, this lesson brings ancient Egyptian rituals to life in an age-appropriate manner while tying historical practices to relatable themes. Students will leave with a deepened appreciation for history, culture, and the human desire to honour life.