This Ancient Egypt unit study is designed to bring this fascinating civilisation to life through engaging home education resources. This series of learning activities will explore key aspects of Ancient Egyptian culture, technology, and daily life. Your journey begins with deciphering hieroglyphs, followed by the set up of a mummification experiment. Next, an exploration of the Nile’s impact on Egyptian geography and economics. Finally, delve into Ancient Egyptian ingenuity by designing a water clock and constructing a shaduf to investigate farming techniques. These activities utilise free learning resources, making this unit study accessible and enriching for all budding Egyptologists.
Uncover the Secrets of Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs
This engaging activity combines elements of English, Art, and Design to explore ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs and create a unique learning experience at home.
Objective
Create a personal hieroglyphic alphabet, compose a message about ancient Egyptian life, and manufacture pigments from natural ingredients.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand how language changes over time.
- Explore different writing systems.
- Improve mastery of art techniques, including sculpture with various materials.
Activity Steps
- Research Hieroglyphics
- Study Egyptian hieroglyphic symbols and their meanings.
- Explore how the ancient writing system worked.
- Create a Personal Alphabet
- Design a unique hieroglyphic alphabet based on research.
- Compose a Secret Message
- Write a meaningful message about life in ancient Egypt using the created hieroglyphs.
- Carve Hieroglyphs
- Use natural materials like clay to carve the hieroglyphic message.
- Make Natural Pigments
- Create homemade pigments using crushed berries, spices, vegetables, fruits, or opaque crystals.
- Paint the Hieroglyphs
- Apply the natural pigments to colour the carved hieroglyphs.
Recording Your Learning
To document progress and achievements, consider:
- Photographing the creation process and final product.
- Presenting and explaining the meaning of the hieroglyphic message in their preferred format (presentation / video / podcast, etc.)
Resources
Website: BBC Bitesize
Video: How to Read Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs
Printable: Hieroglyphics Alphabet Mat
Design and Conduct a Mummification Experiment
Step into the shoes of an Egyptologist and forensic scientist as you explore the fascinating world of mummification. Ancient Egyptians believed in preserving the body for the afterlife, developing sophisticated techniques over thousands of years. In this activity, you’ll recreate these ancient practices using modern scientific methods. Your task is to mummify a small bird (such as a quail), or piece of fruit, documenting the process and analysing the results.
Note: This activity will take a number of weeks to complete, so you may wish to start it early on. The smaller the ‘mummy’ the faster this process will be, so probably avoid using a turkey!
Objective
The main goal of this activity is to conduct a simulated mummification experiment, applying scientific principles to understand an ancient cultural practice. Students will gain practical experience in experimental design, observation, and analysis while exploring the historical and cultural significance of mummification in Ancient Egyptian society.
Learning Outcomes
- Design and carry out a scientific experiment with controlled variables
- Analyse and interpret data, drawing evidence-based conclusions
- Understand the historical context and cultural significance of mummification in Ancient Egypt
- Compare ancient preservation techniques with modern scientific understanding of decomposition
Activity Steps
- Research Ancient Egyptian mummification techniques and design your experiment.
- Prepare your “mummy” (small bird / fruit) and preservation materials, ensuring ethical considerations.
- Begin the mummification process, carefully documenting each step with photos and detailed notes.
- Make regular observations over several weeks, recording changes in appearance, weight, and other relevant factors.
- Analyse your results, comparing them to your initial hypotheses and historical accounts of mummification.
- Reflect on the scientific principles involved and the cultural significance of mummification in Ancient Egypt.
Recording Your Learning
- Create a scientific poster presenting your experiment, methodology, results, and conclusions.
- Develop a time-lapse video documenting the mummification process, with voiceover explaining each stage.
- Design an interactive museum exhibit that showcases your mummified specimen and explains the science and history behind it.
Resources
Video: TED-Ed: How to Make a Mummy
Explore the Nile: Ancient Egypt’s Lifeline
This learning activity combines outdoor exploration, mapmaking, and digital technology to understand the significance of the Nile River in ancient Egypt, including its crucial economic impact.
Objective
Create a detailed, large-scale map of the Nile River using natural materials, compare it with modern satellite imagery, and analyse the river’s historical and contemporary importance, with a focus on its economic influence.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop an understanding of physical geography, focusing on river systems.
- Enhance knowledge of human geography, including ancient settlements and land use.
- Improve digital literacy through the use of mapping and presentation tools.
- Strengthen research and analytical skills by comparing historical and modern landscapes.
- Gain insight into the economic significance of the Nile River in ancient and modern times.
Activity Steps
- Research the Nile River’s course, important ancient cities, and landmarks along its path.
- Collect natural materials from outdoors to use in creating your map.
- Construct a large-scale map of the Nile River using the collected materials, marking ancient cities and significant landmarks.
- Use digital mapping tools to view current satellite imagery of the Nile River.
- Compare your natural material map with the satellite imagery, noting similarities and differences between ancient and modern features.
- Investigate the economic impact of the Nile on ancient Egyptian civilisation, including agriculture, trade, and industry.
- Discuss and document the importance of the Nile to ancient Egyptian civilisation based on your findings, with particular emphasis on its economic role.
Recording Your Learning
To document progress and achievements, consider:
- Photograph your natural material map at various stages of creation.
- Create a digital presentation comparing your map with satellite imagery and explaining your findings about the Nile’s significance, including its economic impact.
- Writing a newspaper article on the economic benefits of the Nile, using our text and template, as well as your own research.
Resources
Website: National Geographic Kids: The Nile River Facts
Video: Geography of Ancient Egypt
Video: The Singing History Teachers – The Gift of the Nile
FREE Download: An Intro to the Economic Impact of the Nile – Newspaper Report
Design an Ancient Egyptian Solar Water Clock
Ancient Egyptians were pioneers in timekeeping, developing ingenious methods to measure the passage of hours. One such invention was the water clock, or clepsydra, dating back to around 1500 BCE. Imagine you’re an engineer tasked with recreating this ancient technology for a museum exhibit. Your challenge is to construct a functioning water clock using recycled materials, ensuring its accuracy and authenticity.
Hours are marked inside the vessel, measuring time as the water drips out.
Objective
To design, build, and calibrate a working model of an ancient Egyptian water clock using recycled materials, demonstrating understanding of historical timekeeping methods and scientific principles. This activity enhances problem-solving skills and deepens appreciation for ancient technologies.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop skills in scientific inquiry and experimental design
- Gain knowledge of ancient Egyptian culture and technological innovations
- Improve understanding of time measurement and unit conversion
- Enhance creativity and problem-solving abilities through practical application
Activity Steps
- Research ancient Egyptian water clocks, focusing on their design, function, and cultural significance.
- Design your water clock using recycled materials, considering factors like water flow rate and container shape.
- Construct the water clock model, ensuring it’s watertight and has a consistent water flow mechanism.
- Calibrate the clock by marking time intervals and adjusting the water flow for accurate timekeeping.
- Decorate the clock with authentic Egyptian motifs, using historical references for inspiration.
- Test the clock’s accuracy using a digital timer, recording data and analysing performance.
Recording Your Learning
- Create a time-lapse video documenting the construction and testing process of your water clock.
- Design an infographic explaining the principles of water clock operation and its historical significance.
- Maintain a project journal, including sketches, calculations, and reflections on the design and improvement process.
Resources
Website: Ancient World Magazine – Water Clocks
Test Ancient Egyptian Farming Techniques
Ancient Egyptian farmers relied heavily on the Nile River for irrigation. The shaduf was a crucial tool in their agricultural practices. It allowed farmers to lift water from the Nile and distribute it to their fields. This simple yet effective device revolutionised farming in ancient Egypt. Today, we’ll explore this ancient technology by building our own shaduf and testing its efficiency.
Objective
To construct a working model of an ancient Egyptian shaduf and evaluate its effectiveness in water distribution. This activity will enhance understanding of simple machines, leverage, and ancient agricultural techniques.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the principles of leverage and counterbalance in simple machines.
- Develop skills in design, construction, and problem-solving.
- Gain insight into ancient Egyptian farming practices and their impact on civilisation.
- Improve data collection and analysis skills through measuring water distribution efficiency.
Activity Steps
- Research the design and function of ancient Egyptian shadufs using provided resources.
- Sketch a design for your shaduf, considering materials and dimensions.
- Construct your shaduf using readily available materials like wood, rope, and a bucket.
- Test your shaduf by lifting water from a source and distributing it to a designated area.
- Measure and record the amount of water lifted and distributed in a set time period.
- Analyse the efficiency of your shaduf and brainstorm potential improvements to the design.
Recording Your Learning
- Create a time-lapse video of the shaduf construction and testing process.
- Design an infographic comparing ancient and modern irrigation techniques, featuring your shaduf.
- Keep a project journal documenting your design process, challenges faced, and solutions implemented.
Resources
Website: BBC Bitesize – Why was farming important to the ancient Egyptians?
Places to visit during your Ancient Egyptian unit study
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
Brighton Museum houses one of the largest Ancient Egypt collections in a regional UK museum. Visitors can explore two linked galleries featuring everyday objects, burial items, and mummies. The museum offers hands-on activities for children, allowing them to learn about Ancient Egyptian life and afterlife beliefs through interactive displays.
Hands on History Museum, Hull
This museum offers an immersive Ancient Egypt experience, including replicas of Tutankhamun’s tomb artefacts. Young visitors can participate in object handling sessions, learn about mummification, and try writing in hieroglyphics. The museum also houses a real mummy, providing a tangible connection to Ancient Egyptian burial practices.
British Museum, London
The British Museum is home to world-renowned Egyptian artefacts, including the Rosetta Stone. Visitors can explore a vast collection of items such as mummy masks, statues, and amulets. The museum’s extensive Egyptian galleries offer a comprehensive overview of Ancient Egyptian history and culture.
Cleopatra’s Needle, London
Located on the Victoria Embankment, Cleopatra’s Needle is a 3,500-year-old Egyptian obelisk. It’s the oldest man-made object on London’s streets, offering a unique opportunity to see an authentic piece of Ancient Egypt outside a museum setting. The site also features sphinx statues and commemorative plaques, providing context to its journey from Egypt to London.
Leicester Museum & Art Gallery
This museum houses the most significant collection of Ancient Egyptian objects in the East Midlands. Visitors can see four mummified ancient Egyptians, figurines, canopic jars, and fragments of the Book of the Dead. The exhibits provide insights into Ancient Egyptian views on death and the afterlife.
Note: Many museums and galleries will offer the same experiences available to schools to home ed groups, even if this is not advertised. Usually there is a cost attached, but typically this is under £15 per head, including entrance. Reach out and see how they can help you.
Brilliant Books
Tales of Ancient Egypt: Myths & Adventures from the Land of the Pyramids by Hugo D. Cook
This non-fiction book weaves together historical accounts and mythical tales from ancient Egypt. Cook’s expertise as an Egyptologist brings authenticity to the narratives, making them both entertaining and educational. The book covers a wide range of topics, from Cleopatra’s cunning to lesser-known stories of pharaohs and gods. Interspersed explanations about pyramid construction and mummification provide context to the captivating stories.
So You Think You’ve Got It Bad? A Kid’s Life in Ancient Egypt by Chae Strathie
This non-fiction book offers a humorous yet informative look at daily life for children in ancient Egypt. Strathie’s engaging writing style brings history to life, comparing ancient practices to modern experiences. The book covers diverse aspects of Egyptian life, including education, fashion, and entertainment. Colourful illustrations by Marisa Morea enhance the text, making abstract concepts tangible for young readers.
The Golden Goblet by Eloise Jarvis McGraw (Ages 10-14)
Set in ancient Thebes, this novel follows an orphan boy’s journey to become a goldsmith. McGraw’s detailed descriptions immerse readers in Egyptian daily life and customs. The story touches on themes of perseverance, justice, and social hierarchy. It sparks interest in ancient craftsmanship and Egyptian social structures.
Boy of the Pyramids by Ruth Fosdick Jones (Ages 7-10) Suitable for reluctant readers
This simple yet engaging story follows a young boy in ancient Egypt. Jones brings everyday life in ancient times to vivid reality for younger readers. Kaffe and Sari, an Egyptian noble’s son and a slave girl from the nomadic Sand People of the Sinai region, help solve a troublesome mystery and trap its culprit. The book touches on themes of friendship, family, and growing up. It serves as an accessible introduction to ancient Egyptian culture and customs.
Family dinners offer a unique opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations that can spark curiosity and foster critical thinking. Dinner Time Discussions transform these everyday moments into enriching experiences for the whole family. These discussions are inspired by Socratic questioning, a method that encourages deeper thinking through thoughtful inquiry.
Download the FREE Ancient Egypt Dinner Time Discussion cards here.
Have you tried any of these activities or resources with your child? I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments section below!