Pyramid Project
1. Label each flap:
Flap 1:
mummy
Flap 2: 5 ancient Egyptian items
Flap 3: 5 items of the Pharaoh
Flap 4: 5 personal, modern items
2. Mummy- draw an outline of a mummy and cover with torn tissue OR draw one in detail OR print a
small picture of a mummy
3. Ancient Egyptian Items- what would most Egyptians want to be buried with? READ the details
after the directions to learn more about what was important to them. Draw each item or paste a small
printed picture of each one.
4. Items of the Pharaoh- the Pharaoh had more elaborate items buried with him. Use your textbook
and other resources to find 5 items that a Pharaoh would be buried with. Draw each item or paste a
small printed picture of each one.
5. Personal, modern items- What 5 items are important enough to you to carry with you into the
afterlife? Try to find a mode of transportation, a specific book or piece of writing, a piece of jewelry,
and two items that you depend on every day. Draw each item or paste a small printed picture of
each one.
Assembly- CAREFULLY cut around the dark outlined shape of the pyramid. The dotted lines are
for FOLDING, not cutting. Tape together the sides where they meet. You might consider stuffing
the pyramid with tissue to help it hold its shape. Your full name and class should go on the base of the
pyramid. Everything should be colored and neatly completed.
READ THE NEXT PAGE FOR MORE INFO ON PREPARING FOR
AFTERLIFE!
The ancient Egyptians believed that if their heart was light from spending a lifetime doing good deeds that,
after their death, they would climb in Ra’s boat and travel to their afterlife. To the ancient Egyptians, the
afterlife was a real place, the land of Two Fields, a truly splendid place!
In preparation for their trip to the land of Two Fields, before they died and throughout their lifetime
people spent a great deal of their leisure time making grave goods. Grave goods were all the things they
wanted to bring with them to the land of the Two Fields.
Nearly everybody made little statures as part of their grave goods. People in ancient Egypt fully expected
to be assigned jobs to do in their afterlife, just as they were assigned jobs to do in their daily lives.
To the ancient Egyptians, it made perfect sense to create little statues that would do the work for them. It
was believed that when the deceased were called on to do their share of the work in the afterlife, they could
send their little workers instead. That would leave them free to sail the heavenly Nile or visit with friends
who had entered the afterlife.
They also made toys. They made beautiful clothing. They made jewelry. They made everything they
would need in the land of the Two Fields. And they made a great deal of it in little tiny sizes. It is assumed
that the ancient Egyptians believed these articles would grow to whatever size was needed when the y
reached the end of their tip. Once made, grave goods were packed carefully away in big urns. After they
died, the grave goods they had spend a lifetime preparing were buried in these urns, along with the
mummified body, rather like luggage.
The ancient Egyptians had a great deal of fun preparing for their afterlife.