Activity 1.2.3: A Day in the Life of an Egyptian Scavenger Hunt (KEY)
Click here to
enter a date.
Purpose: Students will learn how religion affected everyday life of the Egyptians. Students will then analyze their findings and see if they can
spot similar resemblances of this ancient culture in our society today.
Standard: SSWH1 (b) Describe the relationship of religion and political authority in Ancient Egypt
Directions: Students will be placed by teacher into pairs. Each pair will randomly select a Social Class/Occupation. Using content from the A Day in
the Life [ http://www.pbs.org/empires/egypt/special/lifeas/index.html ] website students will fill in the section they selected. Each pair will then
designate one member to be the speaker and one the scribe. The scribe goes around trying to find other speakers who will give them the
information they need to complete this chart. The speaker will find a place in the room and tell his/her group of listeners all about his/her daily
life. Students will then answer the questions that follow.
Social
Class/Occupation
Type of clothing
worn
Types of food
eaten
Type of Shelter
lived in
How free time
was spent
Jobs and
Responsibilities
Tools of the Trade
Pharaoh
lots of jewelry
whatever he
wants
palace
wandering
touring city,
gardens/whatever talking to nobles,
he wants
making sacrifices
chariots, servants
Nobleman
linen robes,
leather sandals,
jewelry
bread, fruit, fish,
meat, wine, etc..
townhouse
relaxing and
entertaining
oversees b'ness of
agriculture and
livestock
chariots and
servants
Craftsmen/Workers head cloth and
some type of kilt
figs, dates, milk,
honey, beer,
meat, bread
simple house
play and relax
with family
painters,
butchers, bakers,
shopkeepers, etc..
tools used in
stated profesions
Soldiers
head cloth, neack
and shoulder
gear, and kilt
bread and some
fruit
barracks
building
infrastructure for
empire
training to fight,
guarding pharaoh
spear, bow and
arrow, sword
Farmers
linen kilt and
sandals
bread and fruit
and little meat
small house
going to bed or
resting
tend to farm
bare hands and
minor tools
Women
linen dress and
necklace
same as
husbands/depend
on class
same as
husbands/depend
on class
tending to the
house,
cleaning/cooking
tending to the
house,
cleaning/cooking
pots
Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences
1. What were the educational opportunities available to the ancient Egyptians, and who had access to these opportunities?
There were schools where the children could go but these were usually only available to the nobles
2. Was there potential for the ancient Egyptians to move from one class to another? If so, what would have to be done to move to another
social class?
Yes, through marriage, although it was typically the women who would move from one class to another
3. What rights and freedoms did people from each of the social classes have?
answers will vary
4. What was the role of women in ancient Egyptian societies?
To tend to the family and to the house
5. How was religion a major part of everyday life?
answers will vary