Episode 6
24th March 2009
Activity
Mummies
Key Learning
Students will explore investigate aspects of ancient Egyptian culture.
The Australian Curriculum
History / The Mediterranean world / Egypt
Roles of key groups in ancient Egyptian society (such as the
nobility, bureaucracy, women, slaves), including the influence of
law and religion(ACDSEH032)
The significant beliefs, values and practices of the
ancient Egyptians, with a particular emphasis on ONE of the
following areas: everyday life, warfare, or death and funerary
customs (ACDSEH033)
History / Historical Skills / Historical questions and
research
Identify a range of questions about the past to inform a historical
inquiry(ACHHS207)
History / Investigating the ancient past
How historians and archaeologists investigate history, including
excavation and archival research (ACDSEH001)
The range of sources that can be used in an historical
investigation, including archaeological and written
sources (ACDSEH029)
The methods and sources used to investigate at least ONE
historical controversy or mystery that has challenged historians
or archaeologists, such as in the analysis of unidentified human
remains (ACDSEH030)
History / Historical Skills / Chronology, terms and
concepts
Use historical terms and concepts (ACHHS206)
Discussion Questions
1. Explain the BtN Mummies story to another student.
2. Describe the role of an archaeologist.
3. Where have archaeologists found mummies believed to be the oldest in the world?
4. How much older than Egyptian mummies are they?
5. What did archaeologists discover?
6. What do the artefacts tell us about life for these people?
7. Why is the work challenging for archaeologists?
8. Why are the conditions in the Atacama Desert perfect for preserving things?
9. Briefly describe the process of mummifying bodies?
10. Name three facts that you learnt from the BtN Mummies story that you didn’t know before.
©ABC 2009
Activities
Life in ancient Egypt
 Ask students to brainstorm everything that comes to mind when they think of ancient Egypt. Record their
responses on a concept map. Use the concept map to develop some key questions to investigate.
Gathering new information
Students can use their own key questions or some of the following key questions as a framework for inquiry:
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What did ancient Egyptians believe about death and the afterlife?
What did the mummification process involve?
Why were mummies and sarcophagi’s (coffins) important to the ancient Egyptians?
What is the role of an archaeologist?
How did the ancient Egyptians make use of the natural environment?
Locate, select, organise, present and asses information
Locate resources that will help answer their questions. These can include:
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Print
Electronic (Internet)
Library/Resource Centre
People (friends, family, teachers)
Organisations (museums, galleries)
Select the information from a variety of sources that provide answers to their questions. Students may need
support to sort through and select relevant information.
Students will then need to organise their research by creating main heading from their questions. Write each
heading on a separate piece of paper. Record the information found for each question.
The information can be presented in a variety of ways. These include:
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Display
Web page or video
Game
Negotiate with students early in the research process how they would like to present their research. Students
can then share their information with students from another class or create a display in the resource centre
for all students to access.
Students can assess their own learning by asking themselves:
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What did I do well?
What could I have done better?
Remind students to think about the process as well as the finished product.
©ABC 2009
 Related Research Links
ABC Catalyst – World’s oldest mummies
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/2508046.htm
Archaeological Institute of America: Making the Dead Beautiful: Mummies as Art
http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/chinchorro/index.html
Ancient Egypt – Mummification process
http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/mummies/story/main.html
The British Museum – Ancient Egypt
http://www.britishmuseum.org/learning/schools_and_teachers/primary/ancient_egypt.aspx
The British Museum – Explore / World Cultures: Ancient Egypt
http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/cultures/africa/ancient_egypt.aspx
©ABC 2009