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Mummies Made In Egypt

Language: English

This book describes the techniques and the reasons for the use of mummification in ancient Egypt. LeVar explores mummies and learns about the art of conserving Egyptian artifacts as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. Then CT scan technology provides an inside look at a mummy thousand of years old, and a forensic expert recreates the head of a mummy using intricate skull dimensions.

  

Here are activities to do after watching this episode:

Clothespin Mummies

You will need:

  • wooden clothespin (non-spring)
  • pipe cleaner
  • strips of gauze
  • scissors
  • glue

Directions:

  1. Wrap the pipe cleaner around the clothespin to represent the arms of the mummy.
  2. Next, cut the strips of fabric very narrow. Begin wrapping the clothespin from the top of the mummy down, being careful to cover all of the body. Glue the end piece.

Option:

  • Create your own pyramid from construction paper and boxes and put the mummy inside just like they did in Egypt.

  

EGYPT

Do you know where Egypt is on the globe or on a map? Older family members can help younger ones find the country of Egypt. Taking a piece of string, hold one end of it where you live now and the other end where Egypt is. Talk about how Egypt is a desert area, which means it is very hot and sandy there. See what other facts you can find out about the area by reading books together.

Pass the Mummy

If your children and their friends love to play Hot Potato, they’ll love this version with a mummy. Try this as an indoor activity for the next dreary, rainy day.

You will need:

  • roll of toilet tissue
  • small prizes
  • tape
  • music
  1. Tape a small prize to the end of a length of toilet tissue. Roll the tissue until the prize is wrapped, and then tape another prize. Continue taping prizes and rolling tissue until you have concealed several small prizes in the “mummy.”
  2. Seat players in a circle. Give the “mummy” to one player and start the music.
  3. As the music plays, the “mummy” is passed from one player to another. When the music stops, the player who is holding the “mummy” can unwrap it until the first prize is revealed. The player can remove the prize, discard the unwrapped tissue, and continue to play.
  4. Play until all the prizes have been unwrapped. Just be certain that each player has at least one prize.

Check out some of these books on your
next trip to the library:

  • Bill and Pete Go Down the Nile by Tomie dePaola
  • I Can Be An Archaeologist by Robert B. Pickering
  • Visiting The Art Museum by Laurene Krasny Brown and Marc Brown

READING RAINBOW has a resource library that includes teacher guide materials as well as reading programs for use in the public libraries. You can download these resources from GPN at:
www.gpnresources.com

If you would like more information about READING RAINBOW or if you would like to learn more about other educational products please visit the GPN web site.

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