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Dear Susannah,
I think you could focus on a number of things, such as:
Excavation- digging up the remains. Explain why it is necessary to be
careful when excavating something. Then, have them excavate chocolate
chips from a chocolate chip cookie with a toothpick. Explain that they
have to get the chips out with as little damage as possible... then they
can eat them.
Egyptology- the study of Egypt. Translation is always fun because it
seems like learning a 'secret' language. Finding an English to
Hieroglyph alphabet it pretty easy. Then, write a message on the board
in hieroglyphs, (or pass out a worksheet) that the kids have to
translate. As an added bonus, you could make cartouches of the kids'
names, (just like King Tut has!).
Mummification- desiccation, or removal of water. Try looking at
'mummified' foods, such as raisons, apple chips, other dried fruits and
even jerky. I don't know the age of the kids you are working with, but
you can go further and look at salts and sand, the main means the
Egyptians had of mummification.
Pigment and Paint- This is a fun one, and reminds kids that things were
really different a long time ago. Explain first of all that the
Egyptians didn't just go to the store and buy their paints, they had to
make them. Go further and mention the things they were made out of;
copper, (greens and blues), iron oxide, (reds) and oxidized lead,
(yellows and whites), (see
http://africanhistory.about.com/od/hieroglyphs/a/ColorTech_2.htm for
more). Explaining that colors had meanings is also an interesting
aspect. Finally, of course, have them make their own paints, though
maybe not with copper and lead.
Everyday life- what does an Egyptian do all day? Of course, it depends
on who you are. But kids still played when they could; wrestling,
tug-of-war and marbles were popular back then. But if you were Royalty,
you played senet, (see http://www.gamecabinet.com/history/Senet.html or
Wikipedia). The game rules are uncertain, but you could still focus on
trying to make your own toys out of found materials, such as making
marbles or ball to play catch with.
Hope this helps!
Stephanie Kazmierzak-Esler
Science Interpreter
Orlando Science Center
ph: 407.514.2167
fax: 407.514.2067
Inspire Science Learning for Life
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of SHAMM
Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 1:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Mummy Science
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
Centers Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
institutions.
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*****
Hello-
I am doing some Mummy Science programs around Halloween, and I have one
group of younger, religious homeschool children. Anyone have some not
scary, not Halloween-y mummy activities? The main activity will be
mummifying an egg, and I thought about some archaeology techniques and
maybe something about pigments (related to sarcophagi and chemical
changes over time).
Susannah
Susannah Hamm
Science & Technology Specialist
Cuyahoga County Public Library
Parma-South Branch
7335 Ridge Rd / Parma, OH 44129
p 440.885.5362 / f
http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/scienceexpert.aspx
http://www.cuyahogalibrary.org/technologyexpert.aspx
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