Forms 3 and 4 wrapped up lessons before half term by literally wrapping each other up!
We have been focusing on Ancient Egypt as part of our learning topic: ‘What would you see on a trip down the Nile?’
In our History lesson, Miss Smith and Mrs Beeson had prepared a session all about mummification. We discussed what we already knew about mummies and rated how much we knew on a scale of 1-10.
We watched an educational video on the 70-day process of mummification, including the washing of the body in the Nile, the removal of the organs (except the heart), and the presentation of the body before being wrapped up. Organs were kept in different canopic jars to preserve and protect them. The body would then be dried out using salt and then filled with stuffing and left for 40 days.
Ancient Egyptians wore amulets which are tiny pieces of jewellery which offer protection against danger, evil and disease. The dead were given amulets to wear to protect them in the afterlife before being wrapped up.
After we had watched the video, it was time to mummify each other! In groups we wrapped up one person in tissue paper (real mummies were wrapped in linen).
Our mummies got very dizzy as we span them around and wrapped them up.
We also collected stones and pebbles and decorated them to create our own amulets. Once we had created our amulets, we placed them within the bandages to protect our friend in the afterlife.
In Ancient Egypt, mummies would then be placed in a coffin underground in a tomb filled with the canopic jars and different objects for their journey to the afterlife such as games and food. We weren’t that cruel so we unwrapped our friends and sat back in our seats to discuss what we had learnt!
There are lots of different processes to mummification that not many of us knew about, such as the removal of the organs and the dressing of the body to preserve it for the afterlife.
Ancient Egyptians had lots of ideas, superstitions and thoughts about the afterlife, and a lot of effort went in to preparing the rich for what the future held for them.
This was a really fun lesson which forms part of our learning topic. In Art, we have been making Egyptian bobble heads based on the Gods. Take a look at some of them below. In Music we have been creating sounds and songs that relate to the Egyptian Gods and also music that represents the animals who live on the Nile.
Conveniently situated on the A65 between Ben Rhydding, Ilkley and Burley in Wharfedale, Ghyll Royd School, Pre-School and Nursery is ideally located for families living in or commuting to the surrounding cities, towns and villages of Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, Burley in Wharfedale, Addingham, Menston, Guiseley, Baildon, Bingley, Otley, Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate, Skipton and Keighley.
