T EACHING P ACK:
T HE T IME TOURIST’S G TO ANCIENT UIDE EGYPT BY EMMA RO BERT S AND ILYA M ILST EIN
SYNOPSIS:
Join time-travelling tour guide, Herbert, on a journey to Ancient Egypt, taking in 3000 years of history, geography, and mythology. Learn about ancient customs and everyday life on this immersive, sensory trip into the past.
THEMES:
Ancient Egypt, history, geography
WRITING STYLE: Travel journal
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY IDEA 1: ANCIENT DIARY
After reading, choose a character from the book and write a diary entry for them, about a day in their life. Use the book to think about the way they would speak (write). Remember to write in the first person (I/me/my) Think about their age, gender, social status and job and how this might affect the way they speak, or the things they talk about. You could create a mindmap filled with as much information as possible about the person you have chosen, if it helps you collect ideas. Some ideas: a man helping build a pyramid, a scribe, an embalmer, a King or Queen…
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY IDEA 2: LIFESIZE SENET
This is a real team activity, so working together and listening to each other will be really important! Using p14-15, metre rules and chalk, mark out a Senet board on your playground. Decide on the dimensions of each rectangle in advance, based on the space you have (there needs to be enough room for a child to stand in each).
Decorate the five special squares. Using sticks or a die, play the game as per the instructions, working together as a team.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY IDEA 3: KNOW YOUR DEITIES
In pairs or small groups, choose one of the God or Goddess from p17 (or an alternative - there are dozens more than the eight featured here) to get to know better. Spend some time researching them. Make mindmaps and notes, remembering not to copy word for word. Using your notes, create a detailed fact file for your God/ Goddess. This could be handwritten or done on computer. Draw a picture of your chosen deity. Extend: Present your chosen deity to your class.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY IDEA 4: EMBALMING CHALLENGE
To understand the process of mummification a bit better, you can mummify fruit! The key is to ensure - just like human and animal bodies that were mummified - that all the insides and moisture are removed, so bacteria (and mould) can’t develop. Equipment: ●
An orange ●
A sharp knife ●
A teaspoon ●
A bowl ●
Ground cinnamon/nutmeg/ginger or lavender ●
Baking soda/bicarbonate of soda ●
Salt ●
Paper towels ●
A long bandage
Instructions: 1. Choose a firm orange or unwaxed lemon or lime with thick skin (clementines and satsumas won’t work as well). 2. Wash and dry it well. 3. Using a sharp knife and always with adult guidance, slit the orange from top to bottom, leaving the rest intact. 4. Scoop out the insides (The ancient Egyptians would have stored these ‘organs’ in canopic jars but you can set this aside to eat/use for something else!) 5. Dry out the inside by stuffing it with a paper towel. You will need to replace it every few minutes until they’re coming out dry 6. Sprinkle some cinnamon, lavender, nutmeg or ground ginger into the orange (or a combination!) This is to keep it smelling nice. 7. Mix together some salt and baking soda/bicarb in equal parts. Spoon the mixture into the dried out orange, filling it as much as possible. 8. Now for the mummifying! Wrap your bandage as tightly as possible around the stuffed orange so it is completely covered, then tie a knot to stop it unravelling - you may need a friend or grown up to help you. 9. Store in a cool, dark place and trust the process! After about a month, you should have a shrivelled, shrunken piece of fruit, just like the bodies of humans and animals mummified in Ancient Egypt.
CLASSROOM ACTIVITY IDEA 5: VISIT ANCIENT EGYPT
Using some of your favourite facts from the book, create a travel poster, encouraging people to visit Ancient Egypt. You could use ‘Time Travel Tours’ or ‘Time Travel Airline’ or come up with your own. What persuasive language will you use to make holidaymakers want to visit? Which key things/places will you include from the book to make Ancient Egypt sound like an unmissable place to visit?
OTHER TITLES TO SUPPORT:
Nosy Crow: Find Tom In Time Nosy Crow: So You Think You’ve Got it Bad: A Kid’s Life in Ancient Egypt Little Tiger: The Egyptians (Hide-and Seek-History) DK: Egyptian Myths