Lesson plan based on Amenemhet

Compare and contrast burial practices in ancient Egypt, the former Soviet Union, and the United States.

Skills and Focus: Oral Presentation, Discussion, Cultural Comparisons, Writing

Subject Area: Social Science

Thematic Connection: Connecting Past and Present, Comparing Cultures

Grade Level: Secondary School

Time Needed: 45-90 minutes

Objectives

• Compare the treatment of the dead in ancient Egypt to that of contemporary societies.

Instructional Materials Needed

Stories: What Does This Show?, How Was This Used?, and How Were Mummies Made?

Online Resources:

• Information about Lenin: http://www.aha.ru/~mausoleu and http://128.103.251.49/S97Books/S97.Catalog/lenin.lives.html

Activity

In ancient Egypt, a tomb was a monument that not only protected the mummified remains, but also ensured that the person would be remembered. Divide the class into two groups. Each group should research the following issues and develop a presentation in which they:

• Compare and contrast the ancient Egyptian practice of mummifying the dead and constructing and decorating tombs to the former Soviet Union’s preservation of Lenin’s body in Moscow’s Red Square.

• Discuss how both of these examples compare to contemporary American treatment of the dead, such as burials, funerals, cremations, and memorials.

• Discuss how these practices serve the needs of the living in each of the three cultures.

Goals

This activity meets Illinois State Goal 16: Understand and analyze events, trends, individuals and movements shaping the history of Illinois, the United States, and other nations.

 

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