Lesson plan based on Mummy Case
Find out about key attributes, characteristics, and roles of ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses by writing a letter or a poem asking them to welcome an Egyptian to the afterlife.
Skills and Focus: Discussion, Writing
Subject Area: English Language Arts
Thematic Connection: The Afterlife, Myths and Legends
Grade Level: Elementary School
Time Needed: 90 minutes
Objectives
• Identify the characteristics of six of the Egyptian gods and goddesses of the afterlife.
• Recognize images of those gods and goddesses according to their physical attributes.
• Understand the role played by each god or goddess in every Egyptian's journey from this world into the afterlife.
• Demonstrate understanding by writing a letter or poem from the perspective of a contemporary of Paankhenamun that appeals to one of the six gods or goddesses.
Instructional Materials Needed
Story: What Is On the Mummy Case?
Print Resources:
• Fisher, Leonard Everett. The Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt. New York: Holiday House, 1997.
Online Resources:
• http://members.aol.com/egyptart/mytho.html (click on "Glossary of Deities")
• Horus, Osiris, Anubis: http://angelfire.com/ca/pye/gods.html
• Horus, Osiris, Isis:
http://touregypt.net/gods1.htm
• http://eyelid.ukonline.co.uk/ancient/games.htm
Activity
Step 1: As a class, review the six major gods and goddesses of the afterlife as presented in the story What Is on This Mummy Case? (Note: Horus is also defined as Re Horakhty in the stories accompanying that object.) Use the following chart as a model. Write the information on either chalkboard or overhead projector so that students can refer to it during the class period and copy it into their notes.
Name Role Symbols Other Information Anubis prepared the mummy head of a jackal Horus leader into afterlife head of a hawk Osiris main god of afterlife green face symbolizing vegetation Sons of Horus protected organs small figures, heads of Canopic jars Isis sister of Osiris hieroglyphs worn on her head Nephthys sister of Osiris hieroglyphs worn on her head The column at far right labeled "other information" is a place for supplementary details that are not included in the story. See Instructional Materials Needed for suggested resources where this information can be found.
Step 2: Explain again the Egyptian belief that a person could enjoy the afterlife only if his or her body was preserved, and each of these gods or goddesses played a major role in that necessary process. Return to the image of the mummy case and let the students try to pick out the individual gods and goddesses based on the chart.
Step 3: Ask students to choose one of the six gods or goddesses and write a letter or poem to him or her on behalf of Paankhenamun, the man in the Mummy Case. Encourage them to imagine that they are living in Egypt at the time this man died, and they want to ask the gods and goddess to do their job well and to welcome Paankhenamun into the afterlife. The letters and poems should demonstrate students’ understanding of which god or goddess is being addressed, and what role that specific god or goddess plays in the journey to the afterlife. (Note: This step can be modified to meet the learning abilities of students. They can work on this individually or in groups.)
Step 4: Using the motifs seen on the case or in the clip art included in the Web site listed above, students can decorate the margins of their letter with Egyptian imagery so that they may be posted in the classroom as prayers for Paankhenamun.
Goals
This activity meets Illinois State Goal 2: Understand explicit and implicit meaning in literature representing individual, community, national, world, and historical perspectives.
This activity meets Illinois State Goal 3: Write to communicate for a variety of purposes.
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