Lesson plan based on Mummy Case
Find out about key attributes, characteristics, and roles of ancient Egyptian gods and goddesses by writing and presenting a group dialogue between ancient Egyptian deities and the spirit of a deceased Egyptian.
Skills and Focus: Research, Online Research, Writing
Subject Area: English Language Arts
Thematic Connection: The Afterlife, Myths and Legends
Grade Level: Secondary School
Time Needed: Two 50-minute class periods
Objectives
• Work in groups of two to research one of the six Egyptian gods or goddesses of the afterlife.
• Recognize images of this god or goddess according to his or her physical attributes.
• Understand the symbols associated with and the role played by that god or goddess in every Egyptian's journey from this world into the afterlife.
• Demonstrate understanding by writing a dialogue between the god or goddess and the spirit of Paankhenamun that would have taken place on Paankhenamun's way to the afterlife.
Instructional Materials Needed
Story: What Is On the Mummy Case?
For additional information about the gods:
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:
Activity
Step 1: Before watching the story What Is on This Mummy Case? (or before showing it a second time), divide students into groups of two or three and assign each group to one of the following gods or goddesses of the afterlife: Anubis, Horus, Osiris, Sons of Horus, Isis, and Nephthys. Students should take notes about their respective god or goddess as they watch the story.
Step 2: Using the resources suggested in the Instructional Materials Needed section, allow the students time for Internet or book research on their deity. They should find out the following information about their god or goddess:
• How can this god or goddess be recognized? Does he or she have any distinguishing physical features?
• What was the role of this god or goddess in an Egyptian's journey to the afterlife? (Consider how this god or goddess would have been helpful to Paankhenamun, the man in the mummy case.)
• What symbols or attributes are associated with this god or goddess?
• What is the significance of the god's or goddess's name?
Step 3: Using the information gathered in their research, each group will write a brief dialogue between the god or goddess and the spirit of Paankhenamun that would have taken place on Paankhenamun's way to the afterlife. The answers to the above questions should be embedded within this document. Encourage students to imagine a personality for the god or goddess and for Paankhenamun himself.
Step 4: During a subsequent class period, students can present their dialogues to the entire class in a dramatic fashion, with one student playing the role of the god or goddess (demonstrating the attributes, role, and personality researched the day before), and the other playing 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.
This activity meets Illinois State Goal 4: Listen and speak effectively in a variety of situations.
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