Egyptian Mummy WebQuest

My goal for this WebQuest is to have students learn about the mummification and burial process in ancient Egypt. 

1. The Changing Mummy 

a. Topic: Mummification and burial in ancient Egypt was not always an exact science. Students will learn how the process changed from the very first mummies of the Pre-Dynastic Era to the Late Period.

b. Grade Level: 6th grade

c. Task: You are a group of historians who have been invited to present your findings at a major historical conference about the "Changing Mummy". In order to be ready for the conference you must gather all of your information about how mummification and burial has changed throughout history. Good luck at the conference!

d. Roles:

*Historian 1: Your job is to research mummification and burial during the Pre-Dynasitic Period and the Old Kingdom dynasties.

*Historian 2: Your job is to research mummification and burial during the Middle Kingdom and New Kindgom dynasties.

*Historian 3: Your job is to research mummification and burial during the Third Intermediate Period and the Late Period dynasties.

2. The Mystery and Curse of King Tut

a. There is so much mystery and myth surrounding the famous pharaoh, King Tut. By researching the death of the famous King Tut, students will learn about the mummification and burial process as well as why there is so much mystery, intrigue, and superstition surrounding King Tut. 

b. Grade Level: 6th grade

c. Task: Everyone want to know about the mystery of King Tut and you have been invited on an archaeological dig to explore his famous tomb in Egypt. You have assembled your team and you must enter his tomb and gather as much information as possible to present a detailed report of all of your discoveries to provide an explanation about the mysteries of King Tut.

d. Roles:

*Excavator: You get to open the tomb. You must explain how what you find in the famous pyramid and tomb of King Tut.   

*Medical Examiner: You get to perform an autopsy of the mummy. You must explain how the mummy is preserved and the way that the organs are preserved. How did King Tut die?

*Historian: Your expertise is ancient Egyptian mummies. You get to research the curse of King Tut and his burial process.

3. The Pharaoh is Dead! (I think I'm going to do this one)

a. Topic: Students will learn about the mummification and burial ceremony in ancient Egypt by researching the roles of different people who played a major part in preparing the ceremony and the body.  

b. Grade Level: 6th grade

c. Task: The Pharaoh is dead! And you have been asked to oversee the entire burial process from mummification to the sealing of the tomb. Your job is to organize the entire ceremony. Good luck!

d. Roles: 

*Priest: You must oversee all of religious ceremonies and cultural rituals for your Pharaoh as he is buried.

*Embalmer: Your job is to prepare the Pharaohs body using all of the current medical embalming techniques to create a mummy.

*Builder: You get the job of creating the pyramid and decorating the tomb that your Pharaoh will spend the rest of eternity in.

4. In the Morgue

a. Topic: In this quest students will focus on each individual step to mummification of a person. They will divide the body into different sections and learn how each particular body part was preserved. As a group they will all research the burial ceremony.

b. Grade Level: 6th grade

c. Task: The Great Pharaoh has died and the council wants the most qualified embalmers to perform the job. You are known throughout the land as one of the greatest embalmers and you have been chosen, based on your specialty, to preserve the Great Pharaoh. But before you are chosen you must pass an interview with the council. In the interview you must explain in detail how you would preserve the body parts you are assigned. Oh and since the council has a tight budget you will all work together and perform the burial ceremony as well, so you must look up information on this as well. Good luck!

d. Roles:

*Embalmer 1: Your job is to embalm the outside of the body, the arms, legs, and skin, and to wrap the body when embalming is complete.

*Embalmer 2: Your job is to embalm the inside of the body, and the organs such as of the head, such as the eyes and the brain.

*Embalmer 3: Your job is to embalm the major organs of the body minus from the neck down.

*All of you must research the burial ceremony