Ancient Egypt Workshop   Two free A3 colour posters with each workshop!

The workshop focuses on gods and  pharaohs - the two most important beings to an ancient Egyptian. A great deal of evidence of both gods and pharaohs has been left behind in the form of artefacts, pictures, writing, and buildings. The Egyptian workshop examines gods and pharaohs in terms of hieroglyphic writing, artefacts, and clothing and make-up. The lesson takes a whole day, beginning at 9.30. A detailed lesson plan is given lower down. I will also have my novel, The King Herself, available for sale. This is a children's adventure story set in the time of the pharaoh Hatshepsut.

National Curriculum Topics

The workshop covers several topics required by the National Curriculum for KS2 History: arts; pictures, words, and communication; gods and goddesses; beliefs, customs, and legends; and significant individuals (Tutankhamun, Hatshepsut, and other pharaohs). The lesson touches on several other topics too.

Follow-up Lesson Plans

A number of lesson plans are available on this website for teachers to use as follow-up to the workshop. Worksheets, pictures, and information may be printed and copied as necessary.

Learning Methods

I have devised the workshop to maximise children's learning through hands-on activities. Children will investigate objects and images and discuss their meaning; they will use authentic materials such as papyrus paper; they will learn to read and write Egyptian words and names; they will make Egyptian objects with high-quality materials; and they will see how Egyptian clothing and make-up were applied.

My Background in Education

Fee: £169 per class  - Discounts given for classes <25 children.

Maximum of 36 children per class.

To Book the Workshop - Email tnorth67@hotmail.com, or phone 0161 438 6634 or 07754 406422

 Statue of Anubis

collar, wig and headband worn

by the girl who dresses up

Papyrus painting by children

at Arden Primary, Stockport

copy of Tutankhamun's dagger

shown in the afternoon

Egyptian Ruler

Feedback

'Very practical, hands on. A fantastic learning experience. All the children and myself found the whole workshop worthwhile and a super learning experience.' 

- Year 4 teacher, Queensgate Primary School, Bramhall

'Excellent, plenty of variety to interest and stimulate the children.' 

- Year 3/4 teacher, Mellor Primary School

More feedback from teachers  

Feedback from children

Reference from a school where I taught history for 2 years

Photos of Workshops

Elton Primary, Bury

Broad Oak Primary, Didsbury

St.Catherine's RC, Didsbury

Arden Primary, Bredbury

Lesson Plan

Morning beginning 9.30 am

1. The Gods. Children will be shown pictures and taught about 8 of the main gods of Egypt (Anubis, Osiris, Horus, Hathor, Isis, Thoth, Ra, Amun). In two teams they will play a 'name the god' game looking at photos of painted images and statues of gods.

Literacy link: for an excellent retelling of Egyptian myths and stories, see Stories from Ancient Egypt by well-known Egyptologist Joyce Tyldesley.

2. Pharaohs I will teach children about some of the most famous pharaohs, focussing mainly on Tutankhamun and Hatshepsut, but also including Ramses II, Cleopatra, and Khufu. We will look at various photos and discuss for example why Tutankhamun is so famous, why Hatshepsut was portrayed as a man, and why her images and cartouches were destroyed after her death. (This is the subject of my novel).

3. Hieroglyphs: children learn about hieroglyphic writing, and how to write a number of signs and words. They will learn how to write the names of gods and pharaohs, and various words often used to describe pharaohs such as 'Lord of the Two Lands' and 'Son of Ra'.

See the hieroglyph worksheet at the bottom of this page.

The two teams will play several games: reading cartouches spelled with single-letter hieroglyphs, reading a hieroglyphic sentence about a king, identifying gods' names and then (if time allows) reading pharaohs' names. Finally they will write cartouches on papyrus paper. You can display these papyri if you like, or allow children to take them home as souvenirs.

As a follow-up the children can learn more about hieroglyphic writing on this website, and try various games such as translating hieroglyphic sentences.

Afternoon 

4. Looking at Artefacts: Children will view replicas of artefacts, including statuettes, necklaces, a bracelet, a mirror, and a dagger. Children will discuss the objects' meaning, function and construction. Each object relates in some way to gods or pharaohs.

5. Making Artefacts: In pairs the children will make their own versions of these artefacts. I have designed methods and materials to allow children of a range of ages and abilities to produce objects of high quality. Each pair will make a different artefact, so that by the end of the day the class will have its own ‘museum display', useful for future study.

The children will paint statuettes made of durable stone powder and paint papyrus pictures using specially mixed authentic colours, they will make necklaces using pendants and beads, and use kits to make a variety of other items, such as a mirror and dagger. 

      Dagger                                      Mirror                                                 Sistrum

6. Dress-up: A boy and a girl will be selected to dress up as ancient Egyptians, with wigs, jewellery, clothes, and make-up. Parental permission will be sought to use make-up; a permission slip is provided here. 

Statue of pharaoh children paint

Making a bracelet

Scarab Pectoral