Ancient Egypt : Tombs

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN TOMB BUILDING

Help your students learn about the development of different Egyptian tombs from the earliest rock pit burials to the tombs of the Valley of the Kings.

Students will learn about the different ways, and reasons, why tombs were constructed in different places and ways and for different reasons.

PITS & MASTABAS

Introduces students to natural mummification and burials in sands and rock pits. They then learn about the construction of Mastaba tombs during the early Old Kingdom period and their appearance/sizes.

PYRAMIDS

Students learn about the development of pyramid building during the reign of Djoser with the construction of the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. The section then covers the development in pyramid building under the pharaoh Snefru with the construction of the Bent, Medium, and Red pyramids. Students then learn about the construction of the Great Pyramid at Giza and later pyramids built on the same site by his successors. Lastly they learn about the building of smaller mud-brick pyramids and the highly decorated pyramid of Unas.

UNDERGROUND TOMBS

Covers the First and Second Intermediate Periods when many older tombs were robbed and the decision by Egypt's rulers to begin burials underground in and around the Valley of the Kings during the New Kingdom period with the creation of large, highly decorated tombs.

ACTIVITIES

Students can work to create an illustrated timeline showing the history of tomb building. There is also an additional activity to help them learn about the different stages of the construction of the Great Pyramid. Students can also complete a fun crossword puzzle activity.

Reading Sheets

Graphic organizer pages

Image sheets

Crossword Puzzle