Ancient Egypt: Mummy Tomb Race

• newEditor

Ancient Egypt: Mummy Tomb Race

Set the atmosphere with the story of Tutankhamun's tomb. Keep the opening brisk so the class quickly understands that this lesson is a timed race linked to Ancient Egyptian beliefs and practices around mummification.

Our learning goal

I can explain how mummification worked in Ancient Egypt and why it mattered.

What words come to mind when you hear mummification?

Use this to surface prior ideas such as bandages, tombs, organs, afterlife, pyramids or salt. Briefly pick out accurate ideas and misconceptions before the tomb race begins.

A race inside the tomb

• You are entering the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun.

• The stone door has shut.

• Your team must solve three mummy trials.

• Each trial reveals a code word.

• The final code unlocks the tomb.

Use the story exactly as the set-up for the lesson. Hand each team its scroll with three blank spaces before the first task begins.

Why Egyptians made mummies

Ancient Egyptians believed that a person needed their body in the afterlife. If the body decayed, the person could not live on properly after death. Mummification was a way to preserve the body for that journey.

Keep this centred on belief and historical practice rather than scientific detail. This slide gives the reason behind all three challenges.

What mummification involved

• Removing some internal organs

• Drying the body with natron salt

• Wrapping the body carefully

• Preparing it for burial in a tomb

This is the bridge into the three-task structure. Make it clear that each challenge matches one part of the mummification process.

How the tomb race works

• Work in teams of five.

• Solve each trial as quickly and accurately as you can.

• Write each code word on your scroll.

• When all three are complete, give the full code to the teacher.

• The first team to finish wins the treasure.

Although the original plan says 'other three students' in Task 3, keep grouping flexible so all five have a role across the lesson. Reinforce speed with accuracy.

Trial 1: The missing organs

• Ancient Egyptians removed certain organs.

• Your team will match organ clues to the body.

• Place each sticky note in the correct position.

• Accuracy matters before you earn the first code.

Give each team the body sheet plus four cups containing sticky-note riddles. The task should stay simple and quick for Year 5.

Organs in Trial 1

Lungs

Liver

Stomach

Intestines

Clue examples

• "I help you breathe"

• "I clean the blood"

• "I help digest food"

• "I absorb nutrients"

Organs to place

Keep references aligned with the resources in the plan. The heart is mentioned as a sample riddle in the notes, but the actual body sheet for this task uses lungs, liver, stomach and intestines.

Why remove organs?

Internal organs decay quickly after death. Removing them was part of preserving the body. This helped Ancient Egyptians keep the body in a better condition for burial and the afterlife.

Keep the explanation concise and age-appropriate. Avoid adding extra details not needed for the challenge.

Code Word 1

When the organs are placed correctly, your team earns the first code word:

NILE

Check each team before giving the word. Ask them to write it neatly on their scroll straight away.

Why did Ancient Egyptians make mummies?

A

To win treasure

B

To preserve the body

C

To build a tomb

D

To hide organs

Checks the core purpose from slides 3–5. Distractors echo parts of the game structure and burial process but are not the reason for mummification.

Trial 1 check

Ancient Egyptians believed a person needed their in the afterlife. In mummification, some were removed because they decayed quickly. This helped the body for burial.

Ancient Egyptians believed a person needed their

in the afterlife. In mummification, some

were removed because they decayed quickly. This helped

tomb

bandages

letters

wrap

Correct answers, in order: body, organs, preserve. This reinforces the belief behind Trial 1 and the reason organs were removed.

Trial 2: Natron search

• Mummies were dried using natron.

• In this trial, hidden letters are buried in salt.

• Use paddle pop sticks only.

• Find the letters and build the code word.

Set out a tub of table salt for each team with letter beads hidden inside. Enforce the 'no hands' rule to keep the challenge distinctive and competitive.

What natron did

Natron is a natural salt mixture. It helped draw moisture out of the body. Drying the body slowed decay, which made preservation possible.

This is the key historical idea behind the salt challenge. It connects the hands-on task to the real mummification process.

Drying the body

Body still holds moisture → moisture encourages decay → natron removes moisture → the body is preserved more successfully

This is one of the few slides where arrow notation helps, because the whole point is the preservation chain.

Code Word 2

When the hidden letters are found and unscrambled, your team earns the second code word:

TOMB

Check that teams have found all letters before confirming the word. Encourage them to add it to the scroll immediately.

What did natron help remove from the body?

A

Bandages

B

Moisture

C

Organs

D

Treasure

Checks the key mechanism from slides 10–13: natron dries the body by drawing out moisture.

Trial 2 check

Natron is a natural mixture. It helped draw out of the body. Drying the body slowed , which made preservation possible.

Natron is a natural

mixture. It helped draw

out of the body. Drying the body slowed

bandage

organs

burial

blood

Correct answers, in order: salt, moisture, decay. The blanks follow the preservation chain taught on slides 11 and 12.

Trial 3: Wrap the Pharaoh

• One team member becomes the Pharaoh.

• The others wrap the body from ankles to shoulders.

• The toilet paper must stay neat and secure.

• Tape is used at the end so it does not fall apart.

Supervise closely for safety and keep heads and faces clear. Emphasise neat wrapping and teamwork, not just speed.

Why wrapping mattered

Bandages helped protect the preserved body. Careful wrapping kept the body together and prepared it for burial. The wrapped mummy was then ready to be placed in a tomb.

Link wrapping to protection and preparation rather than adding details beyond the lesson's scope.

The full process

Remove organs → dry the body with natron → wrap the body in bandages → place the mummy in a tomb

Use this as the summary chain that helps pupils see how the three trials fit together as one historical process.

Code Word 3

When the mummy is wrapped well enough for the afterlife, your team earns the third code word:

PHARAOH

Inspect quickly but consistently. Once teams have the third word, they should prepare to give the full code in order.

Unlocking the tomb

• Write all three code words on the scroll.

• The full code is:

NILE – TOMB – PHARAOH

• The first team to complete it unlocks the tomb.

Use the treasure chest and map as the dramatic ending. Keep the reveal fast so the 45-minute lesson stays on time.

What the trials teach us

• Mummification was done to prepare for the afterlife.

• Organs were removed as part of preservation.

• Natron dried the body.

• Wrapping protected the body before burial.

• Tombs were important burial places in Ancient Egypt.

This is the content landing point of the lesson. It resolves the central idea behind the escape-room structure.

What happened after the body was wrapped?

A

It was buried in salt

B

It was put in a tomb

C

Its organs were removed

D

It was filled with water

Checks understanding of sequence from slides 14–19, especially the summary chain on slide 16.

The full process

First, Ancient Egyptians removed some . Next, they dried the body with . Then they wrapped it in . Finally, the mummy was placed in a .

First, Ancient Egyptians removed some

. Next, they dried the body with

. Then they wrapped it in

. Finally, the mummy was placed in a

scroll

cups

treasure

beads

Correct answers, in order: organs, natron, bandages, tomb. This mirrors the exact process summarised on slide 16.

Which part of mummification mattered most, and why?

Discuss answers that mention the purpose of mummification, the role of organs, natron, wrapping, or the link to the afterlife. There is no single correct wording.

What is one thing you learned today?

Reflection only. Invite brief comments about teamwork, practical tasks, or a key fact they now understand better.

One word for the trickiest part of today’s tomb race

Use the responses to identify which part felt hardest: organs, natron, wrapping, teamwork, speed, or remembering the sequence.

What helped you understand mummification best?

Reflection only. Useful prompts in discussion: the race, the hands-on tasks, working as a team, or seeing the full process in order.

Glossary

mummification - the process of preserving a dead body in Ancient Egypt

mummy - a preserved dead body

pharaoh - a king of Ancient Egypt

afterlife - life after death, which Ancient Egyptians believed in

natron - a natural salt used to dry the body

tomb - a burial place for the dead

preserve - to keep something from decaying or being damaged

Glossary

organ - a body part that does a special job

lungs - organs used for breathing

liver - an organ that cleans the blood

stomach - an organ that helps break down food

intestines - organs that help absorb nutrients from food

Tutankhamun - a famous pharaoh whose tomb was discovered in Egypt