Egyptian Science Experiments

Instead of doing a systematic study of Science, we're going to try to do as many hands-on science experiments relating to our other topics of study.  Right now, we're doing Egypt and Deserts.  (We'll add photos of the projects we complete.)

Egypt Science Activities
*Mummy Experiment with Apples

*Study the mummification process.  Watch How to Make a Mummy Video.  then play the Mummy Maker Game.  Pretend Barbie has died and you must embalm her.  There are good instructions here: Mummify Barbie.  But instead of just wrapping with linens, give the fabric (or paper) the paper-mache treatment (see T-Shirt Mummy)

*Papyrus Project We're discreetly going to collect reeds down by a local river and see if they'll work.  If not, we'll try making papyrus using paper, etc.

We collected these reeds, attempted to slice them
like papyrus, and it didn't work.  So we decided to soak the leaves.

We pounded them and laid them out like the woman demonstrated
in the video.  We placed them between some boards and put heavy
weights on them.  A few days later they looked exactly like they had initially.

 Discovery: Not all water reeds respond like papyrus.  The Egyptians were quite inventive to see a reed and, through trial and error, turn it into paper!

We thought maybe the reeds could be bent into
boats if they were soaked, but no.  Even after soaking,
they broke and didn't bend.

Making Papyrus Video
Once paper "papyrus" is dry, have the students copy The Eye of Ra  or Eye of Horus onto their papyrus.  Discuss how this symbol was often placed on a mummy so the body could see through the wrappings.

*Shaduf (Water Mover)

*Making Mud Bricks following the instructions in Great Ancient EGYPT Projects You Can Do Yourself

Desert Science Activities
*Making Water in a Desert
*Short Videos on the Desert
*Hot and Cold Deserts Interactive Map

Walk Like an Egyptian

Weeks 2-3 of Egypt Unit (We'll post pictures of the projects as we complete them)

*Make Copies of the Ancient Egypt Lapbook, decide which activities to put in the kids' workboxes, which to do with Science Projects, and which to do as part of of the History lessons to emphasize learning.

*Make a Map of Egypt (I like how The Unlikely Homeschool pulled this off.)
  Map of Egypt for Coloring
  Cookie Map of Egypt (Would be fun if we weren't avoiding sweets)

*Use the activities at the American Research Center in Egypt for making necklaces, headdresses, scribes' equipment, and for learning about hieroglyphs and Egyptian numerals.

*Shrinky Dinky Cartouche

*Scratch-Brite Egyptian Art

*Read together from Great Ancient EGYPT Projects You Can Build Yourself.  (We have the ebook so we can enlarge the print for one of our girls) This book has great descriptions, vocabulary, and fun projects (though it could use some more colorful and exciting illustrations).  Have the kids choose projects that interest them.  Subjects include: Boats, Farming, Papyrus, Homes, Bread, Games, Tunics and Fashion, Jewelry, Amulets, Kohl and Perfume, Royal Crook and Flail, Pyramids, Temples, Mummies,  and Hieroglyphs.

*Obelisks and Peek-Inside Sanctuaries

*Egyptian Bracelet

Egypt Kick-Off and Joseph and His Coat of Many Colors

History:

*Egyptian Feast--round up some goat cheese, rough flat bread, dates, figs, plums, pomegranates, roast chicken, seeds, and nuts.  Eat with your hands while sitting on the ground, maybe from a low table.  Have a bowl or two of water nearby for dipping your fingers to clean them off as they get messy.  P.S.  It is hilarious to watch your kids try figs and dates!  My kids loved the goat cheese.

*Review Mesopotamia, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Begin the story of Jacob's precious son, Joseph.  Explain that Joseph was the first son of Jacob's beloved wife Rachel, for whom he worked for so many years.  Also, discuss the coat as a birthright.  It will help the kids understand why his brothers despise him. 
Resources:
Read Genesis 37 together
Old Testament Picture Stories-Joseph
LDS Seminary Lessons on Joseph and his coat of many colors

Joseph's Coat of Many Colors to Decorate
     Coat of Many Colors Craft:
     Materials: Fabric Scraps, Fabric Mod Podge, Card Stock, Foam Paintbrushes
     Instructions: 
     1. Using the link above from A Year of FHE: 2011, print out several copies of the plain coat. Have the kids cut out the coat, including the "inner" part to use as a template later.  
     2. On a separate sheet of card stock and using fabric Mod Podge, have the students glue strips of fabric.  Remind the students that a thin, even coat will allow the coat to dry quickly.
     3. Once the fabric is dry, have the students use a pencil and the coat template to trace the shape of the coat onto their fabric covered card stock.
     4. Cut out the coat.
     5. Trace the inner part of the coat onto a separate piece of fabric.  Cut it out and glue it onto the coat.

Or just let them glue fabric onto the card stock coat and trip the edges after.  This works fine but doesn't look quite as nice.

     For those who don't mind the visual, a little red food coloring and some tatters can give the coat an "after-the-pit" look.

*Compare Timelines.  Combine them on a long scroll of paper, on a whiteboard, or around the top of wall of your school room.
Mesopotamia Timeline, Egypt Timeline, Old Testament Chronology

*The Nitty Gritty:
Explore fun facts about Egypt through books checked out from the library or from online resources.  Imagine what it would have been like for Joseph to enter this strange land so far from his family's flocks.  Be sure to jot down the info from the timeline and from your readings that you'd like to include on the test.  This can be a fun way to draw attention to the info.  If Mom is writing it down, it's probably going on the test.  I better remember it!
Egypt Info for Kids
Egypt Lapbook
Egypt Activity Site
Egypt: Fill in the Blanks