Year 3 Delve into Ancient Egypt

Year 3 journeyed back in time to uncover the mysteries of Ancient Egypt during an unforgettable visit to the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery in Truro.

Through a series of fascinating, hands-on workshops, the children gained a real insight into the everyday lives, beliefs and traditions of the Ancient Egyptians. Practical learning was at the heart of the experience, with pupils actively taking part in activities designed to bring history vividly to life.

One of the most memorable moments was learning about the mummification process, where keen volunteers helped to prepare an Egyptian for the afterlife.

“It was great fun pulling the intestines out of the body.” (Hugo)

Exploring the gallery proved just as exciting. The children enjoyed getting ‘hands on’ with the popular ‘mummy factory’ challenge and discovering the museum’s impressive collection of artefacts. They watched a short film explaining what Ancient Egyptians believed happened after death, built their own pyramids and examined the ancient coffin of Iset-tayef-nakht, dating back to 675BC.

“I enjoyed looking at the Egyptian mummy!” (Clemmie)

“I enjoyed looking at the hieroglyphs on the coffin.” (Alex)

A particular highlight of the visit was the artefact handling workshop, where pupils were given the rare opportunity to carefully examine real objects from the Egyptian period. Wearing gloves and treating the items with great care, the children categorised artefacts that were over 7,000 years old, sparking thoughtful questions and lively discussions.

“I’ve never held a 7,000-year-old flint knife ever before.” (Rupert)

Back at school, Year 3 are now proudly calling themselves Ancient Egypt experts and are already looking forward to the next challenge in their topic, mummifying a tomato!

We would like to thank the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery for providing such a memorable and enriching experience, which has deepened the children’s knowledge and curiosity about this fascinating civilisation.