An Ancient Egyptian Adventure

Year 3 pupils from Truro School Prep enjoyed an unforgettable trip to the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery in Truro, where they delved into the mysteries of Ancient Egypt. The visit provided a unique opportunity for hands-on learning, bringing history to life through interactive activities and real artefacts.

Expert museum staff guided the children through an engaging series of tasks designed to immerse them in the world of the pharaohs. One of the highlights was an exploration of the mummification process, where pupils discovered the steps the ancient Egyptians took to prepare bodies for the afterlife and an understanding of the importance of this tradition in their culture. There were lots of keen volunteers to join in and assist with the mummification process, embalming an Egyptian Princess ready for her journey into the afterlife.

Pupils split into two groups, with the first group experiencing a tour around the Museum’s Egyptian exhibit, which boasts the mummy of Iset Tayef Nakht – a 25th Dynasty priest of the Temple of Al Karnack. Seeing a mummy up close was certainly a memorable experience for everyone.

In the exhibition hall, pupils were tasked with drawing artefacts within the exhibit onto papyrus using traditional hieroglyphics. This creative task allowed pupils to appreciate the artistry and skill required in ancient Egyptian writing and understand how important hieroglyphs were in early communication and recording history, culminating in a finished papyrus bookmark to take home.

The second group undertook an exciting archaeological excavation project of examining real artefacts that date back over 7,000 years. The pupils categorised the artefacts whilst wearing gloves and taking extreme care with these precious treasures.  Not only was this a fantastic opportunity to bring their learning to life, but it also sparked some fantastic questions and discussions about Ancient Egypt.

We would like to thank the Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery for this memorable experience. The trip most definitely deepened their knowledge and curiosity to find out more about this fascinating subject. As the Museum has recently undertaken a large restoration, the experience was new, even for those who have visited before.