Understanding the process of mummification | English | Quizalize & Oak National Academy

Starter quiz

What is the purpose of an explanation text?
- To tell a story
- To explain the process of something ✓
- To make the reader laugh
True or False: If something is described as 'old-fashioned' it is from the past.
- 'True' ✓
Which country does the River Nile run through?
- London
- Egypt ✓
- America
- Scotland
Which are examples of internal organs?
- heart ✓
- arms
- lungs ✓
- hair
- kidney ✓
True or False: Ancient Egyptians believed in life after death.
- 'True' ✓
Which is the correct definition of 'decaying'?
- being late for something
- when something is rotting or decomposing ✓
- repeating a process
- when something stays the same

Match the noun to its definition.
- sarcophagus
  
  ⇔
  
  the coffin where a mummy was placed ✓
- corpse
  
  ⇔
  
  a body that is no longer alive ✓
- embalmer
  
  ⇔
  
  the person who mummified the corpses ✓
Why did the Ancient Egyptians mummify bodies?
- to remember people who have passed away
- to preserve the bodies for the afterlife ✓
- to celebrate the lives of family and friends
What was the first step of the mummification process?
- placing the body in the sarcophagus
- washing the body ✓
- removing the internal organs
- covering the body in oil
Order the steps of the mummification process in chronological order.
- 1
  
  ⇔
  
  cleaning the body
- 2
  
  ⇔
  
  removing the internal organs
- 3
  
  ⇔
  
  covering the body in natron salt
- 4
  
  ⇔
  
  covering the body in oil
- 5
  
  ⇔
  
  wrapping the corpse in linen
- 6
  
  ⇔
  
  placing the body in the sarcophagus
Why was the heart left in the body?
- so their body could survive in the afterlife
- so their character could be judged fairly in the afterlife ✓
- so their spirit could have a heart in the afterlife
Why did the priest read special incantations when the body was being wrapped in linen?
- to entertain the embalmers
- to send away any evil spirits ✓
- to send the corpse to the afterlife

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Mummification is a process to preserve a dead body to make it ready for the afterlife.
Mummification is a complex and long process that needs to be completed in a certain order.
Embalmers were the people whose job it was to mummify corpses in Ancient Egypt.
The corpse was thoroughly cleaned, dried out and wrapped in linen in preparation.
The corpse was placed in a sarcophagus where it could be kept safe in the afterlife.

Pupils may find it difficult to remember the order in which the steps happen.

Review the steps in order lots of times together before completing the ordering board.

Mummification - an old-fashioned method of preparing a dead body so that it doesn't decay
Sarcophagus - the coffin where a mummy was placed
Preserve - to maintain it in good condition to prevent it from decaying
Corpse - a body that is no longer alive
Embalmers - the people who mummified the corpses