The Tutankhamun Experience
February 3-September 30, 2007
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs offers students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to look into ancient history in a dramatic and personal way. This amazing exhibition includes 130 artifacts that are 3,300-3,500 years old: 48 excavated from the tomb of Tutankhamun and 70 from those of his royal relatives.
A brief introductory film sets the stage for the exhibit. The artifacts, most never before seen outside of Egypt, are organized in eleven sections to give visitors insight into: archeologists' efforts to find Tutankhamun's tomb; Egyptian history, religion, beliefs about death and the afterlife; and daily life during the reign of King Tut. Plus, students will see what modern technology such as the CT scan of Tut's mummy has revealed about how the boy king died at age 19.
The Franklin Institute recommends that before visiting, teachers spend time reviewing the exhibit and historical information on the Institute website (www.fi.edu/tut) and prepare students for some of the things they will see on their class visit.
Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs was organized by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions in association with the Supreme Council of Antiquities of Egypt.
Through the generosity of Mellon Financial Corporation, each student visiting the Tutankhamun exhibit will receive a brochure developed by the Institute to extend their learning experience. Offer good while supply lasts. In addition, teachers can access curriculum correlated, grade appropriate classroom lessons by logging onto www.fi.edu/tut
Live Shows and Hands-on Workshops
Preservation Lab Grades 3-5
The ancient Egyptians preserved the bodies of the dead to provide homes for their wandering spirits
in the afterlife. Students will learn about decomposition and experiment with different methods of preservation, including mummification.
Using their powers of observation, they will compare the results of these processes and discover why mummification was used for eternal preservation.
Mummies and Medicine Lab Grades 6-8
The ancient Egyptians were advanced medical practitioners for their time. The practice of mummification taught them much about anatomy and physiology.
Students will apply the same techniques as they dissect earthworms to explore anatomy and understand the science of mummification. Learn how ancient
practices are used today in cutting-edge medicine!
The Science of Mummification Lab Grades 9-12
Mummification involved elaborate procedures, which the Egyptians perfected by experimenting with materials available to them in the Nile Valley.
In this workshop students will dissect frogs to recreate the mummification process and conduct their own experiment. They will analyze their results to
understand the molecular science behind this fascinating practice from ancient Egypt.
Ancient Technologies-Live Theater Show
(Content adjusted for age of audience)
Many “technological" advances developed by the Egyptians are still used and form the basis of modern practices. In this show students will help build
a pyramid to learn about ancient technologies, some of which still baffle scientists. Using three simple tools-the lever, wedge and inclined plane-the
Egyptians built the pyramids. Explore the depth of the ancients' ability to problem solve using the basics of physics, mathematics and engineering.