Ancient Egypt
“The children absolutely loved seeing the artefacts up close. It helped them to understand how fragile they are” Year 4 teacher
The workshop
Bring your topic to life with our much-loved Ancient Egyptian workshop, that gives pupils the amazing opportunity to handle real Ancient Egyptian artefacts.
Learn how to think like archaeologists whilst examining these amazing objects for clues about the lives and beliefs of the people who once owned them.
After a short introduction to ancient Egyptian religion and the mummification process, children will work in small groups to investigate objects in detail, from a headrest to a death mask to a shabti, before sharing their findings with the whole class. We will finish by discussing the relatively recent journey of the objects from Egypt to the Horniman and consider how some Egyptian people may feel about this today.
We also offer a virtual ancient Egypt workshop.
Learning Objectives
- Pupils will understand the significance of mummification within ancient Egyptian religion
- Pupils will learn how to carefully and respectfully handle Museum objects to prevent damage.
- Pupils will explore how to examine ancient Egyptian objects for clues about their original use, significance and more recent history.
Please note that our Natural History Gallery is now closed as part of a major 2 year redevelopment, Nature + Love. The rest of our Galleries, displays and Gardens will be open as usual, with plenty across the site to support your topic (from our free Animal Walk, to our World Gallery). Our schools workshops are unaffected.
Our new, free Natural History Pop Up exhibition is now open!
Resources
Workshop information
How to book
Booking a taught session includes a welcome briefing on arrival, timed access to a lunch space, cloakroom facilities and access to toilets for the exclusive use of school groups.
Contact us to make a booking:
schools@horniman.ac.uk
020 8291 8686
When you contact us please have ready:
– the name of the taught session you would like to book or topic you are studying,
-1st/2nd/3rd choice of date and preferred session time,
– the number of pupils and adults attending.
Costs
Entrance to the Horniman Museum and Gardens is free of charge. Taught sessions and access to some exhibitions are charged for. We invoice after your visit.
The following charges apply:
Mainstream State schools: £90 including VAT, £75 excluding VAT
Private/independent schools: £129.60 including VAT, £108 excluding VAT
SEND schools and groups: £45 including VAT, £37.25 excluding VAT
We offer a bursary scheme for schools that meet a set criteria.
Planning your visit
See the School Trips page for other essential information including our risk assessment.
We are open from 10am-5.30pm, 7 days a week. Entrance to the Museum and Gardens is free of charge but must be booked in advance by emailing schools@horniman.ac.uk.
We offer reduced educational rates for our Aquarium, Butterfly House, and Temporary exhibition. See the School Trips page for further information.
Charges apply to all children aged 3 years and over, and all accompanying teachers and adults, unless they are specific 1:1 carers.