Sixth Graders Bring Ancient Egypt to Life with Apple Mummies

Sixth-grade Ancient World History students stepped into the role of Egyptian embalmers in a hands-on lab led by Mr. Sawyer and Mrs. Rollin. As part of their study of ancient Egypt and its beliefs about the afterlife, students explored mummification by preserving apples using different techniques.

Before beginning the process, students formed hypotheses about which methods—such as salt, baking soda, and gauze—would be most effective in slowing decomposition. They then treated their apples and spent this past week making qualitative and quantitative observations on their "apple mummies," tracking changes in weight and appearance.

By comparing their preservation methods to the ancient Egyptians’ use of Natron and linen wrappings, students gained a deeper understanding of the science behind mummification. This engaging lab combined history and science, sparking curiosity and critical thinking. And of course, plenty of fun was had along the way! Check out a few of the classes here.