Lesson Plan - Secrets of the Mummy's Tomb

Watch a Video: The Life and Death of the Boy King

Discuss: According to the video, what are some ways that experts have learned details about King Tut’s life and death?

Preview Words to Know

Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• pharaoh 
• preserved

Set a Purpose for Reading

Point out the As You Read question. Have students look for details explaining why many people are interested in King Tut.

1. What do you think an archaeologist does? What clues in the text help you know?
The phrases “had spent years digging” and “searching for the lost tomb of the ancient Egyptian king Tutankhamen” help show that an archaeologist studies the past by looking for objects from long ago.
^{(RI.4.4 VOCABULARY)}

2. Why were ancient Egyptian rulers buried with many items, according to the article?
The article explains that ancient Egyptians believed in life after death and buried their rulers with items they thought the rulers might need in the afterlife.
^{(RI.4.5 CAUSE AND EFFECT)}

3. What is the purpose of the diagram, “Buried Treasures”?
The purpose is to show the four parts of King Tut’s tomb and some items found in each.
^{(RI.4.7 TEXT FEATURES)}

FEATURED SKILL: Reading a Chart

Use the Skill Builder “Tut’s Treasures” to have students learn more about some of the artifacts buried with Tut. 

^{(RI.4.7 TEXT FEATURES)}