Have you ever wrapped a mummy before? Well, 6th grade students at SMS are learning how to wrap a mummy in social studies class. Mrs. Yurconic is having students work in groups of 2-3 to make mummies, and each member of the group has to bring in supplies to make their mummy. Before they get to all the fun, they have to complete a booklet. The booklet has facts ranging from the first mummies to the book of the dead!

The first step to mummification is the Removal of the Organs! After students get their orange, they will try to remove all the insides. Since the insides won’t be thrown away, they will be preserved by putting natron all over them and then wrapping them up. The natron (salt and baking soda) absorbs all the moisture, so the organs do not decompose. Then for the orange, you will clean it with white wine. The wine will remove all the germs. After finished cleaning it, you will add little amounts of spices (cinnamon, etc.) on it. Last, you will let the body dry for 30-40 days (The whole mummification process was at least 70 days)!

After the removal of the organs you will work on the canopic jars (what the organs get put into) and amulets to put in the coffin. After the clay, which you use to make the jars and amulets, you will start on the coffin. First you cut out all the shapes (from a shoebox), and then tape them together. Finally, you and your team will work on the coffin design. It was certainly a memorable experience!