An a-Peel-ing Lesson in Sixth Grade

Sixth-grade students stepped into the shoes of ancient Egyptian embalmers during a hands-on lab with Mr. Sawyer and Mrs. Rollin. Instead of preparing pharaohs for the afterlife, students took on the challenge of preserving apples using a variety of techniques.

Armed with salt, baking soda, gauze and plenty of curiosity, students first made predictions about which materials would best slow decomposition. Throughout the week, they carefully observed their “apple mummies,” recording both qualitative details and measurable data like changes in weight and appearance. As they compared their results to the ancient Egyptians’ use of natron and linen wrappings, history came to life in a whole new way. The lab blended science and social studies seamlessly, proving that even thousands of years later, mummification is still a pretty a-peel-ing experiment.