How do our beliefs shape our actions?
| People | Place | Problem | Possibilities |
| Hatshepsut – the first female Pharaoh | Ancient Egypt | Being a female leader.
Attempt to erase Hatshepsut from history because she was a woman. |
Hatshepsut depicted herself as a man in order to be accepted as a leader
Equality and equity
. |
| Howard Carter
Zahi Hawass |
Egypt 1902, 1920
Egypt 2007 |
Empty tombs and missing historical artefacts
Pillaging of ancient burial sites |
Discovered Hatshepsut’s empty sarcophagus
Discovered Hatshepsut’s body |
Synopsis
Why did Ancient Egyptians try to erase one of the most successful Pharaohs from their history? What beliefs did they have that meant they went to these lengths? How do we know? Who discovered the empty tomb and how do we know where she is now?
Having discovered that the reason Hatshepsut was removed from history by her own people was because she was a woman, they will then move on to learn about the beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians which resulted in this action. They will discover the trail that led to the discovery of her final place of rest by learning about Howard Carter who discovered her empty tomb in the Valley of the Kings, and Zahi Hawass who finally identified Hatshepsut’s body from one small clue: a missing tooth.
Along the way the children will discuss the ethics relating to excavating tombs and how we find out about the past. They will also examine the connection between beliefs and actions; how our beliefs shape our actions and what our actions reveal about our beliefs.
Knowledge Organiser
Knowledge Organiser_How Do Our Beliefs Shape Our ActionsTrips out/Visitors In
Box of artefacts from Oxford Museum, Woodstock
Ashmolean for Egyptian Detective workshop
Learning Exhibition
Museum – Hatshepsut: Her-story
“A really fun experience and great to see the children speaking so proficiently about all the historical details.” Year 5 Parent.
