C Curriculum Explorer
History·Ancient Egypt·language

Vocabulary: ancient egypt

Know and use the key vocabulary of ancient Egypt — pharaoh, pyramid, tomb, mummy/mummification, hieroglyphs, papyrus, sarcophagus, canopic jar, natron, archaeologist, artefact, Nile, delta, irrigation, shaduf, scribe, vizier, obelisk, sphinx, cartouche — and apply these terms accurately when describing Egyptian society, religion, and material culture

Suggested ages 5–9

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Learning journey

Your child is exploring the fascinating world of ancient Egypt — discovering pyramids and pharaohs, learning about hieroglyphics and the River Nile, and understanding how archaeologists help us learn about the past.

Evidence of understanding

  • Use 'pharaoh', 'pyramid', and 'hieroglyphs' correctly and naturally in a spoken or written account of ancient Egypt
  • Explain what mummification is and why the Egyptians did it, using 'sarcophagus', 'canopic jar', and 'natron'
  • Use 'archaeologist' and 'artefact' correctly when discussing how we know about ancient Egypt

Assessment prompt

If Vocabulary: ancient egypt visited an ancient Egypt exhibition at a museum, could they read the labels and explain to you what a pharaoh was, why there were pyramids, and what hieroglyphs are?

Standards alignment

No external standards are linked to this topic.