Children get expert help on their Ancient Egypt project

20 Oct 2011

Children at Moorlands Junior School in Sale are getting expert help with their project on ancient Egypt.

University of Manchester Egyptologist and author of several books on the books on the subject, Joyce Tyldesley, is speaking to the children about her work on Friday (21 October).

Tyldesley will be telling them about scientific investigations in Egyptology, examining mummified remains, amazing treasures and every day artefacts from Manchester Museum to the pyramids of Egypt themselves.

Her research at the Faculty of Life Sciences has led her to write a series of books, including three for children, and she is about to publish a play for children ’The Lost Scroll’ to perform in a travelling exhibition for Garstang Museum in Liverpool. She also teaches the subject to 144 students worldwide in a series of online courses at the University.

"Ancient Egypt is a great subject for children," she says.

"There’s a bit of everything in it. It grips their imaginations and helps them with their writing. They learn to understand different cultures and see that we are not all the same. It’s good for understanding the past. They learn about religion and people’s different approaches to what happens after we die. It’s also good for geography and science.

"When I was growing up in the North West, there was so much Egyptology all around and I thought everyone had access to such collections, but we were very lucky to have Manchester Museum. Then when I was 12, the Tutankhamun exhibition opened and this fascinating story about the child King was everywhere, in books and newspapers and on television. My interest just grew from there and I have really enjoyed my career. I have had some fascinating experiences."

Year 3 teacher Rosalind Owen said: "We are grateful to Tyldesley for visiting us - it’s very exciting to have a real Egyptologist talk to the children."

Year 3 pupil Syd Howarth, seven, said: "We are looking forward to seeing Tyldesley and all the science she has been doing."