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Egyptian Artefact Gallery: Free Printable Worksheet for Year 5
- ForYear 5
- StageKey Stage 2
- CostFree
- FormatPrintable PDF
Egyptian Artefact Gallery is a free printable history worksheet for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10). Children choose one real object from ancient Egypt, study it closely, draw it, zoom in on one small detail and then write its museum label. It needs only a pencil, and page 2 gives the grown-up notes, help, a stretch idea and answers.
It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Black and white printing works well.
What is on the sheet
Children pick one object to study, using pictures from a museum website or a book. They draw the whole object, then draw one small detail close up. Next they fill in a label: the object's name, the material it is made from, what it was used for and who might have owned or used it. They finish with one question they would ask an expert.
- Draw the whole object
- Zoom in: draw one small detail
- Object name:
- Material it is made from:
- What was it used for?
- Who might have owned or used it?
- One question you would ask an expert:
How to write a good museum label
Look before you write
Study the object for a while first. Notice its shape, its surface, any marks or patterns, and any damage. Drawing it slowly helps children see more than a quick glance does.
Say what you can see
Start with facts that anyone can check by looking. Use clear describing words such as worn, smooth, cracked or carved. Keep each sentence short.
Use evidence for ideas
When children guess how an object was used or who owned it, ask what clue made them think so. A good label says what the object suggests, not only what the child hopes is true.
End with a question
Experts always have questions left over. A good question shows a child has noticed something they cannot yet explain, and it gives them a reason to read more.
Why study artefacts?
An artefact is an object made or used by people in the past. Historians study artefacts as evidence, because they can tell us things that no one wrote down. Ancient Egypt is a popular topic for this work. Many Egyptian objects survive today and are kept in museums, so children can look at photographs of real things people made thousands of years ago.
Museum labels are short on purpose. Visitors read them quickly, so each word has to earn its place. Writing a label teaches children to choose the most important facts and to say them plainly. It also shows the difference between what we can see, what we can work out and what we still need to ask.
Quick facts about ancient Egypt
- Ancient Egyptian civilisation grew up along the River Nile in north east Africa.
- Hieroglyphs were a writing system made of pictures and symbols.
- Papyrus, a kind of paper, was made from a reed plant.
- The Rosetta Stone, which helped people understand hieroglyphs, is kept in the British Museum in London.
- Egypt's dry climate helped many ancient objects to survive.
Skills and curriculum link
- Close observation
- Using evidence
- Writing a label
- Describing materials
- Asking historical questions
Ideas for helping your child look at evidence
- Ask what they noticeBefore any writing, ask your child to describe the object aloud. Try the question, "What do you see that you did not see at first?"
- Separate seeing from guessingHelp your child tell the difference between what they can see and what they think. Say, "Is that a clue or an idea?"
- Look for wear and damageMarks, cracks and worn edges can suggest an object was used or has survived a long time. Ask what might have caused them.
- Use more than one sourceIf a museum website and a book give different details, talk about why. Historians compare sources before they decide what to believe.
Key words
- ArtefactAn object made or used by people in the past.
- Museum labelA short piece of writing that tells visitors about an object.
- EvidenceClues that help us find out about the past.
- MaterialWhat something is made from, such as clay, stone or wood.
- DetailOne small part of something, which you notice by looking closely.
- ExpertA person who knows a great deal about a subject.
How to use it
- Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has the notes and answers.
- Choose one real object together. Look at pictures from a museum website or a book, and talk about what you can see.
- Work through the first go together. Let your child draw the whole object, then pick one small detail to draw close up.
- Fill in the label. Ask, "How do you know?" for each answer, then check against the notes and answers on page 2.
- Come back another day and choose a different object. Repeating a familiar activity builds confidence.
Help, stretch and game ideas
If it feels too hard
Talk about the object aloud before any writing. Give a word bank: gold, clay, stone, wood, worn, buried. Let your child point to the part of the picture that goes with each word, then copy or choose words for the label.
To stretch confident children
Add a date range for your object and name the museum that keeps it. Then say how you know, for example which website or book gave you the information. Compare two sources and notice any differences.
Make it a game
Swap labels with a friend. Cover your drawing so they cannot see it. Can they guess which object you chose from the label alone? Then show the drawing and talk about which words helped most.
Mistakes to watch for
Watch forA child writes a guess as if it is a fact, such as saying who owned the object.
Try thisAsk what clue supports the idea. Then change the wording to "might have" or "could have" so the label stays honest.
Watch forThe label is very long and copies a whole paragraph from a book.
Try thisAsk your child to choose the three most important facts and say them in their own words. Museum labels are short.
Watch forThe drawing shows the whole object again instead of one small detail.
Try thisHold a piece of paper with a small hole in it over the picture. Draw only what shows through the hole.
Talk about it
- What was the first thing you noticed about your object?
- Which part of the object was hardest to draw, and why?
- What clues tell you what the object is made from?
- Who do you think might have used it, and what is your evidence?
- What would you like to ask an expert, and where could you look for the answer?
- Why do you think museums keep objects like this safe?
Take it off the page
Draw a gallery wall
Fold a sheet of paper into boxes. Draw a different object in each one and write a short label underneath. Hang the pages on a wall as a home gallery.
Mystery object bag
Put a few safe everyday objects in a bag. Take turns feeling one without looking and describing it in words. The others guess what it is.
Make a clay model
Shape a small object from air drying clay or play dough. Write a label saying what it is, what it is made from and what it might have been used for.
Who it is for
Parents
Sit beside your child for the first go, then let them lead. Look at pictures together and ask "How do you know?" often. Praise careful looking and good questions, not only correct answers.
Teachers
Use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task or homework alongside work on ancient Egypt. It needs no preparation beyond printing. Page 2 gives support and stretch ideas for mixed ability groups.
Home educators
Pair it with library books and museum websites, and use it again with a new object for brothers, sisters or revision. It fits a wider history plan and works well alongside drawing and writing.
Where this fits in history learning
Before this sheet, children build the habit of looking closely at pictures and objects and describing what they see. They also learn that the past is known through evidence, such as objects, buildings and writing.
After it, children can study other artefacts, compare sources and give reasons for what they think. In Key Stage 2 history, children learn about early civilisations and use evidence to ask and answer questions about the past.
Questions parents and teachers ask
- What age is Egyptian Artefact Gallery for?
It is written for Year 5 (ages 9 to 10), in Key Stage 2. Younger children can try it with help, and older children can use the stretch idea to go further.
- What will children practise?
They practise looking closely at a historical object, using evidence and writing a short museum label. Ancient Egypt is the subject area, so it also builds knowledge of the topic.
- Do children need a real object?
No. They can choose an object from pictures on a museum website or in a book. If you can visit a museum, children can also study a real object and draw it on the spot.
- What if my child finds it hard?
Talk about the object aloud first. Give a word bank: gold, clay, stone, wood, worn, buried. Let your child point to the parts of the picture before they write anything down.
- Is it free?
Yes. It is free to print for home and classroom use. You can print it again for brothers and sisters, or for another go with a different object.
- Is it suitable for teachers to use in class?
Yes. Teachers can use it as a starter, plenary, early finisher task, homework or table activity. It needs no preparation beyond printing, and page 2 has help and stretch ideas.
- Do I need to print in colour?
No. It prints well in black and white on plain A4 paper. Children draw and write with a pencil, so no colour printing is needed.
Preview the full PDF
Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.