We started studying Egypt this week in our homeschool history lesson, and what do you think of when you think of Egypt, but mummies. So, taking a page from the Story of the World Ancient History, we’re making a mummy.
Supplies for making a mummy:
Steps for making a mummy:
1. Wash your chicken, inside and out. Make sure to have a lot of soap on hand for washing your hands to get rid of germs.
2. Dry the chicken. The dryer it is the more quickly it will mummify (or that was my interpretation of what the instructions was saying).
3. Add your salt, half of your baking powder, and half of your baking soda. Don’t you love the exact details it’s giving.
4. Put your dry chicken in the bag, put salt in the middle (to ensure bacteria doesn’t grow there, and to help dry out the inside). Then begin to put salt all around the chicken.
Scientifically, what’s happening? Well, let me tell you. The salt is slowly removing the moisture from the chicken (this whole process is going to take about a month). Here’s a site talking about mummifying a hot dog. Sorry, I’d look for a better explanation, but the kids are getting restless, and I’d like to get a few other posts written.
I’ll have periodic updates on our chicken (who 2 days later is still not stinky, so I must have done something right).
Update on the chicken mummy, and the importance of following procedures
I am keen to see how this one works for you, we will being Egypt later in the year and a mummy will be on our list of activities.
I thought about mummifying the chicken to when we learned about Egypt, but we stuck to apples.
I'm a wimp. 🙂
Hmmmm…that will be really interesting if it works, or really, really disgusting if it doesnt.
Oh, you are brave! I have always made my little mummies out of oranges and potatoes. I am enoying seeing you do it, however. (BTW-How did you get that from behind the sink shot? Do you have your sink in an island? I suddenly pictured you running outside and taking it through a window to get a perfect shot!)
Wow, I don't think I'll be brave enough to do a chicken. I have awhile to get brave before this would be age appropriate for my little one though!
Interesting. I have never given any thought to doing anything like this, don't know that we ever will, but I now I know how to should we decide to.
Hmm. Curious to see how this goes for you. Uggh.Crumpet doesn't do meat, so we'll have to live vicariously. Darn.
Oh my goodness, thats funny/cool/crazy. You should try to save it for years…
A chicken? Very interesting, you know how to do real science. A chicken would have never entered my mind for mummification. I can't wait to see how this all turns out. Very creative!!
No way I am doing this at home, and I am not even a germaphobe. My husband will throw both me and chicken out of the house! Fascinating experiment though – I am curious to read the updates.
I'm really glad that it's not stinking!! I'll be curious to see how this works out for you!
Wonder how hubby would feel about this one after doing the fruit flies. Not that we would be doing it any time soon. Intriguing though, can't wait to see how it goes for you.
By the way, I love the caption you left for my Mamarazzi Monday post. Thanks for participating, I wasn't sure if anyone would. Figured some might feel I was just being lazy.
Blessings.
So where are the canopic jars Ticia? 😉