The Egyptian Pyramids: Free KS2 History Worksheet

What were the Egyptian pyramids for?

The most famous Egyptian pyramids were built as royal tombs: grand burial places for the kings of Ancient Egypt, who were known as pharaohs. Smaller pyramids nearby were built for queens. The Egyptians believed that a pharaoh would live on in an afterlife, so the body was carefully preserved as a mummy and placed inside the pyramid, surrounded by treasures, food and everyday objects the ruler might need. Most pyramids were broken into and robbed long ago, which is one reason later pharaohs were buried in hidden tombs in the Valley of the Kings instead. For children, the simplest accurate idea to hold on to is that a pyramid was a giant stone tomb built to protect and honour a dead pharaoh.

The Great Pyramid and the Great Sphinx at Giza

The best-known pyramids stand on the Giza plateau, near modern-day Cairo. The largest is the Great Pyramid of Giza, built for the pharaoh Khufu around 4,500 years ago (roughly 2560 BC). It was the tallest building made by people anywhere in the world for thousands of years, and it is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing today. Crouching nearby is the Great Sphinx, an enormous statue carved from the bedrock with the body of a lion and the head of a man, thought to show a pharaoh. Giza has three large pyramids with smaller queens' pyramids beside them, which is why the picture shows three big pyramids and one small one.

How were the pyramids built?

The pyramids were built mostly from huge blocks of limestone, with some granite, and many blocks weigh more than a family car. Historians and archaeologists are still studying exactly how this was done, but the evidence points to large, well-organised teams of workers who were housed and fed, rather than enslaved people, as was once widely believed. The workers are thought to have dragged the blocks on sledges, possibly over wet sand or up ramps, and shaped each stone so that it fitted closely against its neighbours. Talking about the scale of the achievement, with thousands of people working together for many years without modern machines, helps children understand why the pyramids are still admired today.

Using this worksheet at home or in class

This sheet suits Years 3 and 4, when most schools teach Ancient Egypt as an early-civilisation depth study. Before colouring, ask your child what they already know about Egypt, mummies or deserts. As they colour, encourage realistic choices: golden-yellow sand, blue sky, sandy-brown pyramids and a green palm. The counting task asks them to look closely, and the small pyramid in front is easy to miss. The camels make a good talking point: camels were not used in Egypt when the pyramids were built and only became common there much later, so the picture shows Giza as visitors see it today. Afterwards, ask for a few sentences about what the pyramids were for and who was buried inside.

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