Lesson Planning for Museum Field Trip
Galleries to be viewed: Secrets of Tomb 10A: Egypt 2000 BC
I. Introductory Information
Enduring Understandings:
Artifacts provide insight into the beliefs of a society
Beliefs and ideas vary among different cultures and time periods
Ideas about life and death vary among societies and individuals
Symbols represent big ideas
Grade Level: 9-12
Class: Comprehensive Art I, II & III, Drawing
No. of Students: 46
No. of Classes: 1 class introduction, 1 class museum trip, 1 class reflection/activity
Lesson Topic: This lesson explores ideas about life and death through the artwork and artifacts of Ancient Egypt. Students will consider how symbols are used to tell the story of a society, and how symbols can be present in their own artwork.
Curriculum: This lesson will follow lessons that explore color, space and symbols. The previous lesson involved the use of both perspective and symbolic imagery in order to convey a personal message. Studying the work of Ancient Egypt, students will be introduced to a culture with unique artistic conventions, which were utilized to create symbolic meaning.
II. Essential Questions:
How can color be used as a symbol?
What are some modern-day views of life and death?
What can we learn from artifacts?
Where would you look to seek insight into the beliefs and values of a particular society?
What is an artifact? What is art? Where do we draw a distinction?
III. Learning Objectives:
Students will gain insights into a culture whose artwork does not follow Western conventions.
Students will examine the artwork of Ancient Egypt
Students will draw meaning from symbols
Students will discuss different views of life and death
Students will consider their own use of symbols
Pre-field trip:
Study themes of life and death in ancient Egyptian art
-The teacher will relate the use of symbolism in the last assignment to symbolic images/icons in Egyptian art
-The students will view slides of work and discuss their reactions
-What do you think of this work?
-What do you notice?
-How is this work similar or different than other artwork you have seen?
-The class will discuss the use of color. How can color be symbolic?
-Students will complete a short written and/or sketching assignment
-Create your own representation of life and death
Discuss proper gallery behavior
-Respect for artwork and museum visitors
-Noise level
-Movement within the galleries
Field trip activity:
Gallery behavior overview
Students will be broken up into five groups and led on a guided tour of The Secrets of Tomb 10A
Students will be asked to sketch and describe an artifact within the gallery:
-What are its textural qualities?
-How is color used?
-What purpose might this serve?
-What does it signify?
Written observations about the cultural context of Egypt in 2000 BC:
-What are their ideas about the afterlife?
-What information can you gather about their everyday objects?
-What is valued in this society?
-How does this relate to your own ideas of life and death?
Personal opinions
-What do you find most/least interesting?
-Did this exhibit affect your notions about ancient Egyptian art and culture?
Post-field trip activity:
Thank-you cards for museum staff
Response to visit:
-Perceptions of Egyptian art and culture before/after visit
-What is unique about this culture?
-Discuss results of field trip activity
-Which artifacts did everyone chose? Why?
Art activity:
-Create your own symbols representing your path in life based upon the Ancient Egyptian conventions
-Use color to add to the meaning of your piece
Materials:
Drawing paper
Colored pencils
Rulers
Pens
Pencils
Resources:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Egypt in the Middle Kingdom (2030-1640 B.C.).
British Museum. Ancient Egypt: The Middle Kingdom.
Vocabulary:
Artifact: An object made by a human being, typically an item of cultural or historical interest
Figure: The representation of a human being
Convention: A way in which something is usually done, especially within a particular area or activity.
Symbol: An image that stands for something else, often representing an abstract concept.
Middle Kingdom: A period in Egyptian history spanning from 2030-1640 B.C.E. Distinctive works from this era are royal statues that reflect a subtle change in the Egyptian concept of kingship.
Deir el-Bersha: A village in Middle Egypt located on the east bank of the Nile. During the Middle Kingdom it was a burial ground for many governors.
Archeology: The study of human history and prehistory through the excavation of sites and the analysis of artifacts and other physical remains.