Students examine art and architecture from various periods of ancient Egyptian history, including the Old and New Kingdoms. The genres include pyramids, tombs, sculpture, painting, and hieroglyphics. Then, students write a short description and critique of a work of ancient Egyptian art.
Students are introduced to the importance of art in civilizations and to the focus of the experience on ancient Egyptian art and architecture. They examine images of Egyptian artwork, then visit Paintings from the Tomb-Chapel of Nebamun to closely observe the paintings. Students post to a collaborative wall describing details and features they notice in the paintings and sharing what they like or dislike about them.
Teacher MovesPresent the lesson overview and objective. Direct students to focus on the images in the Nebamun resource rather than the text. After students post, lead a discussion of their observations and ask them to draw conclusions about Nebamun and his family based on the images, highlighting how art can reveal information about people and society.
Students view images of major Egyptian architectural sites, then read Ancient Egyptian Art History to learn about Egyptian painting, sculpture, and applied art. Using a graphic organizer, they take notes in the first three rows on key features of each art form. Next, they read Ancient Egypt: Architecture and complete the final row of the organizer with notes on the main characteristics of Egyptian architecture, including pyramids and temples.
Teacher MovesCheck that student notes accurately reflect information from the articles. Invite volunteers to summarize what they learned about Egyptian pictures, sculpture, applied art, and architecture, using their summaries to reinforce key features of each form.
Students examine an image of an Egyptian sculpture, then read Materials and Techniques to learn about the materials and methods used in ancient Egyptian art. They complete a graphic organizer with notes on stone, painted statuary, wood, metals, relief sculpture, and pigments. Students then watch the video Old Kingdom: Seated Scribe, taking notes in a two-column table on what the sculpture reveals about Egyptian society and why it is unique. Using their notes, they post a summary explaining what the statue shows about Egyptian society and what makes it distinctive.
Teacher MovesMonitor students as they record notes on materials and techniques and as they analyze the Seated Scribe video. Review student summaries and share an interesting or exemplary response with the class to prompt discussion about how a single artwork can illuminate social structure and artistic conventions in ancient Egypt.
Students extend their learning by conducting an independent analysis of an ancient Egyptian artwork. They go to Egyptian Art and Culture, explore several works from different periods (excluding Seated Scribe), and select one piece to focus on, watching any associated video if available. They upload an image of their chosen artwork and post a response describing the details and features they observe, what those details suggest about Egyptian society, and what they think is unique about the piece. Students then review classmates’ posts and respond to at least two with a question or positive comment.
Teacher MovesUse student responses to identify understandings and misconceptions, and to guide follow-up discussion.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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