Format
This live, interactive videoconference program is taught from the museum galleries, giving students the opportunity to see original works of art and also dig deeper with additional digital content. Led by a museum educator, this program begins with an introduction to the MFA followed by close looking and guided activities centered around several works of art. Throughout the program, students will connect with the educator in the museum gallery by looking closely, making observations, asking questions, and engaging in activities.
Objectives
1. Students will learn about the coffin paintings, sculptures and hieroglyphic texts from the tomb of a high-ranking official of Middle Kingdom Egypt.
2. Students will understand that funerary artworks in Middle Kingdom tombs had a direct connection and purpose related to ancient Egyptian beliefs about the afterlife.
3. Students will practice visual literacy and critical thinking skills through close looking, observation, and online discussion centered on works of art from the MFA's collection.
Standards Alignment
State Standards
Investigating History G6.U2.L12-19 (Cluster 3) Egypt and Nubia
Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for History and Social Science
Grade 6: World Geography and Ancient Civilizations
Topic 1: Studying complex societies, past and present
[HSS.6.T1.01] Explain how different academic fields in the social sciences concentrate on different means of studying societies in the past and present.
[HSS.6.T1.02] Give examples of ways in which a current historical interpretation might build on, extend, or reject an interpretation of the past.
[HSS.6.T1.03] Give examples of how archaeologists, historians, geographers, economists, and political scientists work as teams to analyze evidence, develop hypotheses, and construct interpretations of ancient and classical civilizations.
Topic 3c: Western Asia, the Middle East and North Africa: Ancient Egypt, c. 3000-1200 BCE
[HSS.6.T3c.02] Describe the significance of the Nile River to ancient Egyptians.
[HSS.6.T3c.05] Describe the relationships among social classes.
[HSS.6.T3c.06] Describe the polytheistic religion of ancient Egypt with respect to beliefs about death, proper behavior, the afterlife, mummification, and the roles of deities.
[HSS.6.T3c.07] Summarize important achievements of the Old, Middle, and New Kingdoms.
Massachusetts Curriculum Framework for Arts
Grades 3-4: Visual Arts
[3-4.V.R.07] Perceive and analyze artistic work. Analyze how aesthetic elements (e.g., color, form, line, shape, texture) are used to demonstrate intent.
[3-4.V.R.08] Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work. Describe contrasting interpretations of an artwork to identify multiple perspectives and diverse community ideas.
[3-4.V.Co.11] Relate artistic ideas and works to societal, cultural and historical contexts to deepen understanding. Describe ways art is different from other objects in everyday life and why that matters. (e.g., what the role of artistic intent is in visual arts).
Grades 5-6: Visual Arts
[5-6.V.R.07] Perceive and analyze artistic work. Analyze how an artwork's form (e.g., portrait, sculpture, installation, textile art) compares and contrasts with others of the same type or period.
[5-6.V.R.08] Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work. Use domain-specific vocabulary to identify details about an artistic work.
[5-6.V.Co.11] Relate artistic ideas and works to societal, cultural and historical contexts to deepen understanding. Identify influential works of art from different periods and their impact on the artistic world.