Lesson plan based on Mummy Case
Explore ancient Egyptian beliefs about death and the afterlife by observing and interpreting the design and illustration of a mummy case.
Skills and Focus: Art History, Discussion
Subject Area: Fine Arts
Thematic Connection: Signs and Symbols, The Afterlife
Grade level: Secondary School
Time Needed: 20 minutes
Objectives
• Identify tools, skills, and processes used to make a mummy case.
• Understand and appreciate the decorative elements of the mummy case.
• Analyze and evaluate how the production of the mummy case communicates ancient Egyptian ideas about death and the afterlife.
Instructional Materials Needed
Stories: Who Is Inside the Case? and What Is On the Mummy Case?
Activity
Step 1: While watching the stories, each student should take careful notes on the different types of tools, skills, and processes required to create the case.
Step 2: Discuss the students' findings and create a list on the chalkboard or an overhead projector.
Step 3: Have students view the story again. This time they should take notes on Egyptian beliefs about death and the afterlife, and create a second list based on their findings. This list also should include the decorative elements that illustrate these beliefs.
Step 4: Ask students to spend some time studying each list.
Critical Thinking Ask students to
• explain how the ancient Egyptians’ belief in death and the afterlife was reflected in their culture.
• recognize the role mummy cases played in communicating these beliefs.
• describe how the artisans used their tools, skills, and processes to convey these beliefs.
• evaluate how successful the artisans were in conveying their beliefs.
Goals
This activity meets Illinois State Goal 26: Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.
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