Egyptian Art: The Case of the Missing Mummy

Project URL: http://www.teachnet-lab.org/IS24/llangsner/egyptian.htm

How it works:

Students will explore the art of Ancient Egypt and creatively design an Egyptian Mummy Case, using the art medium, papier-mâché. 
1. To become acquainted with Egyptian Art, students will use computer technology to view the renowned collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Cairo Museum in Egypt. 
2. Through class discussions and writing, students will employ, analyze, and communicate their newly found information. 
3. Using this information and pictures, they will sketch ideas for their mummy cases. 
4. Papier-mâché technique, using plaster-craft, will be demonstrated in class, and students will work in small groups to create individual mummy cases

Software materials used:

Internet connection, Encarta and Grollier's cd-roms

Standards addressed by this unit:

• Creating, performing and participating in the arts

• Knowing and using arts materials resources 

• Responding to and analyzing works of art 

• Understanding the cultural dimensions and contributions of the arts

The students:

This lesson will prove valuable to students of all ages, and at all ability levels. Small groupings of 4-5 students will work best.

Overall value:

Through web technology, students are now able to visit museums and their collections from around the world in the comfort of their own home or classroom. The use of plaster craft as a papier-mâché medium cuts down on time, an invaluable asset to the classroom teacher. Cooperative learning skills are greatly achieved throughout this lesson.

Tips:

Plaster-craft is gauze strips which have been impregnated with plaster. It is found in rolls which can be cut into sized strips beforehand. It may be more costly than standard papier-mâché methods, however, the time saved and quality achieved is incomparable.

About the Teacher:

Lori Langsner is currently an art teacher at Myra S. Barnes Intermediate School 24 on Staten Island, NY. She has been incorporating technology into her art classroom for the past two years as mentor, and now mentee with the Teachnet Project. Mrs. Langsner is one of the original writers of the Teachnet Grant Project for her school. She is also the recipient of an Impact II Award Adaptor Grant for her lessons on Van Gogh and Monet.

E-mail: LoriArt00@AOL.com

Estimated Class Periods To Complete: 10 or more

Subject areas: Art, Social Studies

Beginning Grade Level: 6

Ending Grade Level: 8