Lesson Plan
Egyptian Art Lesson Plan
Students will be able to identify key characteristics of ancient Egyptian art, such as hieroglyphics, frontalism, and symbolic colors, and explain how these elements reflected their beliefs and daily life.
Understanding ancient Egyptian art helps us appreciate how art tells stories, reveals cultural values, and preserves history, giving us a window into one of the world's most enduring civilizations.
Audience
6th Grade
Time
45 minutes
Approach
Visual exploration and creative application.
Materials
- Egyptian Art Wonders Slide Deck, - Art History Warm-Up, - Hieroglyphics Activity, - Art Reflection Cool-Down, - Paper, - Pencils, and - Colored Pencils/Crayons
Prep
Teacher Preparation
15 minutes
- Review the Egyptian Art Lesson Plan and all linked materials: Egyptian Art Wonders Slide Deck, Art History Warm-Up, Hieroglyphics Activity, and Art Reflection Cool-Down.
- Ensure projector/smartboard is ready for the Egyptian Art Wonders Slide Deck.
- Gather art supplies: paper, pencils, colored pencils, or crayons for each student.
Step 1
Warm-Up: What Do You See?
5 minutes
- Distribute the Art History Warm-Up.
- Instruct students to look at the image and answer the questions individually.
- After 3 minutes, ask a few students to share their observations and initial thoughts about the artwork shown in the warm-up.
Step 2
Introduction to Egyptian Art Wonders
15 minutes
- Present the Egyptian Art Wonders Slide Deck.
- Go through the slides, explaining key characteristics like frontalism, hieroglyphics, and symbolic colors.
- Discuss famous examples of Egyptian art, such as tomb paintings, sculptures of pharaohs, and artifacts from Tutankhamun's tomb.
- Encourage questions and facilitate brief discussions about what students find interesting or surprising.
Step 3
Hieroglyphics: Secret Messages
20 minutes
- Distribute the Hieroglyphics Activity along with paper and drawing supplies.
- Explain the activity: students will create their own short message or name using hieroglyphic symbols, drawing inspiration from the examples discussed and provided.
- Circulate the classroom, offering assistance and encouraging creativity.
- Remind students to think about the 'meaning' of their chosen symbols, even if they aren't historically accurate hieroglyphs, to connect back to Egyptian symbolism.
Step 4
Cool-Down & Share
5 minutes
- Ask students to complete the Art Reflection Cool-Down by reflecting on one new thing they learned or found interesting about Egyptian art.
- Invite a few volunteers to share their hieroglyphic messages and their cool-down reflections with the class.
- Collect the Hieroglyphics Activity and Art Reflection Cool-Down for review.
Slide Deck
Unveiling Ancient Egypt: Art That Lasts Forever!
Get ready to explore the amazing art of an ancient civilization!
Welcome students to the lesson. Introduce the exciting journey into ancient Egypt and its art. Ask them what comes to mind when they think of ancient Egypt.
Why Did They Make Art?
Art in ancient Egypt was more than just decoration; it was meant to:
- Honor gods and pharaohs
- Prepare for the afterlife
- Tell stories and record history
- Show power and order
It was art made to last FOREVER!
Explain that ancient Egyptian art wasn't just pretty; it had deep meaning, especially about religion, pharaohs, and the afterlife. It was made to last.
Stiff Poses, Clear Messages: Frontalism
Look closely at the figures in Egyptian art:
- Head and Legs: Shown from the side (profile).
- Eyes and Shoulders: Shown from the front.
- Purpose: To show every important part of the body clearly, not necessarily how a person looks in real life.
It created a sense of order and timelessness.
Introduce the concept of 'frontalism' – how bodies were often shown. Emphasize that it wasn't about realism but about showing all important parts clearly.
Hieroglyphics: Picture Perfect Writing
Ancient Egyptians used a special system of writing called hieroglyphics.
- These are pictures that stand for sounds, objects, or ideas.
- They were often carved into stone on temples and tombs, or painted on papyrus.
- They weren't just writing; they were beautiful art too!
Explain hieroglyphics as a form of sacred writing and art. Point out that these symbols could represent sounds, words, or ideas, and were often carved or painted on walls and objects.
Colors with a Cause: Symbolism
Every color in Egyptian art had a special meaning:
- Gold: Represents the gods, eternity, and the pharaohs.
- Blue: Symbolizes the heavens, water, and creation.
- Green: Stands for new life, growth, and fertility.
- Red: Represents power, life, and the desert.
- Black: Symbolizes death, resurrection, and the fertile land of the Nile.
Discuss how colors had specific meanings. Give examples like gold for gods, green for new life, blue for the sky/water. Emphasize the consistency of these meanings.
Famous Egyptian Masterpieces
Let's look at some incredible examples of Egyptian art:
- Tomb Paintings: Stories of daily life and the afterlife.
- Statues of Pharaohs: Calm, powerful, and often larger than life.
- Sarcophagi and Death Masks: Designed to protect the deceased for eternity.
Consider showing images of the Palette of Narmer, bust of Nefertiti, or Tutankhamun's death mask.
Show some famous examples. A relief from a tomb, a statue of a pharaoh, and perhaps something from Tutankhamun's tomb. Point out the features discussed.
Time to Be an Egyptian Artist!
Now it's your turn to create something inspired by ancient Egyptian art!
Think about:
- What message do you want to convey?
- What symbols can you use?
- How can you make your art look like it would last forever?
Transition to the activity. Explain that students will get to create their own 'art' using Egyptian-inspired symbolism (hieroglyphics).
Warm Up
Art History Warm-Up: What Do You See?
Look closely at the image below. It's a famous piece of art from ancient Egypt. Take a few minutes to observe all the details.
(Imagine an image of an Egyptian wall painting, e.g., from a tomb, showing figures in profile, hieroglyphs, and symbolic elements)
Answer the following questions:
- What do you notice first about this artwork?
- What colors do you see? Do they seem bright or dull?
- How are the people or figures in the painting standing or positioned?
- What kinds of things do you think this painting might be trying to tell us or show us?
Activity
Hieroglyphics: Your Secret Message!
Ancient Egyptians used hieroglyphs to write messages and tell stories. These weren't just letters; they were often beautiful pictures with special meanings. Now it's your turn to create your own message using hieroglyph-inspired symbols!
Your Task:
- Choose Your Message: Think of a short word, your name, a simple phrase (like "My Art"), or a feeling you want to express.
- Design Your Symbols: On a piece of paper, brainstorm different simple drawings or symbols that could represent the words or ideas in your message. Think about animals, objects, nature, or simple shapes.
- Inspiration: Look at the examples of hieroglyphs we saw earlier, but don't feel like you have to copy them exactly. Be creative!
- Example: If your name is "Leo," you might draw a lion. If your message is "Happy Day," you might draw a sun and a smiling face.
- Create Your Cartouche (Optional): Ancient Egyptians often put important names in an oval shape called a cartouche. You can draw an oval around your name or message to make it extra special.
- Add Color: Use colored pencils or crayons to make your hieroglyphs vibrant, remembering that colors had special meanings in Egyptian art (even if you're making up your own new meanings for your colors!).
- Be Ready to Share: We'll share some of our secret messages at the end of class! Try to guess what your classmates' messages mean.
(Space for student work)
Cool Down
Art Reflection: Thinking Back to Egypt
Before we finish our journey through ancient Egyptian art, take a moment to think about what we discussed and created today.
Answer the following questions honestly:
- What is one new thing you learned about ancient Egyptian art today?
- What was the most interesting part of looking at or learning about Egyptian art?
- If you could ask an ancient Egyptian artist one question, what would it be?
- How do you think art from a long time ago, like Egyptian art, can still teach us things today?