Lesson Plan

Name: Emily Johns Date: December 2

Content Area: Social Studies Grade Level: 2nd grade

Objectives:

As a result of this activity, students will be able to:

- (16.A.1c) see how people in different times and places viewed the world (death) in different ways

- (27.B.1) know how images (canopic jars) convey meaning about the people and beliefs of ancient Egyptians

- (26.B.1d.) demonstrate knowledge and skills to create visual works of art using manipulation, eye hand coordination, building and imagination

Strategies/Techniques:

Guided discussions, reading aloud, sculpting and decorating canopic jars1

Materials:

- Oil - Masking tape

- Flour - Paper towels

- Water - Pencils/paperclips

- Food coloring (red, yellow, and green [or brown]) - Markers

- Acrylic or tempera paint - Beads

- Paintbrushes - Decorations

- Aprons/paint shirts - Water bowls

- Foil - Oven

- Baking sheets

Procedures:

Anticipatory Set:

Learn about Canopic Jars and model a set of four containers used by ancient Egyptians to hold mummified remains. (The canopic jars contained the important organs of the body. The jars were shaped with the heads of the four sons of Horus. They were: the falcon Qebehsenuef (intestines), the baboon Hapy (lungs), the human Imsety (liver), and finally the jackal Duamutef (stomach). Later on in Egyptian history the organs were stored in linen packages, which were put between the legs of the mummy and only pictures of the four sons of Horus, were painted on the packages. Later embalmers started using fake canopic jars that were solid.) The students will be free to decide if they would like to sculpt one of the four traditional jars, or create one of their own.

Development:

Canopic jar

- Take a lump of clay that is just a little smaller than a golf ball for the bottom part of the canopic jar. Put flour on your thumb and squish into the lump of clay, molding the jar around your thumb.

- Make sure the bottom of the jar is flat by gently pushing it against your desk/table. Remember that the jar needs to be big enough to hold part of the “organs”. Finish the edges to make them as smooth and even as possible.

- Make an elongated ball of aluminum foil to fir inside your jar so it will hold its shape while being baked. This piece of aluminum foil needs to be easily removable.

- Gently write your initials on the bottom of the jar with a pencil tip--using little dots to write is more effective than dragging your pencil through the clay.

- Bake the jar bottom in an upright position for 90 minutes at 250°. Then turn it on its side and adjust the oven to the “warm” setting to finish drying.

Canopic jar stopper

- Form a lump of clay into a ball. Push the lump very gently into the mouth of the jar so that a stopper is made to fit the jar. Choose one of the four sons of Horus, or your own design and sculpt the top part of your stopper into likeness.

- Carefully remove the stopper from the jar and use a pencil tip to carve your initials into the bottom.

- Place the stopper on aluminum foil and bake at 250° for 90 minutes or until done.

- Once the stoppers have been baked/dried they may be painted/decorated for design.

- Provide students with handouts of commonly used Egyptian symbols and hieroglyphics to encourage them to add authentic details to their jars.

- Jars are now ready to display.

Closure:

While displaying the jars around the classroom or school display case, discuss with the students what they did/did not enjoy, what could have made the activity more beneficial. To make sure the students know the purpose of the jars get random answers of the uses/names of the different jars; the students could write their answers on the black board.

Modifications/Adaptations:

Supply fat handled paintbrushes and markers for the child who has difficulty grasping the materials. If the child has trouble rounding their clay show how you can add shape by gently rubbing the misshapen ball around gently in small circles on the desk/table.

Extensions:

- Have the students stand in front of the class and talk about their creation and why they chose to sculpt they way they did.

- Students could create their own brochure, as if they were selling their own canopic jars.

- Write a short story about a day in the life of an embalmer.

Technology:

- Have the students pull up information concerning canopic jars on-line.

- Watch a video on Ancient Egypt.

Assessment of Student Learning:

After the students have finished their jars they will be expected to participate in guided discussions and tell the class why they chose to sculpt the jar they did and what it symbolizes to him/her. Students will then give their input as to the grade they feel they deserve and why.