Ancient Egyptian Art Lessons
Ancient Egypt produced some awe-inspiring and historically fascinating artwork which makes for an interesting subject for school pupils to study. From sculptures of pharaohs and queens to the hieroglyphics used as a form of writing, ancient Egyptian art is a vast topic. Teachers might introduce lessons on the subject as part of a wider topic on ancient Egypt or as a one-off for art students.
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Aims
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Not only will students enjoy learning about ancient Egyptian art, but the subject can be used as a basis for teaching kids more about Egyptian history in general and the customs and beliefs of the time. Kids will learn about how the Egyptians viewed notions such as the soul and nature, and how the depiction of royalty in Egyptian art, for example, indicated the place of kings and queens in Egyptian culture. Practical lessons in ancient Egyptian art can be a springboard for developing students' creative skills.
History Lessons
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Some lessons on ancient Egyptian art can look at the subject from a historical perspective. Students will examine how art fitted into the culture of ancient Egypt, and how it is characterized when compared to the creative output of other ancient civilizations; Ancient Egyptian art, for instance, was defined by its exactness and sense of realism, as described by the Crystal Links website. Other lessons might look at how art developed during the Egyptian civilization and where it originated from. Students might look at the differences between the artistic output of each period of ancient Egyptian civilization, such as the Old and New Kingdom eras.
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Symbol Lessons
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Symbols were a common and significant part of ancient Egyptian art, and lessons looking at this aspect could analyze the role of various symbols, and what messages the appearance of certain symbols within Egyptian artwork gave to the viewer. Students could discuss how symbols used by the ancient Egyptians compare to symbols found in modern society and examine the meaning of color within Egyptian artwork.
Practical Lessons
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Practical art lessons allow students to attempt to create their own art in the style of, or inspired by, the ancient Egyptians. Lesson ideas include hieroglyphics, where students try their hand at creating symbols in a similar style to those used as a form of writing by the ancient Egyptians. These hieroglyphics can be traced with pencil first and then colored using markers and paints. Students might also have a go at drawing in an Egyptian style; such drawings should attempt to replicate the simple style used by the ancient Egyptians and can be made in pencil or charcoal.
Equipment Needed
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To give students some idea of ancient Egyptian art, pictures of sculptures and hieroglyphics are useful resources; papyrus replicas are also available. For practical lessons, students should be given sketching or drawing paper, pencils, oil paints, markers and possibly charcoal.
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References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
