Exploring Ancient Cultures Classroom Experiences

A woman stands at the center of a classroom and shares art objects with students seated at desks
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Manager of School Outreach, Kristin Smith, leads an activity exploring Ancient Greece in a Wayne County art classroom.

Exploring Ancient Cultures outreach programs spark inquiry around the question: How are ancient objects an important source of information about ancient people? Choose Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, or Ancient Rome. We offer a three-part experience that includes a virtual field trip, classroom visit, and art kit. See below for details. 

Ready to book? Fill out this form to get on our schedule.

Questions? Contact School Outreach Specialist Camille Tewell. 

A screenshot showing a woman leading a virtual field trip in a simulated Egyptian tomb setting.

Explore Ancient Cultures Virtual Field Trip

In this virtual field trip, students gain insight into an ancient culture by exploring objects from the NCMA’s permanent collection as primary sources. Students will be led into a virtual archaeological site to search for museum objects and observe them using Sketchfab 3D imagery. Virtual field trips are 30 minutes in length and are live, inquiry-driven experiences with a museum educator conducted over the museum’s Zoom account or a teacher’s Google Meet. Previsit slide show provided.

A child's hand reaches toward a 3D-printed replica of an ancient Greek antefix.

Explore Ancient Cultures Classroom Visit

Using 3D printed objects and immersive digital tools, an educator from the NCMA will visit the classroom to guide students through a fast-paced, hands-on lightning round activity and a deep dive to learn more. Students will practice inquiry and teamwork, and build visual literacy skills while addressing Social Studies 6.B.1.2: Explain how artistic expressions reflect the values of civilizations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Teachers receive the lesson plan and keep the four 3D prints. Laptops or tablets with keyboards attached are useful, but not required. 

Two brightly-colored student artworks made of air dry clay.

Ancient Cultures Art Kit

The Ancient Cultures Art Kit is a ready-made resource that guides students in a creative process while integrating the standards. Teachers receive a class set of materials and slideshow of directions. Recommended as a post-visit extension following the virtual field trip and/or classroom visit. 

 

Two students look at an image on a laptop

Students investigate a 3D model of an object in Sketchfab

3D print object of bull rhyton

A student holds a 3D-printed model of the Bull's Head Rhyton

Two small clay sculptures painted gold

Student amulets made with the Ancient Egypt art kit

Gloved hands hold a terracotta sculpture of a face

A student holds an ancient artifact from the museum's teaching collection

Table with worksheets and a small 3D printed object

Students work together to study an object during the classroom visit

Gloved hands holding a small stone object

A student examines an ancient artifact from the museum's teaching collection

Student looking at a laptop

A student uses the scavenger hunt to find ancient objects

Student's hands holding a white 3D printed object

A student holds a 3D printed version of the Oversized Aryballos

Worksheet and student's hands touching a clay disc

A student works on their antefix

Three paper plates holding small, colorful mosaics

Student mini mosaics made with the Ancient Rome art kit