Inspiration Africa! St. John Rigby RC College visit day

INSPIRATION AFRICA!
Project 12
St. John Rigby RC College
VISIT TO THE HORNIMAN MUSEUM

St. John Rigby RC College visited the Horniman Museum on the morning of Tuesday, 18th January, 2001.

As the visit preceded their introductory session, the morning started with Tony introducing the Inspiration Africa! team and outlining the project. Sola then led a name game with the pupils taking it in turns to provide movements to their names along to a clapping rhythm.

Pupils were then situated in front of their key object, the Egyptian Coffin to hear Viv talk of its history and that of ancient Egypt.

Ancient Egypt used to be called Kemet, 'The Black Land' and it was the first civilised society in the world which developed along the Nile valley in north eastern Africa.
Read more background info.

The ancient Egyptians believed that a person's soul left the body at death. After burial the soul was reunited with the body and lived on in the afterlife.

For this to happen the body had to be well preserved. The body was mummified and placed in a coffin like this with decorations, symbols and writing addressed to the protectors of the afterlife. Read more background info.

Pupils were then told their project keyword - BELIEF, given worksheets and asked to write down their impressions of the coffin and dislay. Most pupils were impressed by the age of the coffins and the fact that they were in such good condition.

"The coffin display was set out beautifully, in a way that you could see everything. The paintings on them were interesting and I wish I could read them. They are very detailed and I can't believe they are from 5,000 years ago and in such good condition."

They valued their belief system -

"I think the coffins and mummies showed that the after-life is something that is very important to them and is a strong part of their belief and I think it's a shame that we don't have such a strong and dominant belief at the moment. "

"It is good how the Egyptians believed in life after death of the physical body."

But regarding embalming weren't so impressed with "how they can pull out their brains through their nose" or the disparity between the rich and the poor "I don't think it was right that the poor people had their insides crushed and the rich people had theirs kept in a nice displayed vase."

Next the pupils were asked to find 3 different shapes or patterns seen on the objects in the exhibition, to draw them and think about what they represented.

Finally pupils were asked to find a painting or object they really liked in the exhibition and draw it.

Throughout the visit and alongside the activities, pupils had also been encouraged to write down their impressions, either in the form of an acrostic poem based around their keyword or object or as a piece of prose. At the end of the session, pupils regrouped around the Egyptian coffin display to hear some of these writings.

Beautiful paintings I've seen today
Everyone looking and
Liking the display
I've seen things impressive
Egyptian mummies, hieroglyphics
Forever old, but new to me

Africa is a continent
France is a country
Romania is a country
Ireland is a country
Canada is a country, but
Africa provided the first human beings

Kings and queens were high and mighty
Everyone else was lowly below them
Moments came when it was time to be judged
Everything was turned topsy-turvy
Today is the day to remember those times
(So let's enjoy the fact that we have been part of it)

Ancient is a glorious word
Never getting too old to speak
Coiling bandages wrap the bodies
In the painted coffins they go
Egypt is the land of Kemet but
Never forget the ancient ways of living
The museum is the best because you are getting to see old things that are new to you

Mummies are Egyptian bodies
Unless you don't lie you won't get into the second world like they say you will if you never lied
Majestic mummies are hard to get because they are so rare
Mystic mummies make people feel scary because they look spooky
You've seen, mummies have been around for 5 thousand years, they remain powerful, famous and fragile today

Mummies wrapped up in linen
With just a heart remaining
Life is over but has it ended?
Survive the questions and live on
The crocodile headed God
Is just a test, just like life
You still go on