The Department of Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology at the University of Birmingham would like to invite both state and independent schools to visit our Archaeology collection. Established in 1902, the collection includes items from ancient civilisations such as Rome, Greece, Egypt and the Near East.
Pupils will have the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the ancient world, to learn about civilisations and topics they may not otherwise encounter, to view and examine objects up close, and will be reminded that these are civilisations which exist beyond the pages of their textbooks.
The sessions are designed to introduce pupils to areas of the ancient world which they may not have covered previously, and therefore no prior knowledge of the topic is necessary. Currently the available sessions are designed primarily for Key Stage 2 and 3, and can therefore be linked to the history curriculum. For Key Stage 4 and 5, the sessions currently listed can be scaled up, and additional sessions will be made available which compliment curriculum learning.
The Museum is used throughout the term by both members of staff and university students. Because of this, there is not currently a fixed slot set aside for school visits. Instead, visits will be planned around the availability of both the schools and the museum. Please note that the Museum can only accommodate 12 pupils at a time.
Booking a session
If you would like to book a session please email Hebe Barlow at bham.classicsforall@contacts.bham.ac.uk and provide the following information:
- Which session(s) you would like to book
- 2 or 3 time slots which would potentially be suitable
- Which year group you will be bringing
- If any of your pupils require any additional support
Finally, if you have a request or an idea for a session, please do let us know!
Overview of sessions
- Egypt
- An Introduction to Mummification
- The Rosetta Stone
- Greece
- An Introduction to Greek Pottery
- An Introduction to Greek Religion
- The Development of Greek Vase Painting
- The Sanctuary of Athena Orthia
- Women in Ancient Greece: Weaving
- The Near East
- An Introduction to the Ancient Near East: Inventing Writing
- Reproductions and the black obelisk of Shalmaneser III
- Rome
- An Introduction to Roman Coins
Session details
Egypt
An introduction to mummification
- Suitable for KS2 and KS3
- Suitable for pupils with no prior knowledge of Egypt/ mummification
- Content Advice: We will be talking about dead bodies and there are images showing mummies, the mummification process, and skeletons. However these are all cartoons and have been chosen to be child friendly.
In this session pupils will learn the step-by-step process of how Egyptian mummies were made. They will be encouraged to think about what a mummy is, where mummies can be found, and why the Egyptians might have done this to their dead. They will learn about the important objects and traditions used in the mummification process – canopic jars, magic amulets, and the book of the dead.
The Rosetta Stone
- Suitable for KS2, KS3, and KS4
- Suitable for pupils with no prior knowledge of Egypt
- Content Advice: None
In this session pupils will be introduced to one of the most important discoveries in the study of ancient Egypt. They will learn about how the Rosetta Stone was discovered, about the different languages written on it, and about the process of deciphering the long lost language of Egyptian hieroglyphics.
Greece
An introduction to Greek pottery
- Suitable for KS2 and KS3
- Suitable for pupils with no prior knowledge of Greek pottery
- Content Advice: none
In this session pupils will learn what pottery sherds are, and will have the opportunity to handle a number of these ancient objects. They will be encouraged to think about the type of information that can be learnt from sherds, as well as its problems and limitations. The pupils will then learn about three types of ancient Greek vase: the oinochoe, amphora and kylix, and will discuss the uses of each.
An introduction to Greek pottery
- Suitable for KS2, KS3 and KS4
- Suitable for pupils with no prior knowledge of Greek religion
- Content Advice: mention of animal sacrifice
In this session pupils will be given an overview of Greek religion. They will consider who the Greeks worshipped (in addition to the Olympian gods), where they worshipped, and how they worshipped. They will be encouraged to think about the evidence we have relating to ancient Greek religion, and some of the issues that come from it.
The development of Greek vase painting
- Suitable for KS2 and KS3
- Suitable for pupils with no prior knowledge of Greek pottery
- Content Advice: none
In this session pupils will have a brief introduction to pottery sherds, and will have the opportunity to handle a number of these ancient objects. They will be encouraged to think about the type of information that can be learnt from sherds, as well as its problems and limitations. Pupils will then learn about the different stages of decoration in Greek vase paintings, how these different art styles were created, and considering why these styles may have changed over time.
The sanctuary of Athena Orthia
- Suitable for KS2, KS3, and KS4
- Suitable for pupils with no prior knowledge of the Greek world
- Content Advice: brief mention of animal sacrifice and whipping
In this session pupils will learn about the goddess Artemis Orthia, worshipped in Sparta. They will learn that the Greek Olympians were the gods and goddesses of multiple entities, and that the Greeks therefore had to specify which version they were worshipping. The pupils will learn a little about life for Spartan boys, and an infamous ceremony which took place at this sanctuary. The pupils will get to look up close at offerings discovered at this ancient site, and will consider not only what these lead offerings depict, but also why they might have been dedicated.
Women in Ancient Greece: weaving
- Suitable for KS2 and KS3
- Suitable for all pupils
- Content Advice: brief mention of women supposedly stabbing a man to death with their clothes pins
In this session pupils will learn about one of the most important daily jobs of ancient Greek women – weaving. They will discover the evidence we have about the lives of ancient women and will be encouraged to consider whether such evidence is reliable. Pupils will learn about the weaving process, examining archaeological items and trying to ascertain their purpose. Finally, the pupils will consider what other items ancient Greek women might have worn, what messages their appearance might convey to others, and what conclusions we might be able to draw from our discoveries.
The Near East
An introduction to the Ancient Near East: inventing writing
- Suitable for KS2, KS3, and KS4
- Suitable for pupils with no prior knowledge of the Near East
- Content Advice: None
In this session, pupils will be introduced to the civilisation known as the Ancient Near East. They will learn about when and where this civilisation existed, and about some of the inventions which originated from this location. We will then focus on one invention in particular – the first ever writing system. Pupils will learn about the development of ‘cuneiform’, and how it evolved over time with the rise and fall of different civilisations. Pupils will have a chance to look at an artefact which depicts this writing, and will also have the opportunity to try writing in this ancient language.
Reproductions and the black obelisk of Shalmaneser III
- Suitable for KS2, KS3, and KS4
- Suitable for pupils with no prior knowledge of the Near East
- Content Advice: None
In this sessions, pupils will be introduced to the concept of reproductions in museums. They will consider why reproductions may be used, and whether it makes a difference to the experience. Pupils will then look at one of the reproductions in the CAHA museum – the black obelisk of Shalmaneser III. Pupils will be encouraged to explore the variety of relief scenes depicted on this monument, and to consider not only what they show, but the messages that these scenes would have given to an ancient viewer.
Rome
An introduction to Roman coins
- Suitable for KS2, KS3, and KS4
- Suitable for pupils with no prior knowledge of ancient Rome
- Content Advice: None
In this session, pupils will be encouraged to think about different forms of propaganda which existed both in ancient Rome, and today in the modern world. Focusing on coins, pupils will explore the types of messages that they can convey, and will consider why these objects would have been particularly useful as a way of spreading information in the ancient world. The pupils will be challenged to look at a variety of ancient coins, and to attempt to interpret what their messages may have been, and why an individual would have wanted these particular messages to be spread.