Art in the museum
Art is something people make to show ideas and feelings. Painting, drawing, music, dance, pottery, jewellery and plays are all kinds of art. A museum keeps old and special objects so that we can see them and learn from them. The Alexandria National Museum in Alexandria shows objects from different times in the long history of Egypt. Art can make a visitor feel calm, happy, proud or curious, and two visitors can feel different things about the same object. Nobody is wrong, because feelings belong to each person. To put objects in order on a timeline, we look for clues. For example, a light bulb needs electricity, which people used much later than oil lamps, so the oil lamp is older. On a timeline the oldest object goes first and the newest goes last. We say “a very long time ago” when we do not know the exact time.
| Visitor | Feels | Because |
|---|---|---|
| Mariam | calm | the blue colours are quiet |
| Mina | curious | she wonders who made it |
Museum notebook. If your class visits a museum, or with a grown-up looks at a museum website, choose one object. Sketch it, write its name, and write how it makes you feel and why. Make six cards of travel or light objects and ask a friend to line them up with the oldest first and the newest last, then explain the clues. Remember: say “a very long time ago” when you do not know the date.