Middle and Upper School Students Collaborate in Art History Debate

Cross-disciplinary and cross-divisional learning came alive on May 3 via the collaborative thinking of Upper School Art Teacher Becky Daniels and Middle School History Teacher Matthew Giorgio. The teachers realized that students in both divisions/classes were studying the topic of Art Repatriation, i.e. whether or not to return art(ifacts) to their site of origin. 
 
Mr. Giorgio explains, “We began planning a time in which we could partner our Seniors with our fifth graders around three key artifacts:
  • Nefertiti’s Head (originally produced in Egypt, but currently on display in Berlin)
  • The Elgin Marbles (originally produced in Greece, but currently on display in London)
  • Hammurabi’s Code (originally produced in Persia, but currently on display in Paris).
"The end product was a debate with the fifth graders making the case for either repatriating the art to its homeland or for keeping the art on display in its current location.”
 
Day One of the collaboration partnered seniors with fifth graders to help the Middle Schoolers better interpret their sources and craft their arguments for the debate. Working in small groups, the students were split between three rooms to practice.

Ms. Daniels noted, “It is so refreshing to see seniors enlivened and motivated through the opportunity to aid and collaborate with their younger counterparts. Seniors enjoy being leaders, juniors get ideas for next year, and fifth graders learn more about senior projects. Also, by changing up the way we are all teaching and learning, we are keeping ourselves on our toes.”
 
Day Two, on May 3, the debate took place where seniors served as judges/jury. They also acted as the deciding voices in the case.
 
“We were all excited about this project from start to finish, and the kids energy has been contagious!” summarizes Mr. Giorgio.
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