Oriental Institute

On Wednesday, the 6th grade class traveled to Hyde Park to visit the Oriental Institue Museum on the University of Chicago campus.  The museum has an extensive collection of artifacts from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt.  Students got to see artifacts that they have been learning about first hand.  Ask your 6th grader about their favorite part of the trip.

 Students look at a replica of the Code of Hammurabi, a law system that they learned about when they studied the Babylonians.

This group is looking at Mesopotamian cylinder seals, which were like stamps used to press a signature into clay.

One group in front of a statue of King Tut.  Students were amazed to find out that this statue is an original from Ancient Egypt!

The students show off infront of one of the Lions from the Gate of Ishtar.

The whole class with a statue of Sargon II.  This 40 ton statue is also an original from the palace of an Assyrian king.

The students really enjoyed this experience.  I encourage you to check out the museum as a family sometime soon.  You will be amazed with how much your 6th graders could teach you about ancient history!