©Creative Diamond Collective 2022 – Marleen Spierings and Nederlands Debat Instituut.
–> send a message to receive more pdf lesson plans. For this Museum Debate, secondary schools in Leiden worked with The Rijksmuseum of Oudheden (Antiquities) and Ms Vera van der Ven.

Students: ages 13-15 

CEFR B1 Cultural Literacies 

  • Explain how Geta’s Stone can be used for object-based learning. 
  • Define object-based learning and its benefits. 
  • Discuss how objects can be used in teaching and learning. 

Object: Geta’s Stone, a granite monument from ancient Rome featuring inscriptions honoring the Roman emperor Geta. 

Objectives: 

  • To explore the use of objects in learning and teaching. 
  • To introduce the concept of object-interview as a tool for object-based learning. 
  • To use Geta’s Stone as a case study for object-based learning and object-interview. 

Materials: 

  • Geta’s Stone or a photograph of the object. 
  • Notebooks and pens for each participant. 
  • Worksheet for object-interview. 

Workshop Plan: 

I. Introduction (5 minutes) 

  • Welcome participants and introduce Geta’s Stone. 
  • Explain the purpose of the workshop. 

II. Object-Based Learning (10 minutes) 

III. Object-Interview (10 minutes)

  • Introduce the concept of object-interview. 
  • Explain how object-interview can be used for object-based learning. 
  • Hand out the worksheet for object-interview. 
  • Instruct participants to conduct an object-interview with Geta’s Stone. 

IV. Object-Interview Debrief (5 minutes) 

  • Discuss the results of the object-interview. 
  • Share observations, thoughts, and insights. 
  • Reflect on the experience of conducting an object-interview. 

V. Conclusion (5 minutes) 

  • Summarize the main points of the workshop. 
  • Invite questions and comments. 
  • Provide additional resources for object-based learning and object-interview. 

Object-Interview Worksheet: 

  • Describe Geta’s Stone in detail. What are its characteristics, materials, and features? 
  • What do you think is the historical and cultural significance of Geta’s Stone? What does it represent or symbolize? 
  • How do you think Geta’s Stone can be used for teaching and learning? What subjects or topics can it be related to? 
  • What are the challenges and opportunities of using Geta’s Stone for object-based learning? How can they be addressed or leveraged? 
  • What did you learn from the object-interview? What insights did it provide about Geta’s Stone and object-based learning in general? 
  • What is the story behind Geta’s Stone? How was it created and where was it found? 
  • What materials were used to create Geta’s Stone? What does this tell us about the technology available to the ancient Romans? 
  • What are the inscriptions on Geta’s Stone? Who wrote them and what do they say about the Roman emperor Geta? 
  • What can we learn about Roman society and culture from Geta’s Stone? How does it reflect the values and beliefs of the ancient Romans? 
  • How was Geta’s Stone used in ancient Rome? Was it displayed in a public space or used for a specific purpose? 
  • What challenges might arise when studying Geta’s Stone? What limitations or biases might affect our understanding of the object and its historical context? 
  • How can Geta’s Stone be used to teach students about ancient Rome? What topics or themes could it be related to in a classroom setting? 
  • What interdisciplinary connections can be made with Geta’s Stone? How can it be used to teach not only about history, but also art, language, or other subjects? 
  • How can object-based learning enhance students’ understanding of Geta’s Stone and its historical context? What strategies can be used to engage students with the object and its significance? 
  • What insights did you gain from studying Geta’s Stone through object-based learning? How did this approach deepen your understanding of the object and its place in history? 
  • What is Geta’s Stone, and what makes it unique? 
  • How old is Geta’s Stone, and where did it come from? 
  • What materials were used to create Geta’s Stone, and what does this tell us about the technology of the time? 
  • What are the inscriptions on Geta’s Stone, and what do they tell us about the Roman Emperor Geta? 
  • Why was Geta’s Stone created, and what purpose did it serve? 
  • What do you think was the significance of Geta’s Stone in ancient Rome, and how might it have been viewed by people at the time? 
  • How can we use Geta’s Stone to learn more about ancient Roman society and culture? 
  • How can studying Geta’s Stone help us to understand the historical context in which it was created? 
  • What can we learn about ancient Rome from studying objects like Geta’s Stone, as opposed to reading about history in a textbook? 
  • What are some of the challenges and opportunities of using objects like Geta’s Stone for learning, and how can we best engage with them to gain a deeper understanding of history and culture? 
  • Can you tell us about your origins and how you came to be known as Geta’s Stone? 
  • How was your inscription originally intended to honor Geta, and how did it come to be defaced? 
  • How did the erasure of Geta’s name impact the historical record of his reign and legacy? 
  • Can you give us some examples of other instances in history where individuals or groups have attempted to erase someone from history? 
  • How do historians and scholars approach the study of history when faced with attempts to erase or alter the historical record? 
  • What role do artifacts like you, Geta’s Stone, play in preserving history and reminding us of events and people from the past? 
  • How can we learn from events like the erasure of Geta’s name to better understand the power dynamics and politics of the time period in which it occurred? 
  • In what ways do political and cultural values influence the way history is recorded and remembered? 
  • How can we ensure that all voices and perspectives are represented in the historical record, even if they may be controversial or unpopular? 
  • What steps can individuals and society as a whole take to prevent the erasure of history and promote a more accurate and inclusive understanding of the past?