CEFR B1 Elgin/Parthenon Marbles Museum Debate Object Learning Lesson Plan

Students: ages 14-16
CEFR B1: Cultural Literacies
Time: 60 minutes 

Objectives: 

  • Students will learn about object-based learning and its benefits. 
  • Students will engage in a museum debate about The Parthenon Marbles and their historical significance. 
  • Students will practice the object-interview workform to explore The Parthenon Marbles. 

Materials: 

  • The Elgin/ Parthenon Marbles or images of them 
  • Printouts of questions for the object-interview workform 
  • Whiteboard or flip chart and markers 
  • Museum Debate prompt sheet 

Introduction (5 minutes): 

  • Explain to the students the concept of object-based learning and why it is effective. 
  • Show them The Parthenon Marbles and explain their historical significance. 
  • Briefly explain the museum debate format. 

Object-Interview (15 minutes): 

  • Provide the students with the printouts of questions for the object-interview workform. 
  • Have them work in pairs and take turns asking and answering questions about The Parthenon Marbles using the workform. 
  • After 10-15 minutes, bring the group back together for a brief discussion about their experiences with the workform. 

Museum Debate (10 minutes): 

  • Divide the students into two groups. 
  • Provide each group with the Museum Debate prompt sheet. 
  • Each group should take a few minutes to discuss their position and prepare their arguments. 
  • The groups will then take turns presenting their arguments to the other group. 
  • After both groups have presented, allow time for a brief discussion and questions. 

Conclusion (5 minutes): 

  • Summarise the key takeaways from the workshop. 
  • Encourage the students to incorporate object-based learning and the object-interview workform into their teaching practices. 

Museum Debate Prompt Sheet: 

Prompt: The Parthenon Marbles are a collection of ancient Greek sculptures that were originally part of the Parthenon temple in Athens, Greece. They have been the subject of controversy since they were removed from Greece by the British in the early 19th century. Should the Marbles be returned to Greece or remain in the British Museum? 

Group 1 (in favor of returning the Marbles): 

  • The Marbles are an important part of Greece’s cultural heritage and should be returned to their country of origin. 
  • The British Museum has not been a responsible steward of the Marbles, and they have been damaged by pollution and neglect. 
  • Returning the Marbles would be a symbolic gesture of goodwill towards Greece and could help to repair relations between the two countries. 

Group 2 (in favor of keeping the Marbles): 

  • The Marbles have been in the British Museum for over 200 years and are an important part of the museum’s collection. 
  • The Marbles were legally acquired by the British and Greece has no legal claim to them. 
  • The Marbles are more accessible to the public in the British Museum, where they can be viewed alongside other important artifacts from around the world. 

Object-Interview Workform: 

  1. What are the Parthenon Marbles? 
  1. What materials were used to make them? 
  1. What is their historical significance? 
  1. Who created them and why? 
  1. What is their cultural context? 
  1. What can we learn about the people who made and used them? 
  1. How were they originally displayed? 
  1. How were they acquired by the British Museum? 
  1. How have they been preserved over time? 
  1. What is their current location and how are they displayed? 

For an assessment rubric inside classroom or museum use, see the other lesson plans on this site.