Extraordinary learning experiences through the use of Ancient Egyptian art to educate the public on different aspects of Egyptian history and culture.
Education Strategies and Key Objectives:
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo (EMC) education programmes provides children with an exciting experience, which focuses on three major approaches:
The identity-cultural approach:
To educate Egyptians about their history and culture, with special emphasis on language, social structures, gender roles and cultural patterns, such as thought processes and behaviour. The aim is to create a feeling of empathy between Egyptians and their Ancient counterparts, and admiration for the tangible cultural heritage they left behind.
The academic-educational approach:
To stimulate learning with proven academic ideas and techniques that build and improve observation skills. This programme complements the State education system, helping students retain new information and construct relevant knowledge.
The artistic approach:
To build confidence in each child by allowing her/him to construct her/his own meaning from the different artworks to which s/he is exposed, stimulating her/his thoughts and imagination. The children are encouraged to pose questions in order to entice their curiosity.
EMC Programmes Currently Available
Dates: 1st of July – 10th of September, every year
Programmes Offered:
Learning English and French Using Ancient Egyptian Artefacts
Details:
Learning English and French Using Ancient Egyptian Artefacts addresses two of our approach strategies: the identity-cultural approach, and the academic-educational approach. The core of this programme is constructed around the current primary education curricula at Egyptian international language schools, using the Egyptian Museum collection as the basis for learning. Participants learn to speak, write and understand basic English and French through set activities that include worksheets, songs, colouring-in, and storytelling.
First Group (English):
Dates: 6th of July – 6th of August, every year (two days a week, to be confirmed by announcement, and limited to one group a day)
Times: 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Age: Level 1 (5–7 years); Level 2 (8–10 years)
Number of Participants: 20 per group
Second Group (French):
Dates: 8th of August – 6th of September, every year (once a week, to be confirmed by announcement, and limited to two groups a day)
Times: 12:00 am – 1:00 pm
Age: Level 1 (5–7 years); Level 2 (8–10 years); Level 3 (11–13 years)
Number of Participants: 20 per group
Learning to Draw While Drawing Inspiration from the Egyptian Museum Masterpieces
Details:
Learning to Draw While Being Inspired by the Egyptian Museum Masterpieces addresses two of our approach strategies: the identity-cultural approach and the artistic approach. This programme will teach children how to draw using simple steps and standard drawing techniques. We cover a variety of skills, ranging from basic still-life to more tonal drawing from our models. Participants will be able to capture the masterpieces of Ancient Egyptian art through set activities that include worksheets, colouring-in, and competitions.
Dates: 10th of July – 15th of August, every year (once a week, to be confirmed by announcement, and limited to one group a day. Level to be decided by the trainer)
Times: 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Age: Level 1 (5–7 years); Level 2 (8–10 years); Level 3 (11–13 years); Level 4 (14–16 years)
Number of Participants: 20 per group
A Day at the Children’s Museum
Details:
This programme presents educational activities during a one-day visit, and including different themes.
Dates: 10th of July – 15th of September, every year (one day, to be confirmed by announcement and limited to one group a day)
Times: 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Age: Level 1 (5–7 years); Level 2 (8–10 years); Level 3 (11–13 years); Level 4 (14–16 years)
Number of Participants: 20 per group
Dates:
First part: 1st of September – 10th of January, every year
Second part: 1st of February – 5th of April, every year
Programmes Offered:
Guided Tour Programme at the Egyptian Museum
Presented in Arabic and English languages
Details:
The Guided Tour of the Egyptian Museum addresses two of our approach strategies: the identity-cultural approach and the academic-educational approach. This tour explores the highlights of the Museum’s collection, focusing on specific areas to be agreed with each school.
The tours last about 55 to 60 minutes each.
Age: Primary (6–11 years); Middle (11–14 years); Lower Secondary (14–16 years)
Guided Tour Programme at the Children’s Museum
Presented in Arabic and English languages
Details:
The Guided Tour at the Children’s Museum addresses two of our approach strategies: the identity-cultural approach and the academic-educational approach. This interactive tour explores writing, religion, pyramid building, as well as death and the afterlife using the LEGO models inspired by Ancient Egypt.
The tours last about 55 to 60 minutes each.
Age: Primary (6–11 years); Middle (11–14 years)
LEGO Programme at the Children’s Museum
Details:
The LEGO Programme at the Children’s Museum teaches children the importance of persistence, and the value of perseverance in completing a project. As fine motor skills improve, children can create more elaborate constructions, using LEGO blocks, and follow complex designs inspired by Ancient Egyptian history.
This programme lasts about 2 hours.
Age: Pre-Kindergarten (4–5 years) and younger
Art Programme at the Children’s Museum
Details:
The Art Programme at the Children’s Museum is conducted in co-operation with students from the Faculty of Art Education at Helwan University, and the Egyptian Museum Display Department. These process-based workshops present a wide range of art-making practices, enabling the participant to create their own artwork inspired by Ancient Egyptian art. Each workshop deals with one of the following options to be agreed upon at the time of booking:
- Architecture in Ancient Egypt
- Crowns in Ancient Egypt
- Armies in Ancient Egypt
- Games in Ancient Egypt
- Jewellery in Ancient Egypt
- Drawing in Ancient Egypt
- Writing in Ancient Egypt
This programme lasts about 2 hours.
Age: Primary (6–11 years); Middle (11–14 years); Lower Secondary (14–16 years)
The Mummification Programme at the Children’s Museum
A joint programme in cooperation with the Restoration Department at the Egyptian Museum.
Details:
The Mummification Programme at the Children’s Museum presents the embalming process that was used by the Ancient Egyptians, and the scientific examination methods that we use today. This interactive programme enables participants to learn more about the health and diseases suffered by the Ancient Egyptians. The children will learn about anatomy, botany, as well as chemistry, and will investigate evidence on the average height and life span of Ancient Egyptians by studying their bones. The medical treatments that were available in the past will also be presented. The students will be introduced to the concept of mummification by re-enacting the steps of mummification on a replica mummy of the boy King Tutankhamun. This will include wrapping the mummy and performing a funeral procession to help the King into the afterlife.
This programme lasts about 2 hours.
Age: Middle (11–14 years); Lower Secondary (14–16 years)
Booking for the School Programmes is essential. Please contact the Public Relations Office at the Egyptian Museum to book these free programmes. For inquiries contact:
Phone: +02 25796948
Dates: First part: 1st of September – 10th of January, every year
Programmes Offered:
Guided Tour Programme at the Egyptian Museum
Presented in Arabic and English languages
Details:
The Guided Tour of the Egyptian Museum addresses two of our approach strategies: the identity-cultural approach and the academic-educational approach. This tour explores the highlights of the Museum’s collection.
Guided Tour Programme at the Children’s Museum
Presented in Arabic and English languages
Details:
The Guided Tour at the Children’s Museum addresses two of our approach strategies: the identity-cultural approach and the academic-educational approach. This interactive tour explores writing, religion, pyramid building, as well as death and the afterlife using the LEGO models inspired by Ancient Egypt.
All Family Programmes are presented in cooperation with volunteers from the Friends of the Egyptian Museum Association, under the supervision of Dr. Sayed Hassan, former Director of the Egyptian Museum, and Ms Abeer Abdel Azeez, Curator at the Egyptian Museum.
Booking for the Family Programmes is essential. Please contact the Public Relations Office at the Egyptian Museum to book these programmes. For inquiries contact:
Phone: +02 25796948
These programmes will be designed to foster cooperation and utilise knowledge-learning between education professionals. Pending approval, they will be presented in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities.
Updates and announcements about these programmes will be found announcements section in the news.
EMC Volunteers:
Volunteers play an important role and bring a variety of benefits to the Children’s Museum. Volunteers enable us to accomplish practical tasks that would otherwise either not be accomplished, or would be completed over a longer time period.
Benefits of volunteering:
- Opportunity to make a difference or give something back to the community;
- Gain new skills and experience;
- Enhance your professional experience. The Children’s Museum provides a certificate to acknowledge your work with us.
Volunteering options:
- Volunteer from home: for people who may be limited in time, who cannot give a fixed amount of time or who may find it difficult to travel.
- Dedicated volunteers: for people who are given a single task to complete, because they cannot do more.
- Skills-building volunteers: for people who participate in a placement, committing to a longer period of time (no less than 6 months).
Recruitment and selection:
Recruitment is undertaken in conjunction with the Friends of the Egyptian Museum Association, under the supervision of its Director Dr. Sayed Hassan, and Curator Abeer Abdel Azeez. However, some volunteers may apply through a special request to the Director of the Egyptian Museum. If approved, they will go on to attend an interview with the Director of the Children’s Museum.
During the 2018–2020 cycle, the Children’s Museum appointed two Skills-building Volunteers, and one Dedicated Volunteer. This is in addition to a number of people volunteering with the Friends of the Egyptian Museum Association.