Object-learning Workshop Plan: The Elgin/ Parthenon Marbles 

Time: 30 minutes 

Objectives: 

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

Materials: 

  • The 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 teachers 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. 

Museum Debate (10 minutes): 

  • Divide the teachers 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. 

Object-Interview (15 minutes): 

  • Provide the teachers 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. 

Conclusion (5 minutes): 

  • Summarize the key takeaways from the workshop. 
  • Encourage the teachers 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? 

Thesis Statement: The Elgin Marbles should be returned to Greece for the sake of cultural heritage learning for 12-16-year-old students. 

Pro: 

  • Returning the marbles to Greece would be a significant symbolic gesture of respect for the cultural heritage of the Greek people. 
  • Having the marbles reunited with the other surviving pieces of the Parthenon frieze would allow for a more complete understanding and appreciation of the artwork. 
  • The marbles would be better protected and cared for in the Acropolis Museum in Athens than they are in the British Museum. 

Con: 

  • The British Museum acquired the Elgin Marbles legally and has been their caretaker for over 200 years, so they have a right to keep them. 
  • Removing the marbles from the British Museum would set a precedent for other museums around the world to return their own artifacts to their countries of origin, potentially leading to significant losses for museum collections. 
  • The Elgin Marbles are an important part of British cultural heritage and have been an inspiration for many British artists and writers over the years. 

Contextual information

The Elgin Marbles are a collection of classical Greek marble sculptures that once decorated the Parthenon temple in Athens, Greece. They were taken from the Acropolis in the early 19th century by Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire at the time, and eventually acquired by the British Museum in London. The marbles depict scenes from Greek mythology and the Athenian Panathenaic festival. The Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, are a collection of classical Greek sculptures that were removed from the Parthenon in Athens and brought to the British Museum in London in the 19th century. The marbles have been the subject of ongoing calls for repatriation to Greece, with some arguing that they should be returned to their place of origin to be appreciated in their cultural context.