09.05.2022

USP’s Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology is Y5’s research field

By Bruna Cronfli

As part of the Unit of Inquiry “Civilizations”, the 5th grade (Y5) went to MAE – Museu de Arqueologia e Etnologia – USP to visit the temporary exhibition “Resistência já! Fortalecimento e união das culturas indígenas Kaingang, Guarani Nhandewa e Terena”. 

Before leaving for the museum visit, the students investigated ancient peoples and past civilizations, their transportation systems, agriculture, economy, and culture. In addition to studying the Greek, Roman, Mayan, and Aztec peoples, they also researched Brazilian indigenous peoples and how they form our society.

With this information in mind, the students were divided into groups to participate in a guided tour of the exhibit. The educators at the site gave an introduction, clarifying the difference between a traditional museum and a university museum. They then explained the difference between archaeology and ethnology and distributed artifacts, three ancient and one current. The students were asked to discuss the usefulness of the objects and which peoples they belonged to

In the exhibition, they located the peoples on a map of São Paulo and received plaques of the objects so they could explore and take notes. In the educational room, they put up pictures of foodstuffs corresponding to the geographical location.

The research study provided the 5th-grade classes with an excellent opportunity to learn about history and traditions through objects, clothing, and photographs selected by the indigenous people themselves.