Lesson 2

What can you learn about in museums?

1. Where do you normally research information for your school projects? Talk about the different sources where you can find information. Which source of information does this text come from?

2. Listen and read the text and underline the information that you would include in a museum card on ¨The First Flushing Toilet.

Listen Track 17

Five thousand years ago, the Mesopotamians and other civilizations had toilet seats with holes in them. The waste was carried away by water that ran under the seats. Centuries later, this idea was adapted by an English inventor called John Harington. He drew a toilet with a seat with water flowing underneath. But his toilet was never actually made because everyone thought the idea was too amusing. It wasn’t until 1775 that the first real flushing toilet was made by Alexander Cumming, yet another English inventor. His design was special because he invented an S-shaped pipe that lay below the toilet bowl. It prevented waste from flowing back into the bowl. Our toilets today are still made in a very similar way.

3. Compare and exchange with a partner the information you underlined as important. Tell him or her why you think the information is important. Next, look at these sentences. Can they be included in museum cards? Why? Write some more examples of sentences that can be included in museum cards in your notebooks.

• Toilets are still made in a similar way. • The waste was carried away by running water • The idea was adapted by an English inventor.

Pairs

4. Work in pairs. Use the information in the box to write a museum card on:

The invention of safety matches

Only choose information that is relevant to you. Then, you can share it with others.

Pairs

When: 1844 Inventor: Gustaf Eric Pasch Material for the match: wood and a mix of chemicals For the box: Red phosphorus and powdered glass. Before 1844 matches were very dangerous. They could catch fire easily. Nowadays instead of matches we often use lighters.

5. Compare your card with another pair's card. Did you both include the most important information? Explain how you chose the information and what other sources could you go to for more information on the topic?

Group

Museum Cards

Step 2

• Let´s get on making the museum cards for the exhibition.

Get into your teams and bring out your notes from the last session. Also, bring out and share the information you brought on the objects for your exhibition. Gather all the information your team brought and ask what sources they researched.

Be sure to have consulted reliable sources and in doubt, consult again. Finally, read all the information you Links have and exchange points of view on what you will include on each card to Some museums have web pages identify the objects in your exhibit. where you can

Think and Reflect: Do you think that find interesting summarizing the most important information, for information on a card is a good example: https:// learning strategy? www.si.edu/kids

Reading

Time

Facts

Track 28 The Founding of Tenochtitlan Read pages 80 to 84 . Why do we remember and retell legends? Why do we keep ancient artifacts in museums?