Lesson Plan - Who Owns History?

Watch the Video
Before reading the article, play the video “The Mysteries of Easter Island.” Ask: What is the main mystery surrounding Easter Island’s moai?

Preview Words to Know
Project the online vocabulary slideshow and introduce the Words to Know.

• artifacts 
• remote

Set a Purpose for Reading
As students read, have them think about some of the benefits of displaying ancient objects in museums.

1. Why does the article say that the British Museum offers the only chance most people will get to see the moai up close?
The article says that the British Museum offers the only chance most people will get to see moai up close because most of the moai are on Easter Island, a small island in the Pacific Ocean. The article says that “few travelers can make the journey to remote Easter Island.”
^{RI.4.5 Cause and Effect}

2. According to the article, how did Hoa Hakananai‘a end up at the British Museum?
The article explains that in 1868, the captain of a British ship removed Hoa Hakananai‘a from the island. He took the moai to England and gave it to Queen Victoria, who then gave it to the British Museum.
^{RI.4.2 Key Details}

3. The article states that “museums around the globe face pressure to return artifacts to their homelands.” How does the sidebar, “Pieces of the Past,” support that claim?
The sidebar supports the claim that museums around the globe face pressure to return artifacts to their homelands by giving two additional examples of artifacts that countries want museums to return. One is the Elgin Marbles, sculptures that were taken from Greece and brought to England. The other is the statue of Nefertiti, which was taken from Egypt and brought to Germany.
^{RI.4.8 Reasons and Evidence}

Featured Skill: Point of View
Use the skill builder “Is That a Fact?” to review the differences between facts and opinions and to identify fact and opinion statements related to the article.
^{RI.4.6 Point of View}