#  Virtual Field Trips 

 



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 ![head and shoulders of statue of ashurnasirpal II.](/sites/g/files/omnuum3086/files/2025-06/ashurnasirpal%20II.jpg)

 

## Mesopotamian Monuments Virtual Field Trip  
Grades 6-8 (50 minutes)

### [Schedule a program](https://peabody.harvard.edu/schedule-k12-group)

> *“I absolutely love this virtual field trip…My students had great connections and the parents were extremely impressed. We will be back for another round next year for sure!”*
> 
> —6th Grade Teacher, Turlock, CA
> 
> *“My students had an opportunity to interrogate sources and build on what they have learned while also introducing the next exploration.”*
> 
> —7th Grade Teacher, Jamestown, RI

> *“..the experience was visually stunning and highly engaging—the next best thing to being there in person!...The story of the Mesopotamians—however distant from our present here in western MA in time and place—is indeed "the story of us." Students felt that powerfully today as we examined artifacts carefully using visual thinking strategies and background knowledge we've been building in class. Thank you for your enthusiasm for teaching and inspiring young learners to think like historians and to be curious about the past and its connections to the present!"*
> 
> —6th Grade Teacher, North Adams, Massachusetts

Mesopotamian Monuments is a live, virtual field trip for middle school students to investigate monuments from Sumer, Babylonia and Assyria on display in the **Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East**.

Guided by a museum educator using a 3D model of the museum and embedded 360 degree images, the class analyzes sculptures as primary sources to understand characteristics of three ancient river civilizations. This lively program highlights the Sumerian ruler Gudea, Hammurabi of Babylon and the Assyrian king Ashurnasirpal II.

The program includes a close look at the famous *Hammurabi’s Code* monument, those of Sumerian and Assyrian kings, and short practice recognizing a few cuneiform symbols.

Free “Field Notebooks” available for download so that students may record details during the program and use for later reference. Free teacher resource with related links available for download.

### Educator Admission

Educators are invited to visit the museum to develop an assignment for their students’ visits.

### Teacher Resources

- [Mesopotamian Monuments Teacher Resources (from our partner museum, Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East)](https://hmane.harvard.edu/teacher-resources-mesopotamian-monuments)
- [Mesopotamian Monuments Field Notes (from our partner museum, Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East) (PDF)](https://peabody.harvard.edu/file_url/1184)

### Fee Reduction

School groups may be eligible for a fee reduction based upon the percent of students receiving free and reduced lunch. Call (617) 495-3216 for an exact price quote.