I am completely and totally into the new Disney Plus series Moon Knight. As usual, I find myself drifting off into thoughts of how I can incorporate pop culture into the classroom or as an opportunity for personalized learning for my students who love the superhero fiction genre.
Check out some of these ideas I came up with using the MCU series, Moon Knight.
SYMBOLISM
To avoid spoilers, I will mainly stick to things that are related to the characters in Moon Knight or on events that only occurred in episode one. Immediately, I begin to think about the title of the series and our protagonist–Moon Knight. Students can identify the symbols just within the name and then analyze the way these symbols in the name support a theme or motif in the series.
the symbol of constant change and can even reference a cycle
the symbol of honor, nobility, and chivalry
Other Symbols: scales, alligators, breaking glass in a cloth, walking on glass, mirrors
MYTHOLOGY
There are lots of references to mythology with characters that are Egyptian gods and goddesses. Students can research mythology and create a graphic organizer with the names and description starting with:
- Khonsu
- Ammit
- Anubis
- Field of Reeds
- Ennead: Atum, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Seth, and Nephthys
- Ma’at
HISTORY
There are some great real historical references made. The character Steven Grant works at a museum and seems to know a lot about Egyptian culture, history, and mythology. I would invite students to research the historical references and write a paper on it, give a presentation, or even create a visual representation on any of the following:
- Pyramids
- Funeral Rites
- Scarab
- Hieroglyphics
MAKING CONNECTIONS
Often, I find that making connections for students helps them expand their critical thinking skills and create opportunities for engagement. I have come up with a few lists of books, documentaries, and songs that a student could use to make connections to Moon Knight.
Documentaries:
- Lost Treasures of Egypt
- Kingdom of the Mummies
- King Tut in Color
- Lost Tombs of the Pyramid
Books:
- Mummy Cat by Marcus Ewert
- Hardy Boys: The Mummy Case by Franklin W. Dixon
- Goosebumps: The Curse of the Mummy Tomb by R.L. Stine
- Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
- The Mummy or Ramses the Damned by Anne Rice
- Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
- Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Poetry and Songs:
- “A Dream Within a Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe
- “Night Wind: Egypt” by Teresa Hooley
- “The Sphinx” by Ralph Waldo Emerson
- “Moondance” by Van Morrison
- “Mirror” by Lil’ Wayne (Make sure to use the clear version!)
- “Stranger” by Jefferson Starship
Movies:
- Night at the Museum
- Psycho
- Minority Report
- Fight Club
- Memento
I am sure you have many more connections or lesson plans to go along with this series, Moon Knight. If anything, it is fun to find something that we can talk about with our students and inspire them to incorporate their interests with learning. By the way, each episode seems to have a QR Code embedded somewhere that you can scan. It will lead you and your students to a digital comic book. Check it out but please make sure the topics are appropriate for the students you are teaching.
See You Real Soon,
Erin
