Smarter Balanced
Archaeological Discoveries
Artifacts, inscriptions, and monuments. Here's an activity designed to ensure that all learners are familiar with the key terms and concepts they will need to begin a study of archaeological discoveries.
Curated OER
Layer Cake Archaeology
Excavating cake? Why not! Kids spoon into some layers and artifacts during this tasty hands-on activity. The cake, a simulated archaeological dig, is the object of observation and discussion.
Curated OER
Transparent Shoebox Dig
Take this simulated archaeological dig one layer at a time with your young pupils to encourage observation, critical thinking, and careful attention. Using a transparent box full of layers of sand and artifacts, pupils examine the...
American Museum of Natural History
What's the Big Idea About Archeology
The American Museum of Natural History offers a website sure to engage young anthropologists. Learners can dig into a site that offers an explanation of the field of archaeology, the kinds of questions archaeologists ask that launch...
EngageNY
Systems of Equations Leading to Pythagorean Triples
Find Pythagorean Triples like the ancient Babylonians. The resource presents the concept of Pythagorean Triples. It provides the system of equations the Babylonians used to calculate Pythagorean Triples more than 4,000 years ago. Pupils...
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
King of Prussia Inn: Exploring Historic Places
Learners of any age examine the significance of historic sites, how we understand those sites, and what they mean in terms of history and the culture of the past. They look at maps, artifacts, and data taken from archaeological sites to...
Curated OER
Artifact Ethics
Fourth graders examine their own values and beliefs about archaeological site protection and evaluate possible actions they might take regarding site and artifact protection.
Channel Islands Film
Cache: Lesson Plan 3 - Grades 4-5
Should the excavation of what is believed to be the cave of the Lone Woman of San Nicholas Island be allowed to continue? As a practice exercise designed to prepare pupils for a timed writing exam, individuals read two Los Angeles Times...
Channel Islands Film
Cache: Lesson Plan 2 - Grades 4-6
Class members will dig this activity that has them trying their hand at recovering artifacts. Groups are assigned a section of a sandbox, carefully uncover the artifacts in their section, and then develop theories about who might have...
Curated OER
It's in the Garbage
Pupils analyze how studying garbage relates to methods of archaeology. They examine garbage to determine things about their culture and relate that to prehistoric peoples.
Curated OER
Science NetLinks: Collapse 2: Interpreting the Evidence
Students continue to explore the factors that contribute to the collapse of a society; they also explore how archaeological evidence is gathered and interpreted. Students explore about the social changes that caused the collapse of...
Curated OER
World History: Why Civilizations Fall
Students examine factors leading to the demise of ancient civilizations. They list causes that led to the downfall of these societies. Students conduct Internet research and participate in online archaeological investigations.
Curated OER
Layers of Time in the Earth
Learners are introduced to the concept of stratification as a historical and geological process. Students will read about the Richard Beene archaeological site, which lies near San Antonio, Texas on the Medina River, and watch a short...
Curated OER
Chinese Games
Pupils investigate the concepts related to the development of Chinese Games. They work with the teacher to point out important events in history that are related to their development and the influence of games upon the Chinese culture.
Curated OER
"how To Think Like an Archaeologist" Suggested Pre-visit Activity for Historic Jamestowne
Students study grocery receipts to simulate the archaeological activity of classifying items. They discuss the receipts as if they were find lists.
Curated OER
What Lies Beneath
Students conduct Internet research on the history and archaeological excavations at historical Jamestown. They explore various websites, and develop a Powerpoint presentation to present to the class.
Curated OER
Archaeology Quiz
In this archaeology quiz worksheet, students complete 4 multiple choice questions about general archaeology concepts. An answer link is included.
Curated OER
Saving the Past for the Future
Students review web images to identify human impact on nature and site destruction.
Curated OER
Interpreting the Evidence
Students find out about the social changes that caused the collapse of important ancient civilizations in Central America, Mesopotamia, the southwestern United States, and western Africa.
Curated OER
Shoe Box Archaeology
Students assemble a shoe box following a layered pattern alternating between soil and artifacts. The layers of artifacts begin with the grandparents and end with the student's own personal possessions.
Curated OER
Shoe Box Archaeology
Young scholars make a box layered with information about grandparents, parents, and themselves. They dig up each other boxes and try to decipher the personality or lifestyle of the person whose box it is.
Curated OER
Look At Those Leaves!
Students collect, observe, sort, and measure leaves. For this leaf lesson, students take a walk to collect leaves. They bring the leaves back into the classroom to observe, sort, and measure them. They visit a website to learn more about...
Curated OER
The Social Contract
In this online interactive history worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about The Social Contract by Rosseau. Students may check some of their answers on the interactive worksheet.
Curated OER
Methods of Collecting Information
Third graders examine a bag or box of soil containing items that they dig for. Their task is to become detectives to make conclusions about the area from which the items came as real archaeologists do.