Museum of the American Revolution
Historical Analysis: Objects Tell Stories
Dig this! Young archeologists discover what objects teach us about the past. The activity uses an image of a Revolutionary War artifact to help historians practice analyzing the past. Scholars study the object and complete a worksheet to...
Museum of the American Revolution
Object Observation: Purpose on a Powder Horn?
Young archeologists discover the significance of ordinary objects from the past in an interesting lesson on artifact analysis. The activity focuses on examining the image of a powder horn from the Revolutionary War to understand what it...
Curated OER
Big Bones, Little Bones
Students investigate archeology. In this archeology lesson, students research the process of excavation. Students participate in a mock-excavation and sort objects by physical properties.
Curated OER
An Early American Culture
Students identify the locations of the Hopewell culture. In this map skills instructional activity, students use a globe to mark several locations of the Hopewell culture.
Curated OER
Name That Point!
Students compare projectile point attributes, identify and classify points, and match projectile points to a chronology.
Curated OER
Virtual Day in Archeology
Students use the internet to examine a day in the life of an archeologist. In groups, they discover what types of tools they use in the field along with the process of an archeological excavation. They complete a worksheet in which...
Curated OER
Petroglyphs and Pictographs
Fourth graders make necklaces out of petroglyphs that they stamp into clay. In this petroglyphs lesson plan, 4th graders draw designs and explain where they come from as well.
Curated OER
The Artifact Problem
Students work in small groups and make a map of a familiar room. In this artifact lesson, students decide on a suitable scale for their maps, the tools they will use and how they will make it and decide on strategies they would use to...
Curated OER
Passageways: Tales of Adventure for Young Explores
Students are led through a discovery experience to explore the motivations and accomplishments of the explorers of Canada. They travel back in time to meet the men and women who settled the country. The material is organized by the...
Curated OER
Celebrate Native American Cultures
Fourth graders use video, CD-ROMS, discussion, books and maps to further their understanding of the Wisconsin Native American's culture and contributions to American society.
Curated OER
Discovering Pi
Students investigate the math concept of Pi (specifically, what pi is, the significance and how it is used in the real world). This is a hands on lesson in which the students actively participate with their investigations.
The...
Curated OER
Archeology of the Future
Students are introduced to the basic vocabulary of archeology. Using the vocabulary, they classify artifacts and make inferences about their uses. In groups, they create a chart for the criteria needed to analyze artifacts and share...
Curated OER
Social Studies: Cooking Methods - Past and Present
Fourth graders identify geographic regions (Texas' Edwards Plateau) and sequence steps in the hot rock cooking process. They compare and contrast prehistoric and contemporary cooking methods. Students conduct online research and record...
Curated OER
Mapping the African American Past
Fourth graders explore the African Americans impact on New York. In this US History instructional activity, 4th graders examine an archaeological website. Students research the Five Points neighborhood.
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...
Smithsonian Institution
Ceramica de los Ancestros
Scholars join a field expedition team to unearth a plethora of treasures from Central America. Artifacts listed in alphabetical order come with an informational blurb and a picture designed for participants to color. Activity pages...
Curated OER
A Journey into Tutankhamen's Tomb
Take a journey through time and space, as your class examines the contents found in King Tut's tomb. An image-rich presentation depicting the interior of the tomb, Howard Carter's finds, and the mummy of the king himself. The last slide...
Curated OER
Sunken Slave Ship
Students investigate shipwrecks. In this marine archaeology lesson, students create the site of a shipwreck by using a tub filled with sand and items from a "ship". Students excavate the site and analyze the findings.
Curated OER
Excavate and Explore
Students simulate an archeological excavation to explain how archeologists identify, date, and make inferences about their findings. They explain the importance of spatial and stratigraphic contexts in archaeology.
Curated OER
Archaeological Soils
Students evaluate how archaeologists use soils to interpret sites and determine components of a soil sample.
Curated OER
Artifact Identification-What is it?
Students observe an artifact and make an inference about the artifact's purpose. They are going to role-play as archaeologists by using artifacts to hypothesize about the lives of past people.
Curated OER
Pottery-making Methods
Students become experimental archaeologists using three methods of pottery making before the invention of the pottery wheel.
Curated OER
School Sleuths Treasure Map
Learners are explained how a grid and compass work. They are also explained that archaeologists use grids as a record of the exact location of artifacts. Students define the term datum as a point of reference on grids from which all...
Curated OER
Detectives of the Past: Dr. Archaeology Travels Back in Time
Students watch a video and complete a webquest to gain a better understanding of the historical significance of the first known civilization, Mesopotamia.