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American Museum of Natural History

What is Anthropology

For Students 6th - 12th
A colorful resource introduces learners to the four major fields of anthropology: cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, biological anthropology, and archaeology. Explanations are provided for what each field studies, the kinds...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Artifacts 2: Artifacts in Context

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars will explore an archaeological mystery that demonstrates the importance of context in learning from artifacts. Factors such as the artifact's location, its proximity to other artifacts, and the number of similar artifacts...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Archaeology Volunteers

For Students 4th - 5th
In this archaeology worksheet, students read about 4 tasks involving archaeologists. Students also answer 3 questions about the reading.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Layers of The Past

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders identify methods archaeologists use to date soil layers. They interpret soil profiles and discuss the examination of soil at a dig site. They discuss texture and color of soil.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in the Soil?

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders create stratified soil levels using pictures. In this earth science lesson, 2nd graders identify "artifacts" from 3 historic eras and divide them into 3 soil levels. Then they draw their own multi-level soil profile and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking At An Object

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students observe the attributes of an object, infer their uses, and discover how archaeologists use objects to explore the past.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archeology of the Future

For Teachers 4th - 5th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Anasazi

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate and determine the origins of the ancient Anasazi who inhabited present-day Utah and the Four-Corners-Region, after receiving direct instruction and carrying out activities in cooperative group settings. They...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Ancient Babylon

For Students 6th - 7th
Authenticate an ancient civilizations study by having historians analyze primary source artifacts. After examining an image of a Babylonian king votive statue, pupils read a short background context. They then answer 3 questions based on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transparent Shoebox Dig

For Teachers K - 4th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

"How to Think Like an Archaeologist" - Suggested Pre-Visit Activity For Historic Jamestown

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine how archaeologists use artifacts to explore other people and their cultures. They discuss types of artifacts, analyze receipts for clues, and discuss how what the items bought reflect about people.
Lesson Plan
Society for Science & the Public

Easter Islanders Made Tools, Not War

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
When studying artifacts, especially tools, how do archaeologists determine what the devices were used for? In what ways might researchers' previous experiences influence their perception of an artifact? An article about researchers'...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archaeology 2500: Texano Weapons

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students listen to oral story describing mystery artifact, work in groups to write descriptive report of artifact, and creatively form hypothesis based purely on misinterpretation. Students then explore and discuss difficulty of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How to "Read" an Artifact

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss the types of information they can get from artifacts. In groups, they practice "reading" artifacts and determining their usage. They use inferences to test against official information about certain pieces. They also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reconstructing Artifacts

For Teachers K - 12th
Students investigate artifacts and reconstruct them. In this artifact lesson, students research archaeologists and Native American groups. Students plan a design for a clay pot which represent the Native American artifact.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Can Be An Archaeologist Book Share

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students read and discuss the book, I Can Be An Archaeologist by Robert B. Pickering, and become archaeologists, themselves, as they examine, sort, and record items in a paper bag and trash from their classroom, as well as 2 others.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relative Dating in Archaeology

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students create a timeline that explains how ancient cultures used artifacts. For this Relative Dating in Archaeology lesson, students examine artifacts and draw conclusions about their origins. Then students analyze antiquated objects...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archaeology and Prehistoric Native Americans

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the terms paleontology and archaeology and examine how they can help us learn about prehistoric Native Iowans.  In this archaeology lesson students discuss these terms and view a video on Native Americans. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson plan: Archaeology - Its Methods and Use

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the field of archeology. In this archeology lesson, students participate in 12 activities that require them to examine archeology, garbology, artifacts, ethical issues, and field specific vocabulary.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Archaeology

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars view a PowerPoint presentation called, Archaeological Terms then discuss the job of an archaeologist and new vocabulary. They view the teacher made "artifact grid" and photograph the grid from different angles. They work...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Utah Archaeology

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students study past cultures of those who made areas of Utah their home by exploring the artifacts these cultures left behind. Students will explore different types of fossils and learn that fossils are evidences of past life.
Interactive
Curated OER

Archaeology For Kids Quiz 101

For Students 4th - 6th
In this archaeology for kids quiz 101 worksheet, students interactively answer 12 multiple choice questions as part of an online magazine, then click to check their answers.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Archaeology Underwater

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders study underwater archaeology.  In this history activity, 11th graders read an article on archaeology.  Students complete a reading comprehension worksheet on archaeology underwater.   
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Design Archaeology

For Teachers K - 12th
Students participate in their own excavation and measure and record as they go. In this archaeology lesson students divide into groups and solve the mystery of what they uncovered in their dig box.