We Can Dig It: Archaeology
Archaeology Website: Archaeology for Kids
Games & Activities
“We Can Dig It.”
This unit is interdisciplinary in nature and uses advanced-level reading and writing instruction to recognize and describe basic concepts and principles related to the study of archaeology.
The group will meet on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and will be pulled out of the language arts/social studies block. Students will need a folder and should bring it to each session. This folder will be sent home at the conclusion of the unit. There may be some homework during the unit and a final project that will require outside research.
You can help your child make the most of this learning experience by encouraging regular discussion about the unit activities. Students will be evaluated on the classroom assignments, homework, and the final project. We will be sharing the unit projects at the Enrichment Fair in the spring on .
If you have questions about the unit, please contact me at [email protected]
See you at the Fair!
The Project for this unit is below. Please feel free to email me at belinda_miller@hcpss.org with any questions.
Layers of a Life
Stratigraphy Project
Archaeology Curriculum Extension Unit
Due: Friday, May 8th
Students in the Archaeology C.E.U. have studied the concept of stratigraphy, which is the analysis of the order and position of layers of buried artifacts. We examined a (clean!) trashcan, carefully pulling out the contents so that we could analyze each item and the relevance of its layer. We came to the conclusion that items from further in the past are buried deeper in the earth (or in a trashcan), while those more recent are found closer to the top. Knowing this, archaeologists can make sense of a lifestyle or society of long ago.
So, whether it is trash in a trash pit or artifacts buried in the ground, the items in the ordered layers can tell a chronological story about someone or a time in history.
Your child will complete an at-home project based upon these concepts to show the history (or change) of a person over chronologically ordered time.
Steps to Follow for the Project:
1. Your child will choose either him/herself, a relative (parent, grandparent, etc.), or a famous figure. This person's life is what the project will be based upon, so it will involve some research.
2. Once a person is selected, your child should research important events over the course of his/life.
3. Choose "artifacts" based upon different times of the chosen person's life that would represent him/her over time. (An artifact from very early in life will be quite different from one later on.)
4. Decide how you will showcase the artifacts in chronological layers. In class we have discussed using boxes, plastic storage containers, or anything else that could create layers for the artifacts. We also discussed using a container for the layers and artifacts so that someone could see a cross-section of the layers. Some ideas were to use a clear large pretzel tub, a box with a side cut out and replaced with plastic wrap, or a 2-liter bottle. Be creative!
5. Place the artifacts that your child gathers or makes in your chosen container chronologically so that the deepest layer has the earliest artifact and so on.
6. A typed explanation should be comprised of a list of the artifacts in chronological order and what each artifact can tell us about the featured person. (For instance, an old high top shoelace may represent a time the person played a lot of basketball in his or her life, winning the state championship in college.)
7. Your child should be prepared to share his/her work in class. It will then be displayed at the Hammond Enrichment Fair on May 27th.
Please contact me if any questions or concerns arise during the project. Have fun with this; the kids are quite excited about getting started!
Thank you,
Mrs. Miller
[email protected]
examples_of_stratigraphy_projects.docx
Layers of a Life
Stratigraphy Project
Archaeology Curriculum Extension Unit
Due: Friday, May 8th
Students in the Archaeology C.E.U. have studied the concept of stratigraphy, which is the analysis of the order and position of layers of buried artifacts. We examined a (clean!) trashcan, carefully pulling out the contents so that we could analyze each item and the relevance of its layer. We came to the conclusion that items from further in the past are buried deeper in the earth (or in a trashcan), while those more recent are found closer to the top. Knowing this, archaeologists can make sense of a lifestyle or society of long ago.
So, whether it is trash in a trash pit or artifacts buried in the ground, the items in the ordered layers can tell a chronological story about someone or a time in history.
Your child will complete an at-home project based upon these concepts to show the history (or change) of a person over chronologically ordered time.
Steps to Follow for the Project:
1. Your child will choose either him/herself, a relative (parent, grandparent, etc.), or a famous figure. This person's life is what the project will be based upon, so it will involve some research.
2. Once a person is selected, your child should research important events over the course of his/life.
3. Choose "artifacts" based upon different times of the chosen person's life that would represent him/her over time. (An artifact from very early in life will be quite different from one later on.)
4. Decide how you will showcase the artifacts in chronological layers. In class we have discussed using boxes, plastic storage containers, or anything else that could create layers for the artifacts. We also discussed using a container for the layers and artifacts so that someone could see a cross-section of the layers. Some ideas were to use a clear large pretzel tub, a box with a side cut out and replaced with plastic wrap, or a 2-liter bottle. Be creative!
5. Place the artifacts that your child gathers or makes in your chosen container chronologically so that the deepest layer has the earliest artifact and so on.
6. A typed explanation should be comprised of a list of the artifacts in chronological order and what each artifact can tell us about the featured person. (For instance, an old high top shoelace may represent a time the person played a lot of basketball in his or her life, winning the state championship in college.)
7. Your child should be prepared to share his/her work in class. It will then be displayed at the Hammond Enrichment Fair on May 27th.
Please contact me if any questions or concerns arise during the project. Have fun with this; the kids are quite excited about getting started!
Thank you,
Mrs. Miller
[email protected]
examples_of_stratigraphy_projects.docx