Teacher's Resources

Classroom Activities & Projects

Be an Archaeologist

Level: 12 to 13 years

Goals:

• Introduce students to closely examining artifacts to glean information
• Demonstrate the ability to accurately record findings

Description:
Create an 'archaeological dig' in four shallow boxes using sand and a variety of objects. Suggested objects include pottery shards, dried beans, corn, sunflower seeds, melon seeds, squash seeds, large mammal bones (representing deer), dried grasses (representing yucca), red and yellow chalk ('pigment'), pieces of hide, seed beads, silver buttons, American silver coins, etc.

Divide the class into four groups and ask students take turns 'digging' and recording their finds on Worksheet 1 - Be an Archeologist. Discuss the found objects as a class. What do they tell us about the people that used them? Are any of them trade items?