Dig Day! Terracotta Warrior Excavations

Asmat Images

WSU Field Trip - Anthropology Museum, Bio Lab, Archaeology Lab

Independent Research Projects

Artifact Analysis and Translation

After rescuing the "dug" artifacts from a different archaeology team, the students analyzed each artifact and translated the new civilization's language.  They then created a "Museum of Unique Treasures" in the MS Library, making information cards for each artifact to explain its use and importance to the culture.

Eighth Grade Ancient History Scholars Juggle THREE Assignments the Next Two Weeks!

8th Graders will be working on three different tasks:

      1) Independent Research Project and Presentation: (must tie to archaeology; no written report required, bibliography of sources is required, must teach lesson to class and produce a visual project)

       2) Archaeology Summary Paragraphs: (see list of topics which must be included, the different sections will be assigned after the activities they describe; must be a working document in One Note so that I can check your progress as sections are assigned; when finished, you will turn in a printed final copy after all paragraphs are written; no bibliography)

     3) Team Report of Found Artifacts: (will be done together with your team, during class time; see form for topics you must cover; you will evaluate the artifacts of the civilization you "dug up," and write your inferences about their culture; your team will turn in one printed final copy; no bibliography)

Upcoming Events in Ancient History Class:
10/10 - The "Dig!"
10/11 - Come visit the Museum of Unique Treasures in the MS Library
10/12 - Special Presentation - Kansas Archaeology by Steve Elmore
10/15 - Write Team Report and use research materials
10/16 - Special Presentation - Wichita City Archaeologist Dave Moors
10/19 - Field Trip to WSU Anthropology Department - Museum, Archaeology Lab, and Bio Lab
TBA  - Surprise Excavation! 

The Eighth Grade Ancient History scholars are beginning their first research project this week.  Each student will choose a topic relating in some way to archaeology.  It can be from any point in history, and relate to any place in the world.  This is their chance to investigate something they find personally interesting.  The students will research and become an expert on this topic.  Then they will teach a lesson to the class presenting their research.  They must each create a visual project to help get their information across to their "students."  The research components emphasized during this project are evaluating web sources and proper bibliography formatting and documentation.  Please ask an eighth grader to show you their Independent Research Project Forms for more information.

ARCHAEOLOGY

ARCHAEOLOGY UNIT

(Group activities with individual components)

Creating a Civilization:

Teams of students studied cultural universals which represent a society, such as government, economics, attitude toward the unknown, ethics and values.  They then did "backward" archaeology by creating a civilization in the past, present, or future, and deciding which cultural universals were the most important to that society. Each team member made artifacts which would best represent those aspects of their society.  They also created a written language, leaving behind a "Rosetta Stone" with their culture's language, English, and Latin (for extra credit!) on it, and artifacts with only their language on them.