Independent Research Presentations

ARCHAEOLOGY UNIT INDEPENDENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

The Eighth Grade Ancient History Scholars branched 

out and did research on any topic they found 

interesting.  They could choose anything from any 

time period, anywhere in the world, as long as they

could tie it to archaeology. They could follow their curiosity!

Each Eighth Grade Scholar became the expert on 

their research topic. They created visual aids to help

their “students” understand the information

presented, as they taught the class a lesson on their 

chosen topic.

The target skills for this project were:

Evaluating Web Sites 

Proper Documentation and Bibliography Format

Field Trip to WSU Anthropology Department!

We visited the Bio Lab, Archaeology Lab, Holmes Museum of Anthropology, and did a hands-on activity with actual artifacts in the WSU collection.  There was much hidden information in the hall displays which we discovered with our scavenger hunt. We appreciate all the time and expertise that the WSU Anthropology Department staff and students shared with our Eighth Grade scholars. (And don't we look smart in our ties!)

Archaeology Unit - Special Speakers

Wichita City Archaeologist - Emily Jones

Mr. Elmore's Kansas Presentation

Archaeology Unit - Phase II

Eighth Grade Ancient History Scholars Make Inferences about "Rescued" Artifacts!

After creating their own unique civilization and creating artifacts representing their culture's universals, the students received a box of "found" artifacts and after measuring, drawing, and cataloging each artifact, they gave their best interpretations of the culture which produced the artifacts.  There were many discussions about the evidence left behind, and some of the languages were very difficult to decipher.

You can visit the "Museum of Unique Treasures" in the Middle School Library next week to see the inferences they made.

Archaeology Unit

Creating a Civilization: 

(Group activities with individual components)

• Teams of students have 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 will make two artifacts which would best represent those aspects of their society. 
•  They will also create 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.

• Soon another team will try to interpret their artifacts, and make inferences about what was important to their culture.

Prehistory

Are you related to Otzi? 

Check out this link to find out!

PREHISTORY UNIT TEST - TUES. 10/6

- Highlight items on Criteria List that you need to review. Find the info in your book, notes, and worksheets. 

- Use the List of Study Materials to be sure you use all of your resources. 

- Use the Time Chart 

- Use 5 Characteristics of a Civilization chart

- Other good sources: Prehistory Notes and Large Print Prehistory, Vocabulary Definitions 

- Ask questions in class and come to tutorial for extra review or with anything you don't feel confident that you know well.