This project, geared toward older elementary school children, teaches
participants how to uncover meaning in material objects and place them in a
cultural context.
What young people will learn and do:
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gain understanding of archaeological practice by analyzing contents of a trash
bin
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examine memorabilia of a famous person and discuss what modern artifacts reveal
about a culture
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collect and display personal objects in an autobiographical exhibit
As a way of breaking ground on the elements and issues covered in this project, ask the young people what their possessions say about who they are. This group discussion then leads into a fun, hands-on activity in which participants sort through items in a garbage can as if it were an archaeological dig. Using these same methods, participants then analyze memorabilia of Latin music legend Celia Cruz and make inferences about her life. Playing her music for the group is a fun way to add another dimension to this learning experience. As they work, learners will gain an understanding of how artifacts reveal information about a subject. In the final activity, they each gather personal objects and create a mini-exhibition about their lives.
Asking young people to think about significant moments in their past honors
their experience and can be a powerful way for them to explore their identities.
This project, combining resources from various Thinkfinity content partners, promotes
self-reflection and culminates with an exhibitmaking it particularly suitable
for afterschool learning. The various activities also help participants develop
analytical skills, learn how to interpret data and gain new understanding of
history concepts.
Project Duration: About two weeks (assuming multiple sessions per week)
Materials needed:
Notebooks and pens
Trash bins, rubber gloves
Index cards for exhibit labels
Career fields highlighted:
Archaeology/anthropology
Museum education/exhibit development
Academic standards addressed:
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Benchmarks for Science Literacy, Benchmark 6A - #3: Artifacts and preserved
remains provide some evidence of the physical characteristics and possible
behavior of human beings who lived a very long time ago.
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National History Standards: Historical Thinking Standards, K-4: Standard 1: Chronological thinking and Stand:4: Historical research capabilities, and content standards, K-4: Topic One: Living and working together in families and communities, now and long ago - Standard 1: Family life now and in the recent past; family life in various places long ago.
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National Geography Standards, Standards 4 - The physical and human
characteristics of places, and 6 - How culture and experience influence
people's perceptions of places and regions