If only a mask could talk! Using the interactive tool along with historical thinking skills, pupils uncover the meaning behind the various materials the resource presents. History becomes more relevant as the artifacts tell their stories...

Your historical sleuths will work to research the in-depth history of chosen artifacts and will use their research to design a fictional advertisement for an early 20th century item.

Students observe an artifact and make an inference about the artifact's purpose. They are going to role-play as archaeologists by using artifacts to hypothesize about the lives of past people.

Do modern citizens interpret the Fourteenth Amendment the way it was intended? Scholars study the Slaughterhouse Cases to see how judges interpreted the amendment in the 1800s. Following the reading on the subject, they answer...

Can history distort the true story behind famous people? Scholars analyze the many faces of the Native American Pocahontas. Incorporating technology and historical thinking skills, they uncover the many different sides to the Pocahontas...

Students investigate child labor during the Great Depression. In this US policy lesson, students evaluate multiple layers of the social, economic, and political affects of policy during the Great Depression. Students will engage in 5...

What would future archeologists learn from your scholars' personal belongings? Have them bring in a box of "primary sources" from their home. Discuss the difference between observations and inference, using some of your own items to...

Why did Vietnam POWs and their families receive more media attention than POWs in previous wars?  To answer this question, class members view artifacts, read articles, and engage in class discussion. Individuals then assume the...

Students simulate archaeologists as they dig through a bag with found items in order to arrive at conclusions about the people they are studying.

Students review the structure of government in Mexico and discuss how it is different than the United States. Using artifacts, they must label and identify the city or state in which the artifact originated. They use the artifact clues...

Learners of any age examine the significance of historic sites, how we understand those sites, and what they mean in terms of history and the culture of the past. They look at maps, artifacts, and data taken from archaeological sites to...

A unit on the 49th state covers a variety of topics from the geography of Alaska to Native American myths.  Academics work to analyze information found in primary source materials including old newspaper articles and artifacts....

Learners excavate an artifact. In this archaeology lesson plan, students get a bucket filled with dirt and a broken up artifact. They work in groups to take it out and to find what its purpose was. 

Learners recognize that artifacts are destroyed over time.  In this environmental factors on artifacts activity, students experiment and observe through the microscope to find the environmental impact on artifacts.  Learners...

Learners view a video clip about a sultan's lost treasure. They examine artifacts and determine their characteristics. They complete a worksheet to end the lesson.

Students take a virtual tour of the Capitol Visitors Center in Austin, Texas. In groups, they receive a list of the artifacts and symbols they are to look for during their exploration of the building. To end the lesson plan, they make...

Tenth graders begin the lesson plan by plotting trade routes, major empires and items traded. Using primary sources, they examine their own values regarding trading items for royality. They participate in a role-play exercise in which...

Seventh graders define metacognition, Bloom's Taxonomy, and artifacts. They, in groups, try to identify a mystery artifact using the Artifact Analysis sheet. They present their findings to the class.

Young scholars examine different artifacts and determine the difference between personal and cultural objects. They collect items from their home of cultural importance as well. They identify all they can from artifacts they are given to...

Students read about the life and work of John and Mary Jones. Using primary source documents, they draw conclusions about their role in the abolistionist movement. They also examine artifacts from their lives and analyze their portrait...

How does marching get a point across to the government? Teach pupils about civics, human rights, and freedom of speech using the resource about the March on Washington. After reading, learners complete multiple-choice and short-answer...

Fourth graders, while visiting a colonial farm, are shown artifacts and participate in a craft lesson. They write about the experience at a later date.

Seventh graders visit the Smithsonian and are shown different exhibits. They are to make their own drawing about one of the exhibits and write about the experience.

Learners examine the use of bronze and porcelain in Chinese art and commerce through in-class activities, role play events, and small-group discussions in this exciting Social Studies/Arts lesson.