What would you save? To launch an examination of how the people of Afghanistan protected precious works of art from Soviet and Taliban invaders, participants consider what they would save if invasion was threatened. They then view a...

BCE and CE? Class members create a timeline of key events in the history of Afghanistan before and after the Christian Era using the provided list. They then add their own birth dates and events in American history as well.

Explore the inventions of the past with a project on ancient tools. After reading an article about hunting during the Archaic period, the Late Prehistoric period, and the Historic period, kids fill in a cause-and-effect chart about the...

Let's go an an archaeological dig! Prepare your kids with a list of vocabulary terms relating to archaeology, including different types of items that one might find. They study pictures of each item and play a memory game based on the...

The discovery of the remains of King Richard III in early 2013 sparked media attention all over the world. Take a walk through the archaeological site itself and learn about the process behind the excavation, from how the dig site was...

How have linguists and archaeologists been able to decode the Mayan written language? We find that the Mayan numeric system was the first clue into Mayan language. Part three in this four-part series also touches upon Mayan astronomy and...

Part four concludes this wonderful series on the scientific, linguistic, and archaeological evidence used throughout world history to uncover the mysteries of the Mayan people. In this episode we find the tomb of a king and his remains....

Using dramatic reenactment, archaeological evidence, and primary source documents as a foundation for historic story telling, this clip describes a battle between Russia and Napoleon the Conqueror. Use this six-minute video to show how...

Dig in! Middle schoolers learn about archaeology by exploring the remnants of the Chiribaya bodies found in Illinois. Compare archaeological investigations, and then write a mystery detailing the discovery of a body! Consider bringing in...

Let's go on an archaeological dig! Here is a lesson that allows your young scientists to do just that! You fill up an empty water table or tray with sand, and bury miscellaneous objects. Pupils use spoons, sifters, and brushes to find...

Look far back in history and you'll meet a people group called the Celts. Celts, as you'll soon find out, are a group of people who inhabited Britain 2000 years ago. Presented here, is simple information which describes a bit about...

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...

Students identify relationships between geography or climate and locations of prehistoric sites. They describe the resourcefulness of prehistoric cultures who had to depend upon raw materials in their environment to survive.

Students develop an ability to assemble clues and decipher various indicators concerning one person's life and family background. They develop and understanding of the way in which present day archaeologists dig for the unlocking of our...

If you are staging an archaeology or paleontology simulation, here is a checklist that you can post for your diggers. It lists reminders for how to prepare for the dig, as well as reminders for wrapping up. 

Students assemble a shoe box following a layered pattern alternating between soil and artifacts. The layers of artifacts begin with the grandparents and end with the student's own personal possessions.

High schoolers investigate the models for the origin of modern humans and the conditions that facilitate speciation and evolution. The classification and nomenclature of hominid species is also examined.

Learners map their playground as if it were an archeological site. They locate objects on the playground and determine their location using coordinate points. A related lesson is Coordinate Grid: Mapping an Archeological Site.

Archaeologists, historians, and scientists all work together to create a timeline of our past. Engages learners in a series of activities that all filter through the NOVA video, "Mysteries of the First Americans." Each activity is...

Take a peek into the very interesting world of Ancient India. These slides provide insight into the geography, climate, social structure, architecture, and trade skills of Ancient Indus Valley dwellers. An archaeological view is taken,...

Students discuss an archaeological dilemma. They write a paragraph about possible solutions to the problem.

In this fossil worksheet, students ready about fossil types, answer nine true or false, identify 6 fossils from photos, and answer seven questions about fossils, with answers and teacher notes included.

Junior oceanographers access the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Shipwreck Database and plot the locations of several shipwrecks. Shipwrecks are always an enthralling subject and this activity allows your learners to act as...

Sixth graders examine the differences between archeology and paleontology. Using the internet, they explore the tools and techniques used in each field. They must use the correct tools to uncover and record the objects they find. They...