In our 6th grade social studies curriculum, we study ancient civilizations around the world. This is an opportunity for students to learn about their cultural roots, and to cultivate empathy for others. We learn about the various elements of culture, dive into how we study ancient history (with a close look at archaeology), and then tackle discovering and researching different civilizations around the world, applying what we've learned.
Sometimes in classrooms, students' various strengths are not tapped and they might feel reluctant to participate in the learning activity; these digs will bring a kinesthetic activity into my classroom that will help me position my more physically active students as "experts." Additionally, these digs will give students an opportunity to practice team-work and collaboration--they will need to rely on the strengths of one another in order to make and log their discoveries.
Each storage bin with be filled with soil and become a "dig site" for each of my student groups. As we study different civilizations around the world, students will have a chance to use the techniques of real archaeologists to sift through the bins and "discover" buried artifacts pertinent that that ancient civilization. Each archaeological team will use their trowel and dustpan to gently scrape down the soil, and their brushes to delicately wipe away remaining soil in the artifacts. Students, then, work together to make an accurate drawing of the artifact and create a hypothesis about how the artifact was used.
An added bonus--all of the requested supplies are reusable. These supplies will benefit every sixth grader at my school, as I will be able to share these resources will my colleagues, and we will be able to use them year after year with our incoming students.
About my class
In our 6th grade social studies curriculum, we study ancient civilizations around the world. This is an opportunity for students to learn about their cultural roots, and to cultivate empathy for others. We learn about the various elements of culture, dive into how we study ancient history (with a close look at archaeology), and then tackle discovering and researching different civilizations around the world, applying what we've learned.
Sometimes in classrooms, students' various strengths are not tapped and they might feel reluctant to participate in the learning activity; these digs will bring a kinesthetic activity into my classroom that will help me position my more physically active students as "experts." Additionally, these digs will give students an opportunity to practice team-work and collaboration--they will need to rely on the strengths of one another in order to make and log their discoveries.
Each storage bin with be filled with soil and become a "dig site" for each of my student groups. As we study different civilizations around the world, students will have a chance to use the techniques of real archaeologists to sift through the bins and "discover" buried artifacts pertinent that that ancient civilization. Each archaeological team will use their trowel and dustpan to gently scrape down the soil, and their brushes to delicately wipe away remaining soil in the artifacts. Students, then, work together to make an accurate drawing of the artifact and create a hypothesis about how the artifact was used.
An added bonus--all of the requested supplies are reusable. These supplies will benefit every sixth grader at my school, as I will be able to share these resources will my colleagues, and we will be able to use them year after year with our incoming students.
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