Projects and Assignments
Week 6 - Oct. 15-19
This week we'll be wrapping up our archaeological dig. Because each class is at a different point in the dig process, each class will be following a slightly different schedule this week.
Monday, October 15 - Period 1 will finish photographing and labeling artifacts, and begin constructing a display to share their discoveries. Period 2 will also finish record-keeping and construct their display. Periods 3 and 4 will finish their excavations.
Tuesday, October 16 - Period 1 will play a game of Hominid Jeopardy to review the traits of the different hominid groups. Period 2 will finish their display and make a hominid timeline for the classroom. Periods 3 and 4 will photograph and label their artifacts.
Wednesday, October 17 - DIG DIARY DUE! Your dig diary should include entries for each day of excavation, as well as an entry describing how your group photographed and labeled your artifacts. Periods 1 and 2 will work on a cartoon activity. Periods 3 and 4 will construct displays for their artifacts.
Thursday, October 18 - All classes will be introduced to the assessment activity for this unit.
Friday, October 19 - You will have time to work on the assessment activity.
Week 5 - Oct. 9-12
The dig continues this week. Check our blog for updates and photographs of our discoveries! The "Dig Diary" assignment continues each day we are out in the field. Scroll down if you need to refresh your memory about the assignment.
Tuesday, October 9 - The dig continues; work on your "Dig Diary."
Wednesday, October 10 - The dig continues; work on your "Dig Diary."
Thursday, October 11 - Depending on our progress, we may continue our excavation. Check later in the week for updates.
Friday, October 12 - Depending on our progress, we may continue our excavation. Check later in the week for updates.
Week 4 - Oct. 1-5
Yes, the time has come to don our Indiana Jones hats and get out in the field! This week, we'll be excavating an "archaeological site" on campus, in search of signs of early hominids! We will take turns carefully unearthing our finds, gridding their locations, photographing them, and analyzing their composition and significance. We will keep an "Excavation Blog" where we will upload photographs and descriptions of our finds, as well as accounts of our progress.
Monday, Oct. 1 - John Wilczak will speak to us about his experience as a student of archaeology.
Homework: None
Tuesday, Oct. 2 - With the help of Donna's Geometry students, we will grid our sites and begin excavation.
Ongoing homework, due sometime next week: Keep a personal "Dig Diary" in which your record the events of each day in the field. You can write about the physical experience of excavating, the finds of the day, questions you have about archaeology, hypotheses you have about which hominid's traces you are excavating, funny anecdotes, just about anything related to the dig! You should fill 1/2 page typed, 12 pt font, double spaced, for each day's entry. This assignment will continue each day that we dig, and be turned in when our excavation is complete.
Wednesday, October 3 - Excavation will continue. Work on your "Dig Diary."
Thursday, October 4 - Field Trip!
Friday, October 5 - Excavation continues. Work on your "Dig Diary."
Extra credit assignment: Everyone should visit the DMS Big Dig Blog. Here our dig photographers will be posting photos of our progress, and I will post general updates. I will give one point of extra credit if you post an entry of your Dig Diary to the blog. If you post more than one, you will get one extra credit point for every entry. The format must be as follows:
Go to blogger.com Log in: dmshistory Password: carpediem
Give your post a title, and list your first name, last initial, and period #at the end of the title.
Feel free to post photos.
This blog is not publicly listed, so only those who know the address will access it!
This week we will be burying our artifacts and gathering the materials we will need to conduct our dig. We will learn about the organizational and technical tools used by archaeologists, and gather together all the materials we will need in the field. We'll also learn about the nature of fossils, as well as different techniques that archaeologists use to date objects.
Encyclopedia of Archaeology Assignment. Due Tuesday, Sept. 25. Fill out this handout for the word that has been assigned to you. Use: Encyclopedia Brittanica and this Archaeology Glossary.
Reading Assignment: Due Monday, Oct. 1. Read and take notes. From Hunters and Gatherers to Farmers from History Alive!SSSHHH! Your lips should be sealed, because this week you'll be given a secret mission. After reading about different groups of early hominids, you and your class will be assigned a group, (such as Australopithecenes or Neanderthals) to study in depth. Then, in secret, you will each make a replica of an artifact that might have been left behind by your assigned group. Your artifact might be a tool, a footprint, a bone, a piece of art...it all depends on the traits and skills of your assigned group. This week will be divided between reading, group discussion, and craftmaking time.
Why is your mission a secret, you may ask? Because your artifacts will later be buried somewere on campus, and another class will be assigned to excavate your artifacts and draw their own conclusions about which hominid group "left" the artifacts!