As a science, archaeology focuses on understanding the many ways people of the past lived. This requires archaeologists to not only be trained in social science, but also use techniques from other fields like the life and physical sciences, earth and environmental sciences, mathematics, and the humanities. Archaeologists use these techniques from other fields, as well as those developed within the field, to more thoroughly interpret and understand the information we record when conducting archaeological investigations. The activities and lessons below are designed to help students connect with how people in the past lived and understand how scientists study people who lived hundreds and even thousands of years ago.
Putting it in Perspective
Teaching the Concept of the Past [PDF 292 KB]
Grades 4-8
This series of activities provides an introduction to, and helps students to develop, a concept of the past.
Introducing Archaeology
The Draw-an-Archaeologist Test [PDF 836 KB]
Grades K-6
This activity, which helps to elicit student misconceptions about archaeology, can be used as a pre-unit activity as well as a concluding activity for an archaeology unit. Developed by Susan Dixon-Renoe.
Archaeological Site Formation [PDF 682 KB]
Grades 5-12
Students explore the process of site formation over
time using a rock shelter example
Historical Research Methods
Picture This: Using Photographs to Study the Past [PDF 292 KB]
Grades 7-8
Students discuss life in the past by
interviewing an elder relative, friend, or neighbor and demonstrate the value of photos as primary sources
Written Clues about the Past [PDF 239 KB]
Grade 3-5
Students use primary written sources like an 1845 diary
entry to analyze sites and identify artifacts and ecofacts.
In the Field
Archaeology from Above [PDF 188 KB]
Grades 6-8
Students learn to identify symbols and features on a topographic
map.
Gridding an Archaeological Site [PDF 405 KB]
Grade 5
Students develop a site grid using a Cartesian coordinate
system like an archaeologist would do to map locations of artifacts.
How Old Is It?
An Exercise in Seriation Dating [PDF 123 KB]
Grades 9-12
Students develop a chronology of occupation for seven Maryland sites by charting changes in historical ceramic decoration overtime. Provided courtesy of George Brauer, Baltimore County Public Schools.
Analyzing and Interpreting
What do you see? [PDF 344 KB]
Grades 3-6
Students demonstrate differences between observations, inferences,
and opinions while analyzing a painting.
Tools and Utensils: How is This Used? [PDF 136 KB]
Grades 5-8
Students observe the form and shapes of tools from
the past and make hypotheses about tool functions based on contemporary examples.
Tell an Artifact's Story [PDF 219 KB]
Grades 6-8
Students examine and describe objects, writing a creative story
from their observations.
Activity Packets
2023 Discover Archaeology Activity Booklet [PDF 3.2 MB]
Grades K+
Activities using coloring, zooarchaeology,
comic books, and word searches. Some activities can be done digitally, while others may need to be printed. You can currently earn an embroidered patch (pictured right) by completing at least one activity from the booklet.
2022 Discover Archaeology Activity Booklet [PDF 6.4 MB]
Grades K+
Activities using coloring, spot-the-difference,
comic books, and 3D models of artifacts. Some activities can be done digitally, while others may need to be printed. Created for SAA's 2022 Public Archaeology Day.
2021 Discover Archaeology Activity Booklet [PDF 6.5 MB]
Grades K-6
Activities using archaeological knowledge,
word searches, connect-the-dots, and 3D models of artifacts. Some activities can be done digitally, while others may need to be printed. Created for SAA's 2021 Online Archaeology Week.
ArchaeologyLand! [PDF 3.1 MB]
Grades K+
This set of hands-on, archaeology and cultural history-based
activities from a CD produced in 2005 is designed for archaeologists to use with the public at archaeology fairs and other non-formal classroom events.
History Beneath the Sea: Nautical Archaeology in the Classroom [PDF 27.0 MB]
Grades 9-12
History Beneath
the Sea is the first "Teaching with Archaeology" education module prepared by SAA’s Public Education Committee in 2001.
Teaching Archaeology Sampler [PDF 746 KB]
Grades 3-12
This sampler was produced by SAA’s Public Education Committee in 1995 to introduce archaeology in the classroom.