Lesson
Grades
- 4
- 6
- 8
Students learn about the atlatl, a prehistoric throwing tool that uses leverage, then build and test replicas to measure the increase in throwing distance compared to throwing by hand. They discuss...
Archaeology
Resources on archaeology on Knowitall.org.
October is SC Archaeology Month.
Resources on archaeology on Knowitall.org.
October is SC Archaeology Month. Facebook: Archaeological Society of South Carolina
Lesson
Grades
- 3
- 6
Students learn about mollusks, their characteristics and habitats, and how their shells provide clues to the diet of ancient hunter-gatherers who lived on the South Carolina coast thousands of years...
Lesson
Grades
- 3
- 6
Students brainstorm examples of artifacts archaeologists might find in prehistoric South Carolina and then analyze photos of real artifacts to understand how archaeologists use them to learn about...
Lesson
Grades
- 3
- 5
- 6
- 8
Students build model beaches and use waves to simulate coastal erosion, observing how it disturbs and destroys archaeological sites. They then explore engineering solutions to reduce erosion and...
Lesson
Grades
- 4
- 6
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Students design a mock archaeological site and simulate a survey using punch holes to represent shovel test pits. They then discuss the limitations of this method and explore how geophysics offers a...
Lesson
Grades
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Students explore the concept of radioactive decay and half-life through a penny-flipping activity, then learn how this principle is used in radiocarbon dating to estimate the age of ancient organic...
Lesson
Grades
- 8
Students build a miniature landscape in a sandbox and use tools to measure elevations at various points. By converting these measurements and coloring a graph, they create a 2D elevation model similar...
Lesson
Grades
- 6
- 7
Students become archaeologists for a day, creating scaled drawings of a mock excavation unit to document its features and artifacts. Through this activity, they explore the importance of accurate...
Lesson
Grades
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
Students delve into Fort Lamar's history and the Civil War through a documentary. Analyzing photographs and recreating a soldier's belongings, they explore how artifacts offer unique insights into the...
Lesson
Grades
- 8
This lesson delves into the story of Robert Smalls, a pivotal figure in the Civil War, and explores the changing role of African Americans during the conflict. Students will analyze Smalls' actions...
Lesson
Grades
- 8
This lesson explores Fort Lamar and the Civil War's early years, then analyzes soldier letters from the Battle of Secessionville to highlight the value of primary documents in understanding personal...
Lesson
Grades
- 8
Leveraging a KWL chart, this lesson activates students' prior knowledge of Civil War medicine before delving into the history of Fort Lamar. Through analysis of primary and fictional sources, students...
Lesson
Grades
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
This lesson will explore the Civil War battle of Secessionville and its connection to the unique ecosystem of the Carolina coast's salt marshes. Students will analyze the importance of these marshes...
Lesson
Grades
- 8
- 11
In this lesson, students will analyze historical photographs of Fort Lamar and the Battle of Secessionville to understand the role of artillery during the Civil War. By comparing visuals with a...
Lesson
Grades
- 4
- 8
In this lesson, students will explore the Battle of Secessionville through a documentary film and then analyze two historical maps to understand the battle's location, troop positions, and the...
Lesson
Grades
- 6
- 7
- 8
This lesson explores heritage tourism, how it can preserve historical sites like Fort Frederick, and challenges students to brainstorm creative ways to promote such locations for future generations...
Lesson
Grades
- 4
- 6
- 8
Students will learn about Fort Frederick's history, built by the British with a unique tabby material, and then engage in a hands-on activity to explore the challenges and importance of this...
Lesson
Grades
- 4
- 6
- 8
In this lesson, students will explore the rich history of Fort Frederick Heritage Preserve by examining a documentary film, creating a visual timeline of key events, and reflecting on the significance...
Lesson
Grades
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 8
Students will examine the principle of stratigraphy by building an edible archaeological site.
Video
Grades
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- Higher Education
Episode
1
Archaeologists from the University of South Carolina’s Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology made a key discovery: ancient stone tools indicating that Ice Age humans lived here in South Carolina...
Video
Grades
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- Higher Education
Episode
5
Host Jim Welch speaks with Dr. Albert Goodyear of the University of South Carolina’s Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, and Dr. Dennis Stanford of the Smithsonian Institution. Here, they...
Video
Grades
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- Higher Education
Episode
4
The Topper Site discovery is the latest example illustrating the controversy that exists in American archaeology today – concerning when and how did man first arrive in the Western hemisphere?
Video
Grades
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- Higher Education
Episode
2
The archaeologists from the University of South Carolina conduct experiments to better understand how these ancient tools were made and functioned. Artifacts at the site must not only be found, but...
Video
Grades
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- Higher Education
Episode
3
Volunteers are crucial to these archaeological dig sites; they not only donate time and money for research, but also get the opportunity to work alongside nationally recognized scientists and experts.
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