Students study math in the dirt

2008-05-23 / Education

Contributed by Killian Elementary School

Killian Elementary students in Julie Sheehan's class experience an archeological dig. Killian Elementary students in Julie Sheehan's class experience an archeological dig. Students in Julie Sheehan's class at Killian Elementary have been using their knowledge of quadrants and grids in a multidisciplinary unit centered on an archeological dig. With the help of Greg Gable, who made arrowheads and tilled the area, Sheehan planned and designed an archeological dig for her students. Items from various time periods were buried in quadrants marked by orange and pink ribbons. Each student was assigned a quadrant in which to dig. Artifacts found were logged into field journals along with the date, time of the dig, weather conditions, and assigned quadrant number. After artifacts were recovered, students recorded a description of the artifacts, a prediction of their use and a sketch of the items in their journals. Some of the artifacts found included arrow heads, shells, pottery, bones, spear heads and beads. The experience was enhanced when students found seashells that Sheehan had not placed in the dig.

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