Connecting to the Past Through Artifacts

Contributor: Danielle Childers. Lesson ID: 10295

Think about what items you own that you would take to a new country. Compare that to what your ancestors brought or might have brought to America when they immigrated long ago!

categories

World

subject
History
learning style
Visual
personality style
Beaver
Grade Level
Primary (K-2)
Lesson Type
Quick Query

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio: Image - Button Play
Image - Lession Started Image - Button Start
  • What is the oldest object in your house?
  • Where is it from?
  • Who does it belong to? What does it tell you about the owner?
  • What if you found something in the dirt? What would it tell you?
  • Did you find the oldest thing in your house?
  • Do you see it every day?
  • Can it teach you anything about the past?

Sure it can!

Ask someone in your family about the item. The object can teach you about a grandparent or whoever owned it.

Depending on the object, you can learn about what that person liked, what they played with, what they did for work, or even what your family was like long ago!

That object is most likely an artifact. An artifact is made by a human being and is usually of cultural or historical interest.

Check out images of artifacts from Ancient Egypt.

  • What is your favorite artifact from Ancient Egypt?

Look at the old object you found in your house.

  • Would you call it an artifact? Why or why not?

There are people whose job is to dig into the ground and find artifacts that teach us about the past. They are called archaeologists.

Watch the following videos to learn more about archaeologists and artifacts.

Image - Video

When you are done, continue to the Got It? section to hear the story of an immigrant to America!

Image - Button Next