Artifacts
This activity will require students to investigate details from their chosen subject (Pony Express rider, Indian tribe, anyone past or present) and gather artifacts (items that person would have used, worn, had in their surroundings etc.) to weave into a story about that person.
Needed Materials:
Objects collected by individuals or class
Blank story map for each student
Activity:
1. After reading a story about a chosen subject, discuss the items
that were involved in the life of that person.
2. Draw, find
pictures, or collect items resembling the ones chosen. You might
want to check out these Internet addresses for pictures: (Remember
to go "back" to return here)
Virtual School,
Smithsonian
3. Have
the students retell the story, including details about the items.
4. Have each student create a picture of one scene in the story
using only a few items. Then sequence the scenes and have each
student tell their part.
5. Select a set of items not based on the story and have the
students make up their own stories, using the items as important
objects (heirlooms, key-items in the story, etc.)
Evaluation:
1. Self-evaluate what they liked best about their own stories
or pictures and what they would change or improve on in future
projects. (Portfolio-type)
2. Assess using a rubric, individual or mastery objectives.
Additional Activities:
- Create a quick-change flip book (showing the sequence of
events in the story.)
- Create a time capsule that would
record the students' current
moment
in time. (Visit an internet site to see an example lesson. Remember to go "back" to return here.)
- Play a categorization game in which one item is placed that does not belong which students must find. (Use with particular stories, persons studied, or general categories of objects)
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