Students also participate in an online discussion with real-life archaeologists where they can ask questions related to the video. Discuss the importance of careful data collection. Define the terms archaeology, artifact distribution, and controlled sample. Develop a system of cataloging objects using coordinate mapping. Interact online with a group of archaeologists.
Items can include photographs, letters, stuffed animals, awards, jewelry, sports equipment, etc.
The day of the pre-activity, place the students into groups of two. After they have been paired off, have the students trade artifact boxes with their partners. After they have traded boxes, inform the students that they have journeyed to the year 2150 and their partner is no longer living. With no verbal explanations exchanged between partners, the students will analyze each item in their partner's box in order to develop a written summary of what their partner might have been like. After this point, they can ask each other questions for clarification purposes.