I also teach a unit about Black History in which I can incorporate my specific Earthwatch experience. This unit will proceed Social Studies units such as The Pilgrims, Native Americans, and Black History. I will explain that an archaeologist is a kind of explorer who studies how people have lived in the past by studying the things they have left behind. At this time we would create a wall chart containing things we know about archaeology, and things we want to know. Basic vocabulary words would be introduced and written on large cards to hang on the wall.
Students list as many things as they can about the people who made the penny.
Class brainstorms a list of facts gathered from the penny. An archaeologist does the same thing. They draw and measure one artifact. In the field. Measure three five foot squares.