Smithsonian's History Explorer Resources Related To "Project Archaeology"

Clues Within These Walls

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:27:27 GMT

On this page, students will find some of the methods historians and curators used to learn about the house at 16 Elm Street in Ipswich, Massachusetts. Students will learn how to use primary source documents, photographs and architectural clues to answer questions such as: Who lived in a house and what the neighborhood was like? When was the house built? How do historians discover how a house changes over time? Also included is a link to House Detective: Finding History in Your Home, a research guide that will help students conduct investigations of their own home. This activity accompanies the online exhibition, Within These Walls.

Building a Sod House

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 16:22:07 GMT

In this interactive activity, students will attempt to build a sod house by making choices regarding the construction of their house. Too many wrong answers and the house will collapse! This engaging and lighthearted activity will help students understand the challenges settlers faced while trying to survive on the open prairie. OurStory is a series of modules designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, OurStory resources will allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.

Get a "Sense" of It

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:55:38 GMT

What would life have been like in a sod house? This group of activities will allow students to use their senses to see, smell, and feel what it would have been like to live on the prairie long ago. Included in an OurStory module, this activity is designed to help children and adults enjoy exploring history together through the use of objects from the Museum's vast collections, quality children's literature, and engaging hands-on activities. Ideal for afterschool use, OurStory resources will allow students to think critically, to be creative, and to achieve academic standards both in and out of the classroom.

House Detectives: Finding History in Your Home

Mon, 05 Nov 2012 15:24:19 GMT

This printable guide shows students how to research the place where they live and can be used as a tool for individual or small group research. It will help them conduct research on their home or local building, describe their research process and summarize their conclusions based on analysis of the research. This activity is one of the educational resources included in the online exhibition entitled Within These Walls.