Finding Information Through Artifacts

Today, following a discussion on different ways historians find out information about the past, each table group was given a bag containing the pieces of an artifact (a smashed painted pot from the Dollar Store) and a roll of duct tape.  The group's task was to re-construct the artifact, using the duct tape on the inside of the pot so as not to cover any of the markings on the exterior of the pot that might give clues about the people who made the object.

Once the object was assembled, the group had to answer two questions.  The first question was what do the materials and workmanship tell you about the people who made the object or the place where they lived?  The second question was what do the markings, paintings or carvings on the pot tell you about the people who made the object or the place where they lived?

The following are a few photos from the activity.

Each group started with a pile of pieces.

The group then worked together to re-construct the object.

One of the re-constructed pots.

Group shot of the re-constructed pots.

This was a great team building activity, it was great for the kinaesthetic learners, and it was a good activating activity for the beginning of our unit on Canada's First Peoples.