5th Grade Archaeology Activities (by date, latest first)

Project based learning:

This lessons relate to Studies Weekly weeks 6-8 for 5th grade, but the topics covered certainly work without Studies Weekly. These hands on projects help engage students and lead to better understanding.

Students will study and represent Indigenous People's dwellings, complete an infographic concerning different native tribes, explore being an archaeologist, and work trade routes.

Project based learning helps students approach information in a variety of ways.

What's included:

• Instructions for teachers.
• Instructions for students.
• Data and response sheets.
• Necessary rubrics.
• Necessary information cards.
• Infographic posters to complete.

How is this resource useful:

• Engaging for students.
• Low prep for teachers.
• Hands on.
• Covers Indiana standards. (5.E.1, 5.E.2, 5.H.1, 5.H.3, 5.G.7)
• Ties into Studies Weekly lessons.

Engaging Activities for 5th Grade Social Studies:

These activities keep students engaged throughout the year as they study United States History. Although these activities are aligned with Studies Weekly, each activity can be completed without Studies Weekly. "Missing" weeks are due to Studies Weekly assigning inquiries once per unit.

What's included:

Beginning of the Year Escape Room:

• history
• civics and government
• geography
• economics

Inquiry: How to Research (Weeks 1-4)

• Social Studies Lenses Activity
• Primary and Secondary Sources Activity
• Fact and Opinion Activity
• How to Research Yearlong Checklist
• Response to Inquiry: Kids Making a Difference Infographic

North America Before European Contact (Weeks 6-8)

• Indigenous People's Regional Dwellings Activity
• Indigenous Tribe Infographic
• Introduction to Archaeology Activity
• Indigenous Trade Routes Activity

European Exploration and Colonization (Weeks 10-18)

• Columbian Exchange Import Poster
• Cooperation and Conflict in Jamestown Activity
• Explorer Trading Cards
• Supply and Demand Activity with Land Use Extension
• Thirteen Colonies by Region Image Reveal
• Trading Along the Silk Road Game
• Ranking Colonial Groups Activity
• Charter of the Colonies Picture Reveal
• Indigenous Trade with Europeans Game
• French and Indian War Escape Room
• Benjamin Franklin Facts Prism
• Alliances with North Americans Worksheets

The American Revolution (Weeks 19-26)

• Protesting Acts of Parliament Protest Signs
• Tea Party Pennants
• Founding Fathers Game
• Declaration of Independence Escape Room
• Iroquois Confederation and Articles of Confederation Venn Diagram
• Design a Monument to Revolutionary Minorities
• American Revolution Battles Infographic
• Battles After Yorktown Timeline

Creating a New Nation (Weeks 27-31)

• Federalists/Anti-Federalists Poster and Debate
• Framers of the Constitution Information Sheets
• Ratifying the Constitution Stations
• Bill of Rights Activity: Display the Amendments
• Bill of Rights Four Corners Review
• Bill of Rights/Declaration of Independence Grievances Picture Reveal
• Formation of Political Parties Infographic
• Lewis and Clark Primary Source Animal Activity
• Northwest Ordinance Spoons Game
• Westward Expansion Game
• Preamble to the Constitution Picture Reveal

End of the Year Escape Room

• history
• constitution
• civics/government
• geography
• economics

Aligns with Indiana Standards: 5.H.1, 5.H.2, 5.H.3, 5.H.5, 5.H.6, 5.H.7, 5.H.8, 5.H.9, 5.H.10, 5.H.11, 5.H.12, 5.H.13, 5.H.14, 5.H.15, 5.H.16, 5.H.17, 5.C.1, 5.C.2, 5.C.3, 5.C.5, 5.C.7, 5.G.1, 5.G.2, 5.G.7, 5.E.1, 5.E.2, 5.E.3, 5.E.5.

What's Included:

• Teacher instructions.
• Student instructions.
• All necessary handouts.
• All necessary templates.
• Answer Keys.
• Links to research sites.
• Links to digital activities.

How is this bundle useful:

• Easy to prep for teachers.
• Engaging for students.
• Great supplements for curriculum.
• Helpful for sub plans.
• Follow up questions increase rigor.

Hands on activity makes archaeology real:

Students practice observation skills as they practice being archaeologists. In preparation, the teacher has colleagues fill bags with artifacts from their classrooms. Students then work together to use their observational skills as an archaeologist to determine where the artifacts belong.

My students loved this hands on experience while learning how to respect artifacts. My students were so excited to reach conclusions about whose classroom the artifacts came from and loved sharing their ideas with each other. There's great excitement from groups that reach the right conclusions.

What's included:

• Instructions.
• Editable notes to other teachers asking for participation.
• Explanation worksheet.
• Record/Data Sheet.

How is this resource useful:

• Great introduction to archaeology and pre-history.
• Easy prep.
• Great cooperative activity.