The cost of books, 4 metal detectors, and gardening tools from Barnes and Noble, Frey Scientific, Dick Blick, AKJ Educational and Delta Education is $844, including shipping and <a target="new" href="http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm" onclick="g_openWindow('http://www.donorschoose.org/html/fulfillment.htm', 300, 800, 'fulfillwindow');return false;">fulfillment</a>.
I am currently teaching sixth through eighth grade social studies and science at a middle school in rural North Carolina. Our current school population stands at approximately 585 students. The students are from mixed socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds (65 percent African American, 25 percent Caucasian and 10 percent Latino).
I am very interested in teaching a unit on archeology. There are so many disciplines that can be taught through this unit. I would like my students to locate a dig site with metal detectors and follow archaeological procedures to see what they can learn.
The eighth grade social studies curriculum is North Carolina history, but I can use this unit to cover sixth and seventh grade social studies as well. Other disciplines that can be taught include science (lab reports, scientific measurement, soil horizons), math (geometry), art (landscape pictures), and technology (graphing the grid, spreadsheets, typing reports).
Finally, incorporating language arts in this unit would add a completely new dimension to the dig. There are two books "From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E Frankweiler" and "The Mystery of Biltmore House" that students in all three grade levels can read to learn about researching history mysteries.
The materials necessary for this unit are the two historical fiction novels, metal detectors, archeology tools and a tarp to cover the site when not in use.
The potential of this unit can eventually reach the entire student body at our school. This dig will teach the children about the geology and history of their own county as well as give the students a chance to learn something more than what is in books and videos.
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