Exploring Archaeology
Educational Materials & Resources on Archaeology
Welcome to exploring archaeology at the Illinois State Museum for educators.
You will find videos, information, images, and resource materials such as worksheets, websites, and more. These resources are for your use in teaching about archaeology in Illinois.
What Is Archaeology? Using scientific methods, archaeologists study people that lived in the past by looking at the placement of the objects and features they left behind. This helps us understand how people lived in other times and places. Sometimes these are the only clues we have about people in the past and they add to what we have already learned.
Location, Location! Why it Matters!
Have you ever wondered how people lived at the Cahokia Mounds site? Join a museum curator to find out why the location of artifacts and their context matter in understanding peoples’ everyday lives over 900 years ago!
Appropriate for upper elementary and up.
Interview with Terry Martin
What can we learn from artifacts? Archaeologist Terrance Martin talks about how artifacts are great tools to learn about the people who lived in the Lincoln's neighborhood!
Thanks to Lincoln's Home National Historic Site for the use of their video.
House 4 Pot at Cahokia: Exploring How Objects Tell a Story
Explore with ISM Archaeologist Brooke Morgan a pot found in House 4 at Cahokia.
Upper Elementary-High School
The Clay Stopper: Exploring Objects that Tell A Story
Explore with Archaeologist Dr. Brooke Morgan a unique object that tells a story of pottery in Early America.
Upper Elementary-Jr High School
Reclamation of a Landscape - Emiquon
Explore with Archaeologist Dr. Logan Pappenfort the people that lived along the Illinois River and how the area was changed and reclaimed as wetlands at Emiquon.
Upper Elementary & High School
Subsistence Patterns of Native People
Explore with Archaeologist Dr. Logan Pappenfort food production and storage of the Indigenous People along the Illinois River.
Upper Elementary & Jr. High
Personal Connections- Legacy of the Past: Exploring How Objects Tell a Story
Learn about a personal connection with a Museum object. Archaeologist Dr. Logan Pappenfort shares a story from his family and tribe's history that connects with an object in the Museum's collection.
Upper Elementary-High School
Community Discovery: Nettle Cresent Pot
Discover with Archaeologist Dr. Logan Pappenfort as he shares about the Nettle Cresent pot to learn more about pottery and archaeology
Upper Elementary - High School
Meet a Scientist - Dr. Brooke Morgan, Archaeologist
Ever wondered what an archaeologist does at a Museum? Join Stephanie Gragg as she talks with Dr. Brooke Morgan to discover what she does at the ISM.
Elementary
Tool Making and Fabrication
Explore with Archeologist Dr. Logan Pappenfort how Indigenous people made and used tools.
Upper Elementary-High School
Exploring the Osetology Lab
Spend time with ISM Curator Emeritus of Anthropology, Dr. Terrence D. Martin as he shows what the Osteology Lab at the ISM does and how scientists use this lab to tell them more information.
4th-12th grade
Resources
The Story of Illinois - Explore some of the archaeology and anthropology collection at the Illinois State Museum.
Discover Illinois Archaeology - This booklet explores archaeology in Illinois.
Elementary Activities
Archaeological Map of House 4 - This is the drawing made by archaeologists of the location of items in the House 4 at Cahokia. There is also a drawing of how one of the large pots in House 4 was found.
What Can I Discover Worksheet - This worksheet helps students look at primary sources, maps, and illustrations to discover more about the item and figure out what questions they still have. This is a worksheet to use to help students look closely at by using see, think, wonder, and question strategy in relation to primary sources. You can use either the maps or the artist illustrations with this worksheet.
Artist Illustration of Cahokia - This is an artist drawing of what Cahokia looked like based on archaeological evidence.
Secondary Activities
Archaeological Map of House 4 - This is the drawing made by archaeologists of the location of items in the House 4 at Cahokia. There is also a drawing of how one of the large pots in House 4 was found.
What Can I Discover Worksheet - This worksheet helps students look at primary sources, maps, and illustrations to discover more about the item and figure out what questions they still have. This is a worksheet to use to help students look closely at by using see, think, wonder, and question strategy in relation to primary sources. You can use either the maps or the artist illustrations with this worksheet.
Artist Illustration of Cahokia - This is an artist drawing of what Cahokia looked like based on archaeological evidence.