A Virtual Archaeological Dig of Early Human Site (Web-Based Activity)

Students learn more with active learning activities! The study of early humans can often be difficult for students to understand and relate to without real-world experiences.

This activity provides students with the experience of an archaeologist on a dig in the Rift Valley in Kenya, Africa. Students are provided with an interactive link to Smithsonian Natural Museum of Natural History's "Adventures in the Rift Valley". Students apply written facts and primary source images to make inferences about what life was like in the Rift Valley for early humans.

This activity can be used as a jigsaw activity or collaborative group activity. It is easy to differentiate as each activity can be assigned by academic level or interest. I usually complete the first activity as a class to model inferencing skills. It is interesting to see the different inferences students come up with; therefore an answer key is not applicable.

This activity includes:

-5 activities with a link to part of the dig and a graphic organizer (What We Found and What We Know). Students are provided "What We Found" and must use those details and information on the website to infer "What we Know".

Follow-up activities can be a wrap up discussion, a recorded news special, a newspaper cover and more!

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