Teacher Notes
In the WebQuest In Search of Ancient Communities, students assume the role of curators
for a new Museum of Ancient Civilizations just approved for funding by the United States
Congress. Students will create museum exhibits to showcase four of history's most mysterious monuments and
settlements—Stonehenge in England, Catal Huyuk in Turkey, Lascaux Cave in France, and
Rapa Nui (Easter Island) in the Pacific Ocean.
Students work individually to research one of the four archaeological sites. They then form groups based on the site they have studied and create exhibits for the museum. Their exhibits can be presented on posters or through multimedia software. The exhibits should introduce museum visitors to the archaeological site and show examples of artifacts that have been found. The exhibits will also explain some theories about the site's creation and some of the mysteries that remain.
Students work individually to research one of the four archaeological sites. They then form groups based on the site they have studied and create exhibits for the museum. Their exhibits can be presented on posters or through multimedia software. The exhibits should introduce museum visitors to the archaeological site and show examples of artifacts that have been found. The exhibits will also explain some theories about the site's creation and some of the mysteries that remain.
Students who do exemplary work on this WebQuest will learn about
- the archaeological sites they have studied
- theories on how and why the site was created
- our understanding of history and that it is always subject to change
- the methods archaeologists have used to study this and other sites
- questions that archaeologists are still trying to answer
- how to cite Web resources
- the elements and design of a museum exhibit
When to use this WebQuest
The WebQuest In Search of Ancient Communities, works best as a culminating activity to Unit 1, Chapters 1–2. Be sure students have read both chapters before beginning the WebQuest and reviewed pages 27–33 on archaeology.
How to set up the exhibits Divide the classroom into different exhibit spaces for the various archaeological sites. Print out the worksheets for each site. The answers to the questions will help students organize their exhibits. Have group members compare their worksheets and agree on what material will go into the exhibit. Groups choosing to make posters should have access to the necessary art supplies. Groups using computers should have computer time to create their presentations. Use the U.S. National Archive link provided in the Resources to show examples of online exhibits or use a link of your choosing. Also, point students to the McDougal Littell Web Research Guide for guidance in citing Web sources.
Visiting the museum When all groups have created their exhibits, have a "museum day" in which students rotate through the exhibits to see the other groups' work. As an option, you may want to provide worksheets with the following questions for students to answer about the other exhibits:
How to set up the exhibits Divide the classroom into different exhibit spaces for the various archaeological sites. Print out the worksheets for each site. The answers to the questions will help students organize their exhibits. Have group members compare their worksheets and agree on what material will go into the exhibit. Groups choosing to make posters should have access to the necessary art supplies. Groups using computers should have computer time to create their presentations. Use the U.S. National Archive link provided in the Resources to show examples of online exhibits or use a link of your choosing. Also, point students to the McDougal Littell Web Research Guide for guidance in citing Web sources.
Visiting the museum When all groups have created their exhibits, have a "museum day" in which students rotate through the exhibits to see the other groups' work. As an option, you may want to provide worksheets with the following questions for students to answer about the other exhibits:
- Where is this place?
- Why is it so special?
- What are two things that have been discovered there?
- Why might it have been built?
- How might it have been constructed?
- What are two mysteries or questions that remain about this place?