Highlights
How do historians learn about the past? At the Artifact Investigators station, students will don their gloves to interact with replicas and working collection artifacts to explore how historians learn about the past. With a strong hands-on and object-based approach, students will complete a guided investigation into their chosen artifact, simulating the work of Heritage Interpreters. Students will discuss their findings with their interpreter and examine what makes an artifact valuable to a museum.
The Artifact Investigators station is one of five options available as part of the Hands-On History program.
Curriculum Outcome Links
Grade Five Specific Learning Outcomes (Social Studies):
- Learners will investigate how we learn about the past, with a focus on Acadians, African Nova Scotians, Gaels, Mi’kmaq, and additional cultures.
Activities
3-5 Minutes: Introduction
Students will discuss as a group with a heritage interpreter how historians learn about the past. The group will define a primary source and discuss how historians use primary sources to learn about the past.
10-15 Minutes: Artifact Investigation
Each student will choose a replica or working collection artifact from a selected assortment. They will be given a worksheet to help guide them in investigating their chosen artifact. Each student will be encouraged to note observations of their artifact and ask strong questions. Students will also be encouraged to discuss their ideas with peers during the investigation.
3-5 Minutes: Conclusion
Students will discuss with the Heritage Interpreter what they noticed and learned about their artifacts as a group. They will also discuss any questions they have about their artifacts. The Heritage Interpreter will summarize the learning from this station by reminding students that making observations and asking questions about physical items left from the past is one way that historians can learn about history.