By the end of this lesson, students will be able to: •Define “artifact” and explain what information artifacts can give about people in the past. •Connect physical objects to abstract concepts (special relationships) and academic knowledge (primary and secondary sources) in history. •Explain how to use observation skills to learn about artifacts and begin the process of inquiry (forming hypotheses).
Recommended level: Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
1. What Are Artifacts and Why Do They Matter?
2. Observation, Inquiry, and the Cowboy Scene Investigation