What's in Your Artifact Bag?
Dr. Smirnova introduced us to a new activity. It was called an artifact bag! We got to create our own bags, but before we did we got to explore the ones Dr. Smirnova created for us. The artifact bag my group received from her included Russian Nesting Dolls, Gzhel pottery, and a Diploma. After translating Russian into English and lots of inferring, we discovered that this all had to do with Dr. Smirnova! To my group, this all had to do with the arts. Below are photos of the artifacts we had!
Now that Dr. Smirnova showed us how this worked, it was time for us to make our own artifact bags. Our assignment was to create artifact bags that had to do with what we taught the fifth graders. Also, we could not have the same artifacts within our group. My group taught the fifth graders about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. After a lot of thought, these were the items I decided to put in my artifact bag.
From the photo to the right, you can see that I included an American flag, the number , the map of the United States, and three branches.
What do you think these artifacts have to do with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Are you done thinking? Well I am sure you got it right! The American flag represents the United States. It represents the original 13 colonies with the red and white stripes and the 50 states in the United States with the 50 stars. The number 10 represents the 10 amendments in the Bill of Rights. The map of the United States represents our country and how the Constitution and Bill of Rights affects everyone in each state. Lastly, the three branches symbolize the three branches of government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial)!
I had a lot of fun making my artifact bag and viewing everyone else's. This forces you and/or your students to think outside the box and relate different things to what they are learning. Also, artifact bags can be used to introduce a topic, to introduce important people, as a review, or it can be used as a type of ice breaker activity to get to know each other.
Giving students artifact bags will engage them in the process of inquiry. They will be investigating and responsible for their own learning. I also think that using hands on artifacts relating to whatever you are teaching them will help them to make connections to their own lives and the outside world. It will make learning history more meaningful to them so, it will be more likely to stay with them and they wont forget!
Now, if you would like to take a look at more artifacts and try to infer what they are about, you can view my groups artifact bag PowerPoint by following this link!
Now that Dr. Smirnova showed us how this worked, it was time for us to make our own artifact bags. Our assignment was to create artifact bags that had to do with what we taught the fifth graders. Also, we could not have the same artifacts within our group. My group taught the fifth graders about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. After a lot of thought, these were the items I decided to put in my artifact bag.
From the photo to the right, you can see that I included an American flag, the number , the map of the United States, and three branches.
What do you think these artifacts have to do with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Are you done thinking? Well I am sure you got it right! The American flag represents the United States. It represents the original 13 colonies with the red and white stripes and the 50 states in the United States with the 50 stars. The number 10 represents the 10 amendments in the Bill of Rights. The map of the United States represents our country and how the Constitution and Bill of Rights affects everyone in each state. Lastly, the three branches symbolize the three branches of government (Executive, Legislative, and Judicial)!
I had a lot of fun making my artifact bag and viewing everyone else's. This forces you and/or your students to think outside the box and relate different things to what they are learning. Also, artifact bags can be used to introduce a topic, to introduce important people, as a review, or it can be used as a type of ice breaker activity to get to know each other.
Giving students artifact bags will engage them in the process of inquiry. They will be investigating and responsible for their own learning. I also think that using hands on artifacts relating to whatever you are teaching them will help them to make connections to their own lives and the outside world. It will make learning history more meaningful to them so, it will be more likely to stay with them and they wont forget!
Now, if you would like to take a look at more artifacts and try to infer what they are about, you can view my groups artifact bag PowerPoint by following this link!
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