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A list of archaeology resources for kids. Supplement or create Science and History lesson plans with this full list of media resources, books, and activities appropriate for elementary aged students. Studying the Ancient World? Use these resources as an introduction to your unit studies.
Our first grade curriculum gets us digging into the ancient world! To gain a better understanding of the ins and outs of this science, I’ve gathered together the following resources to use as an introduction to our ancient history studies.
These titles and media resources can be used alongside any introduction to archaeology unit and are appropriate for the elementary grades. Some material may be too mature or too young for your child. As always, use your best discretion.
Books & Activities
The Magic School Bus Shows And Tells: A Book About Archaeology
From Amazon: “Ms. Frizzle and the gang travel back in time to the origins of an artifact and learn what it’s like to be an archaeologist.”
Find Magic School Bus Shows and Tells activities on Scholastic.
The episode is available on Prime and Netflix, Season 3 Episode 6.
Archaeology for Kids: Uncovering the Mysteries of Our Past, 25 Activities
This book includes games, activities and experiments that will support your archaeological studies from the first people through modern times. This book is an excellent resource for unit studies, incorporating projects across subjects: art, math, science, and history. View the full table of contents on Amazon.
Hands-On Archaeology: Real-Life Activities for Kids
This title features reproducible worksheets and activities geared toward older students, grades 4-10. A great resource for children interested in digging deeper into the science of archaeology. Practice using the scientific method, create a dig site, and keep field notes for an in-depth archaeological experience. See the full table of contents on Amazon.
YouTube Playlists
Archaeology for Kids – Playlist Compiled by The Homeschool Resource Room
All About Archaeology | Nat Geo Kids Archaeology Playlist
Shows
SciGirls 104: Digging Archaeology
on YouTube
SciGirls is also on PBS Kids
Mouk – The Desert Archeologists S01E02 HD | Cartoon for kids
on YouTube
Mouk is also on Netflix
Movies
The Great Human Odyssey, Nova Documentary
Prime and Netflix
From Netflix: “Scientists are using archaeological and cultural findings to map humans’ exodus from Africa and identify the adaptive skills required for the journey.
Indiana Jones
Titles included with your Prime membership
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Temple of Doom (1984)
Last Crusade (1989)
Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
These movies are mostly for fun, but Harrison Ford does play an archaeologist. Check out this Chicago Tribune article about what Indiana Jones gets right and wrong and turn these cult classics into learning opportunities!
Online Resources to Explore
Ology
http://www.amnh.org/explore/ology
This children’s website from the American Museum of Natural History offers an engaging look into an array of sciences. Check out the ArchaeOlogy portion of the site to meet an archaeologist, archaeology games, stories, videos, and activities.
Online Unit Studies
If you’re moving on with ancient studies, check out the resources available from Techie Homeschool Mom. She offers a free lesson: Ancient Egypt Daily Life, as well as a full Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece online unit studies.
Archaeosoup Productions
It’s all about archaeology on Archaeosoup. Check out this YouTube channel for archaeology videos from A to Z as well as interviews with real archaeologists.
Other archaeology resources for your unit
More history from the Resource Room:
Ashley helps parents who want to homeschool find the resources they need to successfully teach their children. Ashley is a former teacher, current homeschooler, published author, and designer behind Circle Time with Miss Fox printables as well as the creator of this website, The Homeschool Resource Room.
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