Can You Dig It?

Developing an Overview
of Arkansas History from the Prehistoric
to the Civil War
Lesson Plan by Beverly M. Ruthven, Bryant, Arkansas
1998-1999 Butler Fellow
Revised 2007-08 School Year Utilizing 2006 Social Studies Frameworks Including
2007 Arkansas History Amendments and 2007 School Library Media Frameworks
Students will be introduced to Arkansas History by becoming archeologists who discover
artifacts in a dig simulation. They will gain an understanding of how archeology has aided
the study of Arkansas past and be introduced to the different groups who have made our
state their home. By placing artifacts on an Arkansas History Timeline, students will
develop an overview of the important time periods in Arkansas History. As a final exercise
student teams will creatively present a period in Arkansas History to their class.
Grades:

3rd 5th

Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks:

Arkansas History Student Learning Expectations:
H.6.3.2
Examine historical people and events of Arkansas
H.6.3.14

Describe the early American Indian cultures in Arkansas

H.6.3.16

Identify the following explorers:

*
Hernando Desoto
*
LaSalle/DeTonti
*
Marquette/Joliet

H.6.4.3

Examine historical settlements in Arkansas

*
Arkansas Post
*
Old Washington
*
Fort Smith

H.6.4.9

Evaluate data presented on a timeline of Arkansas history

H.6.4.10

Examine artifacts relating to events in Arkansas history

H.6.4.14

Identify and describe the Arkansas Indian Tribes

*
Osage
*
Quapaw
*
Caddo

H.6.4.17

Identify areas in Arkansas that were explored by the following:

*
Hernando Desoto
*
LaSalle/DeTonti
*
Marquette/Joliet

H.6.5.6

Identify important people and events during Arkansas Territorial

period

H.6.5.19

Identify and describe the events and ideas leading to the Civil War

H.6.5.29

Locate and describe the three main American Indian cultures in

Arkansas during the exploration period:
*
Quapaw
*
Caddo Indians
*
Osage Indians

H.6.5.32

Identify the role of the following Arkansans in the Civil War

*
Isaac Murphy
*
David O. Dodd
*
Albert Pike
*
Earl Van Dorn
*
Thomas Hindman
*
James Blunt
*
Harris Flanagan

H.6.5.33

Identify Arkansas Post as the first European settlement in Arkansas and

explain its geographic significance

Social Studies Student Learning Expectations:

H.6.3.8
Compare artifacts from events in various periods of history
School Library Media Student Learning Expectations:
A.4.3.1, A.4.4.1 Use information form a variety of sources to accomplish a specific purpose
A.4.5.1 - Use resources and/or technology tools for a predetermined task
A.5.3.2, A.5.4.2, A.5.5.2 Collaborate responsibly to solve problems

Related Encyclopedia of Arkansas Entries:

Pre-European Exploration; Quapaw; Prehistoric Caddo; European Exploration and
Settlement; Historic Archeology; Louisiana Purchase through Early Statehood; Arkansas
Gazette; Civil War through Reconstruction
Introduction:
The teacher will select the appropriate student learning expectations for his or her class, review
the key terms, and make copies of selected activities included in the lesson. Collaboration with
the school library media specialist for assistance with the utilization of the technology resource
tool for Arkansas History is suggested. See above links or visit the online Encyclopedia of
Arkansas History and Culture at http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net.
Key Terms:
Archaeology

Archaeologist

Artifact

dig

Key Terms Defined:

archaeology: the scientific study of the people, customs, and life of ancient times.
archaeologist: a scientist who studies ancient or prehistoric people.
artifact: an object that people of the past have left behind.
dig: an archaeological excavation.
Time Frame: Three Fifty Minute Class Periods

Materials:
Access to a computer lab
Four dig boxes with artifacts. See section titled Setting Up the Dig Boxes for
materials and instructions on how to assemble the boxes in preparation for this
lesson.
copy of the Think-Wink-Decide (TWD) Strategy Chart for each of the four teams
(included below)
large Arkansas History Timeline (last six pages of document; tape pages together to
form timeline)
copy of the Can You Dig It? Dig Chart for each of the four teams (included below)
copy of the Can You Dig It? Assessment Guide for each team (included below)
Procedure:
Day One Activities:
1. As a class, begin a TWD Strategy Chart about Arkansas History. Solicit student
responses and list what they know about Arkansas History in the section Things I Know
Now. Begin the section What I Need to Know by listing students questions.
This chart can be used throughout the year, as students learn more Arkansas History.
2. Introduce and discuss the key terms. Explain to students that they will form excavation
teams to find out more about Arkansas history from around 1,000 B.C. through the 1800s.
3. Discuss various capital resources, tools, and techniques that archaeologists might use in
a dig. Explain that the dig for this lesson will be into boxes of packing peanuts (if they are
what you used) instead of the ground. Discuss how this dig would be different if it were in
actual soil.
4. Explain how the excavation simulation will work. Each team member will dig for at
least one artifact. Teams will discuss each artifact and then fill in their Dig Chart.
5. Talk about the Arkansas History Timeline and explain that each artifact will belong to one
or more time periods on the timeline.
6. Divide the class into four teams and give each team a dig box and a copy of the Can You
Dig It? Dig Chart. Allow about ten to 15 minutes for the dig simulation.
Day Two Activities:

1. After the dig simulation, have each team present the information from their Dig Chart and
place each of their artifacts where they think they belong on the Arkansas History Timeline.
Correct their artifact placement and discuss their dig charts as they go along.
2. As a class, complete the TWD Strategy Chart begun earlier by filling in the Decide
section.
3. Explain the presentations that the teams will give. Discuss the Assessment Guide so
that they understand how they will be graded.
Day Three Activities:
1. Each team will choose a period from the Arkansas History Timeline to research and
present to the class. Teams can use any resources they want. Some suggestions are
books, museums, videos, websites, emailing Arkansas History professors, and interviewing
other experts.
2. Teams presentations should be as creative as possible. Some suggestions are
designing a commercial or travel brochure, building a diorama, acting out a short scene
from the period, writing a letter from the period, conducting a mock interview of a historical
person, etc.
3. Be sure to allow the teams enough days to ask questions and research and prepare their
presentations. Use the Can You Dig It? Assessment Guide to grade their presentations.

Evaluation:
Participation in a classroom discussion can be evaluated. Utilization of technology
tools can be evaluated as well. The teacher will evaluate the presentations with a
teacher made rubric or a district approved rubric.
These lesson plans are made possible in part through the support of the Arkansas
Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The Taylor Foundation (Little Rock, Arkansas) makes Butler Center lesson plans possible.
Contact the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies, Central Arkansas Library System, 100 Rock St., Little
Rock, AR, 72201. 501-918-3056 www.butlercenter.org and www.cals.lib.ar.us

Think-Wink-Decide Strategy Chart

THINK Things I Know Now

WINK What I Need to Know

DECIDE Was the information accurate?

What have I learned? Is more information
needed?

Can You Dig It?

Dig Chart
Item #

Description

Possible Use

Possible Date

Can You Dig It? Assessment Guide

Project title: ________________________________________________
Group members: ______________________________________________________
Projects will be assessed on the following criteria and levels of performance.
Content
____ 3
____ 2

____ 1

The content was covered thoroughly and accurately.

10-15 concepts and facts
5 resources used
The content was covered adequately and accurately.
5-9 concepts and facts
3 resources used
The content was covered somewhat and accurately.
1-4 concepts and facts
2 resources used

Creativity
____ 3
The team was extremely creative. 5 of the following methods (or others
approved by the teacher) were used in the presentation: visuals, costume, characterizations,
music, student-created writings, a travel guide, and/or scenes from the time period.
____ 2 The team was moderately creative. 3 of the above methods were used in the
presentation. ____ 1 The team was somewhat creative. 2 of the above methods were used in
the presentation.
Presentation
____ 3
The project was presented effectively. All members were organized and
participated in the project presentation. The topic and objective were clearly stated in the
introduction and conclusion.
____ 2
The project was presented adequately. Most members were organized and
participated in the project presentation. The topic and objective were stated.
____ 1
The project was presented inadequately. Few members were organized and
participated in the project presentation. The topic and objective were vague.

Setting Up the Dig Boxes

Materials:
boxes or storage containers
peanuts or dirt
Artifacts or replicas of artifacts (see below for suggestions)
Instructions:
1. Tag and label all artifacts for the dig boxes, then divide the artifacts into time periods.
Each box should contain at least two artifacts from each time period. Some may be used for
more than one time period. Following are some suggestions for artifacts:

BOX 1
Prehistoric
stone hoe blade clay bowl

Osage, Quapaw, and Caddo

mussel shells gourd rattle

European Explorers
gold or silver tokens beaver hide

Early Settlements
coffee beans deer antlers

Pioneer Arkansas
newspaper (e.g. replica of early Arkansas Gazette) beeswax candle

The Civil War

hand-held chalkboard cotton

BOX 2
Prehistoric
animal mandible spear projectile

Osage, Quapaw, and Caddo

deerskin (any piece of clothing/cloak) gourd dipper

European Explorers
tin cup tobacco

Early Settlements
medicine bottle Bible

Pioneer Arkansas
powder horn butter mold

The Civil War

calico material (dress or bonnet) iron

BOX 3
Prehistoric
small projectile celt

Osage, Quapaw, and Caddo

drum basket woven from corn husks

European Explorers
compass dried foods

Early Settlements
moccasins sugar cone

Pioneer Arkansas
cornhusk doll (homemade toy) shears (sheep, trim horse hair, cut hair)

The Civil War

McGuffy Reader stirrup

BOX 4
Prehistoric
buffalo bone scraper stone scraper

Osage, Quapaw, and Caddo

feather for headdress beads

European Explorers
map journal

Early Settlements
flint coonskin cap

Pioneer Arkansas
piece of cane or weaving dough board for mixing

The Civil War

rifle shotmolded bullets high-top shoe
Suggested Resource:
The Museum of Discovery (500 President Clinton Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72201 / (501) 3967050) rents Learning Boxes to teachers for $10 per week. Of the many they have,
Gerstackers Arkansas, Indians of Arkansas, and Pioneer Arkansas will be most helpful
for this lesson. They also have videos for rent for $5 per week, including one on Gerstacker.
Call the Museum to check availability and reserve boxes and videos.

Before about 1500

Prehistoric Periods

About 1500
Caddo, Quapaw, Osage

1540-1684
European Explorers (De Soto, Marquette and Joliet, La
Salle)

1686-1783
Early Settlement (De Tonti, La Harpe)

1800s
Pioneer Arkansas (Statehood, 1836)

1861-1865
The Civil War, followed by Reconstruction