Grade 4

Smashed in Buffalo Jump

Activity: Social Studies - Archaeology and Head

Goals/Key questions
Goals: Students will learn the different ways of discovering about the past.
Objective (connected to PofS): recognize the presence and influence of diverse
Aboriginal peoples as inherent to Albertas culture and identity

Pre lesson Considerations

Lesson overview of main ideas to be learned and prelearning required:
Materials needed/preset up required/logistical considerations needed
(seating arrangement):

Content:
What is the teacher doing?

Introduct
ion

Discussion Questions:
Why are story robes important?
What are the limitations of story robes?
What other ways can we learn about the
past?

Time
estimation:
5 minutes

Transition
considerat
ions

Activity 1
Time est:
40 minutes

Archaeology:
Students will read pg. 114 and the
bottom section of pg. 115 of the text
book in pairs and answer the questions
provided. Make students aware that
there is no right or wrong answer to
the last question but many possible
reasons why only the stones are left.

What are the students

doing?
Instructions on the carpet.

Encourage them to discuss with their

partner possible reasons and write
something down, knowing that there is
no particular right or wrong answer.
The teacher will review the answers with
the class. Discuss the last question of
the worksheet.
Show video on archaeology:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=4BXkL5nba40
***stop at 0:57***
Activity: Students are archaeologists
Place students in pre-determined
groups. Each group will be given a
picture of an artifact and try to
determine as a group what the artifact
might have been used for. Students will
write their answers on the worksheet
provided. The teacher will switch each
picture around the room and students
will stay in the same place throughout
the activity.
Discussion questions:
1) What can artifacts tell us about the
past?
2) What are the limitations of artifacts?
3) What are other ways we can learn
about history?
Transition
considerat
ions

Activity 2

Finish up Story Robes:

Students will create their own story
robes from last lesson.

Time Est:
45 minutes

Once completed, the teacher will have

students share their story robes with
their classmates in groups of 4. The
class will then be brought back together

and students will be given the

opportunity to share in front of the whole
class if they choose.
Students who have not completed their
story robes may share the sections they
have completed.
*Extra time: students who finish early
may finish their teepees or create their
own pictograph stories using the
pictograph dictionary provided.

Conclusio
n
Time Est:

Discovering Albertas Past

With your partner, read page 114 and Alberta on Trade Route on the
bottom of page 115. Answer the following questions in your own words using
complete sentences.

What is an archeologist?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

What are artifacts?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

What are some examples of artifacts that are found in Alberta?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Looking at the picture of a teepee ring on page 114, why do you

think just the stones of a teepee ring have been found but none of
the other parts of the teepee?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Studying Artifacts
You and your group are now archeologists. With your group, study each
picture carefully and determine what each artifact was used for and why you
think the artifact was used for that purpose. Sketch each artifact in the box
provided.

Artifact #1:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Artifact #2:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Artifact #3:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Artifact #4:
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________