Students will learn about the efforts to preserve and protect the remains of prehistoric cultures by researching and writing a report on National Parks, Monuments or State Parks which contains artifacts of a prehistoric culture

Grade: 5-8
Group Size: Any – activity is individual
Duration: Open- individual time is necessary for research, classroom time for discussion of reports

Library resources on National Parks, Monuments, State Parks, etc.

The National Park Service has set aside areas that protect the homes, artifacts, and cultures of early man in the U. S. Other government agencies, such as the Bureau of Land Management, also have places set aside for the preservation of prehistoric cultures. While many people visit places like Mesa Verde or Chaco Canyon, few may be aware of places like Three Rivers Petroglyph Site in New Mexico, Lowry Pueblo in Colorado, or Edge of the Cedars Museum and Ruins in Utah. This activity will broaden the students’ knowledge of places preserving and protecting prehistoric cultures, as well as increasing their understanding of the process involved to protect these sites.

Determine the scope you wish the report to cover. The report should cover basic information such as the location of the park, size, what it is protecting/preserving, culture that lived there, the time period that particular culture lived, main attraction of the park activities available, etc. You can add whatever information you wish to integrate this activity into your social studies curriculum.

1. Hand out an outline to the class listing the information they must obtain for their report. Give them time limits for research, rough draft, final draft, etc, in whichever manner you or your class is accustomed to. Encourage students to visit their shool and local city libraries, www.nps.gov and other internet resources.

2. Determine if you wish to research a location nearby, or one out of state.