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Teaching Resources for Your Classroom

Colonial Williamsburg offers a variety of quality instructional materials to help you teach students about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 18th-century life, and how historians learn about the past, including the following:

"Jefferson's West" Electronic Field TripELECTRONIC FIELD TRIP: "JEFFERSON'S WEST"
21st-Century Technology Brings History Alive in Your Classroom

Thomas Jefferson secured the American West and the future of the United States of America. Join Jefferson as he examines the flora, fauna, and Indian artifacts collected by the Lewis and Clark's Corp of Discovery and reflects on the significance of their mission. With registration you receive a Teacher's Guide, website access to additional activities and resources, 1-800 access to Colonial Williamsburg historians, Internet interaction, technical assistance, and a classroom poster. (Grades 4–8), $100.00. To register call 1-800-761-8331 or go to http://www.history.org/trips/

Hands-On History: Soldier's HaversackHANDS-ON HISTORY: SOLDIER'S HAVERSACK
18th-Century Artifacts for the Classroom

Discover the hands-on excitement of historical investigation. A stout canvas bag with a shoulder strap used to carry a soldier's rations, and personal belongings. This Revolutionary War haversack carries a copy of the Virginia Gazette newspaper, a penny whistle, dice, a musket ball, flint and steel, a tin cup, a cockade, and playing cards. Teacher materials include a lesson strategy, discovery worksheet, annotated artifact inventory, glossary, graphic organizers, primary sources, and illustrations. (Grades 3–8), $75.00. Purchase online

"Nature, Art, and Science" videoNATURE, ART, AND SCIENCE
A Colonial Williamsburg Becoming Americans Series Video

The Lewis and Clark expedition was not the first or only systematic examination of North American flora and fauna. In the early 1700's, Mark Catesby, a self-trained environmentalist, artist, and scientist, spent nearly ten years collecting samples and making detailed notes and drawings describing the plants and animals of the New World. Two 20-minute episodes provide lessons in environmentalism, art, and science. (Video-40 mins.with web access to comprehensive teacher materials.) This program is part of our Becoming Americans Video Series. (Grades 4–8), $34.99. Purchase online

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The Lewis and Clark expedition learned about the Louisiana Territory by surveying its Native American cultures and natural resources. In a similar manner, modern historians and archaeologists learn about the past by carefully studying primary sources and archaeological artifacts. To help you use the same investigative skills in your classroom, we offer the following resources:

"The Eye of the Beholder: Looking at Primary Sources" lesson unit.THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: LOOKING AT PRIMARY SOURCES
Lesson Plans and Materials Designed by Teachers for Teachers

Two-dozen primary sources from the colonial period and suggestions for incorporating document-based inquiry in your classroom. This unit features analysis instruments for such items as songs, poems, architecture, and documents. 127 pages. (Grades 4–8), $34.95. Purchase online


Discovering the Past Through Archaeology classroom simulation kitDISCOVERING THE PAST THROUGH ARCHAEOLOGY—A Classroom Simulation

Discovering the Past puts your students in the role of archaeologists. They make inferences and record information about artifacts. They read secondary sources and analyze primary sources. They measure and map artifacts on a site map. Working in cooperative groups, students analyze, identify, and classify artifacts to determine how each was used. The activities lead students to draw conclusions about the people who lived and worked on the archeological site. Active learning at its best! (Grades 4–8), $99.00. Purchase online


"Archaeology: Revealing Our History" videoARCHAEOLOGY: REVEALING OUR HISTORY
A Colonial Williamsburg Becoming Americans Series Video

Uncover the past with Colonial Williamsburg's archeologists. Two 20-minute episodes take you behind-the-scenes to actual historic sites. After visiting archeological digs, students go inside the archaeology labs to see how modern technology reveals important clues about our nation's history. (40 minute video with web access to comprehensive teacher materials). This program is part of our Becoming Americans Video Series. (Grades 4–8), $34.99. Purchase online


Archaeology for Young ExplorersARCHAEOLOGY FOR YOUNG EXPLORERS
by Patricia Samford and David L. Ribblett

This well illustrated book gives your students an "insiders" look at the work of archaeologists. Where do they dig? What do they find? How do they study the artifacts they discover? 67 pages. (Grades 4–8), $9.95. Purchase online