Mysterious People and Places

Task
Procedures
Conclusion
Evaluation

Anasazi
Cahokia
Easter Island
Inca
Maya

Teachers

The Task

  Welcome. I am the curator of the Highlands Museum of Anthropology. Your team has been selected to create an exhibit detailing a civilization which once flourished and created lasting works. Because these civilizations no longer exist, the team shares a great responsibility for locating accurate and interesting information and interpreting the information for  future museum visitors.

• The Mound Builders at Cahokia
• The Mayans at Palenque
• The Incas and Machu Picchu
• The Anasazi (cliff dwellers)
• Easter Islanders

You will need to research the civilization using the Internet as well as books and reference materials. Be sure to examine the resources carefully for accuracy, authenticity, and currency.  It is very important that our displays and exhibit materials be as accurate and up-to-date as possible. 

Below is a list of things you will want to be sure to include, but you may find additional information that is of interest.

• Daily life
• Architecture/buildings
• Environment and environmental challenges
• Communication with other groups of people
• Transportation
• Language       
• Time period/time line
• Occupations 
• Major foods
• Religious beliefs
• Government
• Maps (showing location  in relation to countries, continents, etc.)
• Technology and engineering
• What is distinctive about this culture? What made it special
• How long did it last? What happened?

.After you have collected the information you need, your group will create a museum exhibit sharing your knowledge and expertise. The final product will be a “virtual” exhibit created using PowerPoint, Hyperstudio or a web page with FrontPage or Netscape.

When all groups have completed their exhibits, they will be shared with the total group.

The curator of the museum will evaluate your team’s work using the special evaluation matrix.

Roles

Archaeologist

You will be in charge of learning about the humans who lived long ago by unearthing the objects that they once used. You will gather information about their buildings, pottery, tools – anything they used in their daily lives.

Anthropologist

You will be in charge of learning about the ancient ones by examining their art, religion, language, technology, and any other aspects of their culture.

Gallery Manager

You will be in charge of the “collection”. The collection consists of photographs, documents, artifacts, and other materials relating to the people being studied. You will need to organize the materials for easy reference.

Educational Interpreter

Your job will be to read and interpret the information gathered by other members of the team. You must decide what information is relevant and important for the education of the museum visitors who will view your exhibit. You may need to translate this by writing the information in your own words and creating your own explanations.