Lesson Plan

Coordinates and Gridding in Archeology

Archeologist in an orange jacket with mountain range behind

Archeologists work on a grid system to locate their work.

NPS photo.

Grade Level:
Upper Elementary: Third Grade through Fifth Grade
Subject:
Science,Social Studies
Lesson Duration:
60 Minutes
Additional Standards:
National Social Studies Standard Correlation: K-4:2b, 2d, 2f    5-8: 1c, 2d, 2f  ( coordinate grids can also be found in state math, science, and social studies standards)
Thinking Skills:
Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience.

Essential Question

How do archeologists record the location of artifacts on a coordinates grid?

Objective

Students will: 1) Use coordinates to label an excavation site and 2) Determine the location of artifacts within the coordinate system.

Background

This lesson plan is one in a series that uses archeology to teach concepts everyone needs to know. It can be used as-is, or be customized with images, objects, or stories representative of a particular park or place. Lesson plans in this series are:

Preparation

Print out copies of the file "Excavation Map and the Artifact Location Record" (on paper) and the file "Site Grid" (on transparency sheets).

Materials

Print the excavation map on paper.

Download Excavation Site Map and Artifact Location Record

Print the site grid on transparency sheets.

Download Site Grid

Lesson Hook/Preview

Point out that the class is on a grid system -- the tiled floor! Explain that the students can record their location (or context) in the room based on the grid.

Tell the students to pay attention as you count off the x (the rows) and y coordinates (the columns) and write down their location in the tile grid. Starting with the columns, count off starting at zero, then repeat with the rows. Have the students shout out their coordinates.

Ask students to answer, What is context? Why does it matter? Discuss for a minute, then direct students to reflect on their context in the classroom grid. Ask leading questions, such as: Why does their location in the classroom matter? How do students experience the classroom differently, based on their context? Why would it matter to an archeologist?

Procedure

Explain to students that the class will learn about why and how archeologists use coordinates and a grid system to record an excavation site. Place them in groups of 3-4 people.

Tell the class that they are a team of archeologists who are recording the coordinates of artifacts found at a site. Their job is to locate the artifacts in the grid and create a site map. 

Pass out copies of the Excavation Site Map and Artifact Location Record and the Site Grid to each group. Go through the documents as a class. Look at the Excavation Site Map Sheet and have students use the key to explain the meaning of each symbol. Show the students how to lay the Site Grid over top of the Excavation Site Map Sheet and tape it down.

Instruct the groups to use the Artifact Location Record Sheet to note a coordinate pair and the number of points, sherds, or flakes found there. Go through the process as a group a few times, then the groups should work on their own.

After the groups have completed the worksheets, bring the class back together. Lead a discussion to interpret the grid using the context of the artifacts. Possible questions for discussion include: What did you notice about how the artifacts were grouped together? What artifacts were grouped together? What do you think happened at the places where artifacts were found? What do you think the space between the artifacts means?

Vocabulary

Archeology: The study of the past based on the material evidence that people left behind

Artifact: An object made or used by humans

Context: The place of an archeological resource in space and time

Coordinates: Pairs of numbers that locate a specific point on a grid

Excavation: A methodological process to uncover evidence of the past by systematically digging through earth

Flakes: Thin, sharp-edged pieces taken from a rock core that were shaped into tools or weapons

Grid: The division of an archeological site into small squares that show different areas of excavation

Projectile points: Artifacts such as arrowheads and spearheads

Sherd: A broken fragment of pottery

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Tags: archeology archaeology

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Last updated: January 15, 2025