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Archaeology Resource Kit

Standards of Learning

A Word to the Teacher

"Wingapo," or welcome, to The ARK, the Department of Historic Resources' Archaeology Resource Kit. This kit brings to your classroom an exciting approach to learning about Virginia's first people. Your students will experience for themselves their link to the past. The ARK's books, drawings, videos, replicas, and computer game will give your students a variety of ways to explore Virginia's earliest beginnings. The discussion questions and projects will deepen their understanding of the people, places, and events of the past that still influence them today.

The kit can help you meet Standards of Learning for building History and Social Studies, English, Mathematics, and Science knowledge and skills. These SOLs are listed in a separate section. We would also like to refer you to the "Suggested Reading," "Resource Materials," and "Speakers Directory" sections of the Teacher's Guide for additional classroom materials, kits, and museum outreach programs you may find useful.

This guide contains many elements for organizing an instructional unit. There is a lot to choose from, so please take what works best for you. The guide is based on the book, First People: The Early Indians of Virginia. A collaborative project, the book was written and reviewed by Department staff, professional archaeologists, and leaders of the eight Virginia Indian tribes. First People looks at ways in which the early Indians adapted to a continually changing environment, from 9500 B.C. to 1607 A.D. From 1607 to the present, the book discusses the initial period of European contact and the issues, goals, and cultural celebrations of the current tribes.

The ARK promotes teaching with historic places. Teacher training sessions for a joint "Teaching with Historic Places" initiative will be held by the Department of Education and the Department of Historic Resources. This initiative is intended to:

  1. promote the concept of teaching with not just about historic places,

  2. focus on ways to use historic places and records to address SOLs, and 

  3. share useful examples of good ideas and good projects that teachers, museum educators, and others can use.

 To receive a copy of the kit contact Department of Historic Resources Keith Egloff, 
Phone: (804) 367-2323 ext. 131