Schools & Beyond

Archaeology in Education Services

Using Objects

Using Objects

We can learn a good deal about a society or culture by looking at the things or objects that people use. When we talk about man-made objects from the past, we call them artefacts.

Good reasons for using artefacts with children

The tactile, hands-on experience will suit children across the ability range and can leave a lasting impression.

Teaching History
Artefacts are primary sources of evidence for the past and can give a whole range of information: for example, about everyday life, materials available, technological skills, people's values, trade and communication, change and continuity over time.

They offer opportunites to develop investigative skills: for example, identification, detailed observation, classification, interpretation, recording and communicating.

Teaching Literacy and Numeracy skills
Artefacts can be used as a vehicle to encourage:

  • Data recording
  • Expressing ideas
  • Creative writing
  • Descriptive work
  • Vocabulary development
  • Estimating shape and size
  • Measuring
  • Drawing to scale

See Discovering Archaeology in National Curriculum History, Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 for activities you can try using both modern objects and archaeological artefacts. You will also find information about museum loan boxes.

English Heritage Education Service have also published a very useful book about working with objects: Learning from Objects, G.Durbin, S. Morris, S.Wilkinson, English Heritage 1990.

Click below for some recording sheets to use with children

A simple artefact record sheet
Looking at artefacts
And more searching exercises
Pottery Report
Artefact Report

Children at Diocesan and Payne Smith CEP School, Canterbury, practised their sketching skills.

Guide to the Zone The Archaeology in Education Service (AES) Publications
Discovering Archaeology in the National Curriculum, Key Stages 1, 2 and 3.
The Whitefriars Excavations Fieldwork Primary Schools
Secondary Schools
Beyond schools A journey to Medieval Canterbury
Roman and Anglo-Saxon Canterbury Reconstructed Roman Canterbury, a journey into the past
Home page

© Canterbury Archaeological Trust Ltd 2000
This page was last updated on 11.02.08