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Photographs by Richard Hewett
Clarion Books, 1992
Summary: History is filled with mysteries. This book presents the evidence of the Anasazi Indian civilization which built their dwellings in the side of mountains, then disappeared over 600 years ago. Remaining artifacts are beautifully captured in color photographs. The author presents several theories surrounding the demise of the tribe.
Level: RL: grade 5; IL: grades: 3-6
Themes:
Archeology
Pueblo Indians
Cliff Dwellers
Mesa Verde
National Park System
Anthropology
Scientific Investigation
Activities:
1. Scientific Investigation - Distinguish "facts" from "theory." List the evidence discovered during the Mesa Verde archaeological dig. From these artifacts what theories have been drawn? What pieces of missing information might help the archaeologists make a stronger case for any of their theories? Read David Macaulay's Motel of Mysteries (1979). What is the author trying to tell the reader about archeology and the problems scientists face?
2. Reproduce the patterns in the Anasazis' decorative arts, pottery and utensils. Prepare a visual presentation of these designs. Investigate patterns used by other tribes throughout the United States. Brainstorm major elements of these designs. Compare the patterns. What was discovered?
3. Basket weaving. Locate resources in your library that describe the basket weaving process. Invite a local basket weaver to the class for a demonstration. Reproduce the techniques discovered.
4. Shards: Explore the archaeologist activity of reassembling fragmented pieces of pottery. Use the information in Barbara Cork's The Young Scientist's Book of Archeology to help with this exercise. Shatter by different means (fire, freezing, impact) a half a dozen plates, mugs, pots, etc. which contain remnants of food or drink. Try to include vessels that display a variety of external designs. Students are not to see the items before the breaking. Randomly remove several pieces from the pile of shards. Bury the pieces in area of the school grounds or in especially constructed indoor boxes. Students will simultate a real dig and reconstruct the items. Keep a diary of the progress, problems and reactions experienced by the amateur scientists.
5. Information about foods and food preparation is provided in Arnold's book. Try to duplicate a typical menu for similar foods. How do the results compare with modern cooking techniques? Describe the differences and theorize why you dislike or prefer the Anasazi diet and food preparation techniques.
6. Time lines: List the events that lead to the discovery and investigation of Mesa Verde. Prepare a time line using the events. What other significant archaeological discoveries were going on the United States during this time frame? Prepare a time line of these discoveries. What inferences can be drawn about the amount of time it takes to fully explore a site?
7. Shelter: Read about other American Indians living in the West and Southwest during the Anasazi period. List the different types of shelters preferred by these tribes. How do these dwellings differ from each other? What needs and factors determine the choice of dwelling? What theories are given for the abandonment or replacement of one type of shelter for another? What difficulties may the Anasazi have encountered with their selection of a cliff shelter?
8. Investigate other instances of historical disappearances and abandonment of populated areas (Carthage; Masada; Atlantis; Roanoke Island, North Carolina; American West ghost towns; Mayans; Angkor, Cambodia; Dura, Syria; Mystery Hill, North Salem; Mayan Indians, Washington State; Mexico's Olmec Indians). Divide the class into several groups to do research. Prepare a presentation for each instance that includes: the physical evidence that remains, theories explaining these disappearances and questions that remain unanswered. After the presentation, prepare a list of commonalties that are shared by the incidents. What types of artifacts usually remain of a civilization that disappears? Speculate about the types of future discoveries or new scientific techniques that would result in conclusive explanations for disappearances or abandonments.
9. Interview local immigrants who have left their homelands. Create a list of questions that would help the interviewer discover the reasons for the emmigration. Are any of their reasons for leaving similar to the theories that relate to these historical disappearances?
10. Compare/Contrast: Marcus' The First Book of the Cliff Dwellers with Arnold's The Ancient Cliff Dwellers of Mesa Verde.
Glossaries: Count the terms they share. What fraction or percentage of the total number of terms used, is used by each book? What terms would the reader like to see in his "ideal" glossary?
What differences exist between the books, when comparing facts and theories?
What features from each books could be combined to create a more effective publication? Explain why selections were made.
11. Vocabulary: Students are not to read the glossary in the back of Arnold's book. Keep a diary of new terms and their definitions discovered during the reading of the book. What words were not included in the author's book that were included in the student's list? Why would these lists differ? Use the student's list to create crossword puzzles or word search puzzles. Exchange and solve puzzles within the class. Use other books and magazine articles about the Pueblo Indians and the Cliff Dwellers to discover additional terms to be added to the puzzles. Prepare a bibliography of these resources so that those working with the puzzles can investigate new terminology.
12. Newsletter. Imagine that you are editor for the Anasazi Cliff Dwellers Weekly Journal. It is one year before the tribe will eventually leave Mesa Verde. Decide what types of columns are to be included in your newspaper (i.e. current events, weather, foods, gardening, entertainment, fashion, human interest, advice, editorials, foreign affairs, illustrations, advertisements etc.). Assign the columns to different groups of class "reporters." Prepare and publish a newsletter that will reflect the information gathered during the class' investigation of the cliff dwellers.
13. Video Report: Create a video tape skit based upon the television program Unsolved Mysteries. Watch several programs to discover what format is usually used to present the facts and speculations. Decide which pieces of your Cliff Dwellers research would be appropriate for your "unsolved" video. Create an outline for a script, write the script, assign parts and create an effective presentation that would demonstrate the collective knowledge of your class. Present the program to another class and ask for questions after the program. Evaluate the effectiveness of your content and presentation based upon the comments and questions from the other class.
Resources:
Books
Baily, Elizabeth Chesley. Americans before Columbus. N.Y.: Viking, 1961.
Cork, Barbara. The Young Scientists Book of Archeology. London: Usborne, 1984.
Editors of Time-Life Books. Vanishings. Alexandria. VA: Time-Life, 1990.
Facklam, Margery. Frozen Snakes and Dinosaurs Bones. N.Y.: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1976.
Macaulay, David. Motel of the Mysteries. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1979.
Marcus, Rebecca. First Book of Cliff Dwellers. N.Y.: Watts, 1968.
Nature's Wonderlands: National Parks of the World. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 1989.
Porter, Frank. The Pueblo-Southwest. Chelsea House, 1993.
Perring, Stefanie. Then and Now. N.Y.: Macmillan 1991.
Oakley, Ruth. North American Indians Series. Marshall Cavandish, 1991.
Spence, Lewis. Myths of the North American Indians. N.Y.: Dover, 1989.
Tunis, Edwin. Indians. N.Y.: World Press, 1953.
The Pueblo Indians. Chelsea House. 1993.
Waldman, Carl. Encyclopedia of Native American Tribes. N.Y.: Facts on File, 1988.
Wolfson, Evelyn. American Indian Tools and Ornaments: How to Make Implements and Jewelry with Bone and Shell. McKay, 1979.
Wolfson, Evelyn. American Indian Utensils: How to Make Baskets, Pottery and Woodenware with Natural Materials. McKay, 1989
Computer Software
TimeLiner. Tom Snyder Productions, 1989. (Dos, Mac, Apple)
Crossword Magic. Mindscape. (Dos, Mac, Apples
Periodicals
Canby, Thomas Y."The Anasazi; Riddles in the Ruins." National Geographic, Nov. 1982, p. 554-9.
Osbourne, Douglas. "Solving the Riddles of Wetherill Mesa." National Geographic, February 1964, p. 155-195.
"20th Century Indians Preserve Customs of the Cliff Dwellers.: National Geographic, February 1964, p.196-211.
Prepared by Claudia Mahlman, Garland St. Middle School, Bangor
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