Students will delve into the survival strategies of early humans by engaging in flint knapping, fire-making, and basic meat butchering activities. These hands-on experiences will help students appreciate the resourcefulness and adaptability of our ancestors as they learn to create tools, harness fire, and process food. The project will culminate in an exhibition where students will demonstrate their skills and share their insights with kindergarteners, fostering a sense of community and shared learning.
Learning goals
Students will explore the role of flint knapping in early human survival by engaging in hands-on tool-making sessions, enhancing their understanding of ancient craftsmanship and resourcefulness. They will investigate the geographical distribution of flint resources and analyze how early humans adapted to various environments by utilizing local materials. Additionally, students will learn fire-making techniques and basic meat butchering skills, understanding their significance in early human life. Through this project, students will develop critical thinking skills as they connect historical practices to modern concepts of adaptation and innovation, culminating in an exhibition where they demonstrate their learning to a kindergarten audience.
Standards
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.9-10.7: Integrate quantitative or technical analysis (e.g., charts, research data) with qualitative analysis in print or digital text.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.9-10.2: Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events, scientific procedures/experiments, or technical processes.
NGSS - HS-ESS3-1: Construct an explanation based on evidence for how the availability of natural resources, occurrence of natural hazards, and changes in climate have influenced human activity.
NGSS - HS-ETS1-2: Design a solution to a complex real-world problem by breaking it down into smaller, manageable problems that can be solved through engineering.
Products
Throughout the project, students will create a series of flint tools, such as arrowheads and scrapers, using authentic flint knapping techniques. They will also explore the process of fire making and basic meat butchering as early humans did, enhancing their understanding of survival skills. Students will document their process and findings in a digital portfolio, highlighting their understanding of early human adaptation and tool-making skills. By the end of the project, students will present their tools and insights in an interactive exhibition to kindergarten students, showcasing their learning journey and the historical significance of flint knapping and other survival techniques.
Launch
Begin with an immersive experience by setting up a simulated archaeological dig site in the classroom, incorporating fire-making demonstrations and basic meat butchering techniques. Provide students with replicas of flint artifacts and tools to examine and hypothesize their uses, including their role in fire creation and food preparation. Facilitate a discussion around the essential questions, encouraging students to consider how early humans might have solved problems using these tools. This hands-on investigation will spark curiosity and set the stage for deeper exploration of early human ingenuity and adaptation.
Exhibition
Students will host an interactive demonstration for kindergarteners, showcasing their flint knapping creations along with fire-making techniques and basic meat butchering methods. They will set up stations where they can guide the younger students in simple, safe activities that mimic these processes, such as using clay to model tool shapes and exploring the basics of fire safety. Through storytelling and hands-on engagement, students will convey how early humans used these skills to adapt and survive, making connections to the essential question about intelligence and adaptability.
