What's in the Box?

Our current unit in social studies has been met with excitement and curiosity.  To launch the unit, the students spent time investigating artifacts in an inquiry box.  They spent two days analyzing each item and asking questions about how the artifacts connected to one another.  Some students believed that they knew what all of the mystery items were, yet still questioned how all of the puzzle pieces fit together.

After each team worked together to analyze the artifacts, they participated in the structure blob and line.  We grouped the students based on the artifact that they analyzed and then formed a line to allow students to talk with each other.  This structure allowed students to learn more about the items that they did not have a chance to analyze.  I was impressed by the conversations and the attention to detail by the students.  This activity pushed the students outside of their comfort zone.  They were left without many answers and that can be an uncomfortable feeling for some.

The box contained multiple pictures, a map, and a few unknown artifacts.  As a result of these activities, most of the teams determined the "mystery" items and how they were connected.  The tea, cotton, and sugar cane, along with the pictures, helped introduce students to the antebellum period in history.  I look forward to seeing the information gathered and knowledge gained throughout this inquiry unit.