Kids & Family

David E. Owens Students Dig Up the Past

Check out what one David E. Owens teacher set up to bring education outside the classroom and give students a memorable lesson.

David E. Owens Middle School seventh graders in Antonio Giovinazzo’s social studies class recently learned what it was like to be a true archaeologist.

Students were required to bring in shovels, pails, brushes, tape measures and garden rakes in order to excavate various artifacts and fossils from a section of the middle school field.

“It was probably one of the best lessons I have ever observed in education,” said David E. Owens Principal Whitney Perro. “It was such an authentic experience for the seventh grade students and truly took learning outside the classroom.”

Find out what's happening in New Milfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The simulation, designed by Mr. Giovinazzo, was intended to give students a hands-on opportunity to excavate the past. Items in the dig included: ancient Roman, Greek and Chinese coins, pottery, various types of bones, arrowheads, shells, coral and other assorted remnants from past civilizations including Egypt, China, India, Greece and the Roman Empire.

The construction of the dig site consisted of three pits, 8ft. x 10 ft. in diameter, which were sub-divided into three sections that were 4ft. by 3ft.  In these pits, they worked in cooperative groups of 6-8 students, each having specific tasks. First, diggers removed the dirt, then logged and recorded the depth of each artifact and fossil that was found, the sifters removed dirt and sorted out the rocks in search of artifacts and fossils, and recorders documented the finds and took pictures to be used later in the classroom. 

Find out what's happening in New Milfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

By the end of the simulation, students began to understand how these artifacts from thousands of years ago, laid down the foundation for the society they live in today.

Did you get to do anything like this when you were in school?


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here