Mysterious+Artifact

Mysterious Artifact  Matt Scheffenacker ELED 365 Mysterious Artifact Strategy ** Description: **This strategy allows students to look at an artifact (war helmet, Egyptian hieroglyphic, replica item, internet picture, or photograph) about something that they are studying and generate questions. This is used to engage students and get them thinking about what the object is, what it was used for, who would have used it, and its significance to what has been studied. This is typically used to introduce a topic because it is intended to be mysterious. While looking at the artifact the students will ask themselves questions and then talk about it with their classmates. After having a conversation about the artifact, the teacher will then tell what it is and move on to the lesson. This artifact is intended to activate prior knowledge and engage the students in the lesson. ** Strengths:  ** · Engages students to think about what the object is. · Starts as student-centered discussion. · Prompts the student to ask questions (What is this? Where did it come from? What is it made of? What was it used for?). · Prompts students to look for details in a given artifact to create thinking and discussion. · Activates prior knowledge about a topic, if a student recognizes a symbol or marking. ** Weaknesses:  ** · Does not give the student any information itself. · This could take time away from the lesson is the teacher does not keep track of the time. · Teacher must make sure that the artifact is suitable for grade level or the students may be disruptive. ** Mini-Lesson:  ** · Students will be shown a picture (on ELMO) and asked talk with their neighbor for a minute or two about what the picture is. · They will then participate in a classroom discussion to talk about the picture. (student-led) · If the students are having trouble they will be asked “What is this picture of and why is it significant?” · The teacher will only intervene when needed. · The teacher will tell what the object is if the students have not said what it is. · The teacher will also explain the significance of the Korean War Memorial. http://www.koreanbeacon.com/tag/korean-war/