Introduction to Maritime Archaeology
Grade Level:
6th – 8th grade (Social Sciences)
Lesson Description:
Maritime archaeology is the study of past human cultures with an emphasis on how humans interacted with the world’s ocean, lakes, and river systems. In this lesson, students analyze and interpret video footage of several maritime heritage sites, making inferences about the archaeological sites and the methods maritime archaeologists use to document each site.
Lesson Components:
Standards:
National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies:
- Standard II: Time, Continuity, and Chang
- Standard III: People, Places, and Environments
Ocean Literacy Essential Principles:
- Principle 6: FC b
- Principle 7: FCs a, b, d, e, f
Supporting Images/Videos:
Deep-Sea Dialogues: Maritime Heritage
Video courtesy of NOAA Ocean Exploration. Download HD version (mp4, 2.2 GB)
Supplemental Materials:
Fact Sheets
- Maritime Heritage / Maritime Archaeology (pdf, 1.84 MB)
- How We Explore Maritime Heritage Sites (pdf, 720 KB)
- Tools to Study Maritime Heritage (pdf, 1.31 MB)
- The Ecology of Maritime Heritage / Maritime Archaeological Sites (pdf, 1.39 MB)
Ocean Exploration Facts
Deep Dives – Interviews with Maritime Heritage Experts
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