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Laidley State High School

Title: Laidley State High School Archaeological Dig Site

School Profile:

Name	Laidley State High School
Location	50km west of Ipswich in the Lockyer Valley
Cultural mix	Majority of students are of European heritage with only a small number coming from an Indigenous background.
Sector	Secondary
Size	542 Students
Socio-economic status	Low socio-economic status

Program Coordinator:

Name	Tanya Sleeman
Position/role in school	Classroom teacher

Project Overview:

Where did it fit in the school?	The project was designed in order for the archaeological dig site to be used at a number of different levels. Year 8 can use the project to aid in their understanding of the processes used by Archaeologists, whereas Senior students will be able to consolidate theoretical studies in archaeological methodology with practical applications.
Why was this project chosen?	This project was chosen as the school was changing from Modern to Ancient History within the senior school. Junior students, specifically Year 8, also study Archaeology and Ancient Civilisations. It was felt by staff that the students would benefit from hands on experience. Due to our location it was not seen as feasible to have an excursion to the dig site at the Abbey Museum in Caboolture. So the only solution was for us to develop our own site.
Which students were involved?	During the construction two year 12 students, undertaking Horticultural traineeships at the school, assisted in constructing the framework around the site. Year 11 students will be making some of the artefacts as well as using the site as a component in their major research task. Year 8 students have undertaken a number of activities that in the future (once the site is fully complete) will be based on accessing the site. These activities include both classroom tasks and assessment.
How long did it run for?	The project is ongoing. The actual construction of the dig has taken four months. This includes the excavation, filling and construction of a framework. The cover of the dig is still under construction but it is hoped that this will be completed in the next four to five weeks. Once the cover is in place the site will be ready for student use.

Outcomes Addressed:

KLA	Strand	Outcome
SOSE	Time, Continuity and Change	TCC5.1: Students use primary and secondary evidence to identify the development of ideas from Ancient to Modern times. TCC4.1: Use Primary sources to make interpretations about particular times. TCC6.1: Students evaluate evidence from the past to demonstrate how such accounts reflect the culture in which they were constructed.
Senior Ancient History Syllabus	Theme 1 Studies of Archaeology	Who are the archaeologists who have contributed to the development of archaeology? What methods have been employed by archaeologists and how have these changed over time? What are some problems or issues that might be associated with archaeological sources?

Project Outline:

What did you achieve?	With this project we achieved our own archaeological dig site that will be available to students from all year levels. This will provide them with an opportunity to put into action the theory that they have learnt within the classroom. It will also give students the chance to make history 'real' and see it as something that is occurring all of the time. In terms of physical achievements we have constructed a site that will have a solid cover.
How did you go about it?	The first major step was to find an area in which to be able to establish the site. Factors that influenced our decision were: the amount of daily student traffic, shade, size of the final site and storage of equipment. The size of dig site that was decided on was 4m X 4m X.5m. The second phase was the excavation of the site. The local council, at a considerably lower cost than other contractors, carried this out. We were able to reduce the cost of the sand by negotiating with the HPE department to purchase the sand from the long jump pit as it was being refilled. The sand was placed in the site on the same day. Thirdly in order to be able to attach the cover and to keep the surrounding dirt separated from the sand, a border of planks was constructed. The planks are 200mm x 38mm x 4.2m fence grade untreated ironbark. These were sunk to half their width into the ground. The final stage is the construction of the cover. The style for the cover was decided upon after discussions with the Manual Arts staff who also drafted the final design. The cover is to be made from 35mm rhs and covered with colourbond roofing. These materials were chosen so that the final product would be sturdy while also being weather and animal proof. Wheels will also be attached to the cover and a cement track will be laid to enable it to be rolled off the site rather than lifted.
Any pitfalls or problems?	The major problem that had to be dealt with was the issue of workplace health and safety. There were no guidelines to follow for this type of construction in either the DOEMS or Australian standards. This problem was overcome by having the input of a workplace health and safety officer as well as a builder. The Abbey Museum was also contacted about how they dealt with this issue. Another problem that has been encountered has been relatively minor. The time frame with which we anticipated working within was quite tight and so some activities that we had hope to complete within the six months have had to be postponed. Some aspects of the project, in particular those that relied on outside suppliers, increased the amount of time that any one phase took. This included the delivery of timber and steel. We also felt that we could not go ahead with any construction until the issue of Workplace Health and Safety was resolved.
What did it cost?	Excavation of site: $105.00 Timber: $296.32 Steel: $209.00 Sand: $150.00 Roofing: $300.00 Cement: $400.00 Wheels: $ 40.00 Equipment: $160.00 Garden Shed: $248.00 Artefacts: $300.00
Extra materials	Yr 8 Research Report/Oral Presentation new window 22k Thutmose Island activity new window 20k Archaelogical Dig Worksheet new window 313k

Resources Used:

What CHP resources did you use and how?

Making History: A Guide for Teachers (p6)

Both the Year 11 and 8 students have been actively involved as participants in the site development.
Year 8 students have been involved in activities ranging from an Ancient Egyptian 'Treasure Hunt' to the development of their own reality television show.
Year 11 students will be involved in the development of levels within the dig and the development of the web page. Also, the making of artefacts.
Senior students have already been involved in a discussion about deciding on an appropriate time period (Ancient Egypt) for the dig.

What other resources did you use?

Abbey Museum
www.abbeymuseum.asn.au/

McIntosh Jane (1999) "The Practical Archaeologist" Thames and Hudson.

Which Historical Literacies were addressed and how?

Narratives of the Past
Year 8

Looking at sources - what can be learnt by where and how a source is found:
- Stories of Pompeii, Valley of the Kings, Ice Mummies, Body in the Bog
- Bringing Ancient Civilisations to life

Year 11

Examining links between Archaeological techniques and Ancient Civilisations
In particular the interface of the finds by Howard Carter and Modern display techniques.

Evaluation:

Overall Outcomes	As a result of this project students will now have access to an extra resource that will enable them to interact with history and also to provide them with authentic learning experiences. It is hoped that the wider school community will also be able to make use of the site within their own subject areas. The project has also strengthened the interpersonal relationships between staff members.
Reflection	The original design of the site was an added 2 metres in length and an extra 500 mm deep. This was altered to fit in with concerns over Workplace Health and Safety. Due to the fact that the issue of Workplace Health and Safety has been resolved, this project would be much easier to develop. Once the cover is completed, the students will be able to start accessing the dig site. The original project also contained the development of a CD-ROM This has also been changed to a website. The website will show the construction and use of our dig site. The website is yet to be developed. It is hoped that this website will be regularly updated. The only refinements that will now need to be made in the future will deal with how the site is used by the various classes and year levels. The activities that have already been used by teachers have been designed so that they will be easily adapted to incorporate the actual dig site.
Student Comments	"I think it is way cool how we can go outside for our lessons and do hands on stuff. Way better than listening to the teacher and writing stuff down all the time." Year 8 student "The concept of a real dig site supplements our classroom studies really well and gives us the chance to see what we are learning in a real way." Year 11 student
What help are you prepared to offer teachers who want to contact you?	Tanya Sleeman Laidley State High School Phone: (07) 5466 8922 Fax: (07) 5466 8934 Email: tslee7@eq.edu.au

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