Grade 5: Digging Into Prehistory
Grade 5 students took their prehistory studies beyond the classroom during a new field trip to the University of Colorado Denver, where they met researchers working to uncover the lives of early humans.
Grade 5 History Teacher Mr. Mike Willis arranged the visit after attending a summer professional development conference focused on experiential education. Inspired to create more opportunities for learning beyond campus, he connected with Dr. Jamie Hodgkins, an associate professor of anthropology at CU Denver.
During their visit, students split into three groups to learn from Dr. Hodgkins, another professor, and graduate assistants. They examined skull models and models of early tools, connecting what they saw to the early human species they had studied in class, including Neanderthals and Homo erectus.
“Our kids got to see that this is a real field of science and history studied actively by real experts,” Mr. Willis said.
Fifth graders also learned about Dr. Hodgkins’ work at a prehistoric burial site in Italy and what it revealed about early human communities. Learning about her discoveries helped students see that their prehistory studies connect to questions researchers are still exploring today.
“It was eye-opening to hear that discoveries are still being made, completely changing the way that we think about ancient human ancestors,” Mr. Willis said.
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
