Investigating Nutrition

Discover the past through authentic evidence from ancient archaeological sites in Mesopotamia! Trace the shift from hunting and gathering to the development of agriculture in the ancient world. Examine two real archaeological sites on the upper Euphrates River and uncover the changes in diet as people shifted from foraging to farming. Students will think like archaeologists as they apply the tools of scientific inquiry (observation, inference, evidence, context, stratigraphy, and chronology) to the investigation of nutrition. Surprisingly, the advent of agriculture decreased food diversity with significant consequences for human health even today. Explore contemporary nutrition through student collected data and design a healthy eating plan for the school based on information drawn from the study of the past! Grade Level: 6th Grade (easily adaptable to elementary and high school). I loved learning different ways to engage my students. I really think they will understand archaeology and where our information comes from when not from written language.” – Teacher, Chicago The level of complexity is accessible to this age level (6th grade). The lesson is set up that the students discover the information for themselves. It is effective.” - Eric Barker, teacher aide, 6th grade, Montana