Investigating the Puzzle House Pueblo

Discover the past through evidence from an archaeological site in the Mesa Verde region! In this investigation students will use geography, history, archaeology, and tree ring data to learn about a Pueblo and the Ancestral Puebloan people who lived in it. Examine historic photographs, artifacts, and maps of the Puzzle House Pueblo shelter. Students meet Deloria Dallas, a Hopi Tribal member, through reading a biography and oral histories. Then they “uncover” a real archaeological site, classify artifacts, and infer how the geographic area of the southwest shaped the Pueblo. Explore the use of traditional Puebloan architecture today and engage students in a debate on a current civic dilemma involving archaeology and preservation. Includes texts by and about a Hopi tribal member Supports Common Core State Standards Incorporates authentic data for students to analyze “I think it’s the best thing we are doing right now. It’s lending itself so well to language functions, the kids are so engaged and just loving it…And, I think it really sets them up to think like scientists.”- Rachel Gersh, 4th grade teacher, Camino Real Academy, Santa Fe, NM Investigating the Puzzle House Pueblo guide: Instructions for the Teacher: The teacher’s document is 40 pages, consisting of background information and four sections corresponding with the student archaeology notebook. It includes a brief history of the Ancestral Puebloan people, including details about their livelihood, traditions, and Pueblo home. Quadrant maps from a pueblo archaeological site in southwest Colorado located in the Canyon of the Ancients National Monument are provided for students to study and use. Student Archaeology Notebook: The student notebook is 38 pages of informational texts and data collection sheets about the Puzzle House Pueblo. Deloria Dallas, a member of the Hopi tribe, guides students through the investigation. Through geography, archaeology, dendrochronology, historic photographs, and oral histories students learn how a site is interpreted, why it is important to today’s communities, and how to preserve sites for future generations to enjoy.
Bonus! When you buy Investigating the Puzzle House Pueblo, you will also receive the essential companion product: Project Archaeology: Investigating Shelter.