CoVA supports the Virginia Department of Historical Resources (VDHR) archaeology education efforts by assisting in the development of VDHR's Archaeology Resource Kits (ARKs).

These kits meet specific Virginia Department of Education Standards of Learning (SOLs). Using the Archaeology Resource Kits, you can address several SOLs at once. The ARK projects can be geared to many grade levels, as they increase in their complexity and create content strands that carry from one grade to the next.

The kit circulates on temporary loan at no cost. Museums, teachers, and educational organizations may make a reservation to borrow the kit by contacting the DHR Chief Curator.

Contact CoVA's Education Committee chair for more information.

Virginia Indian Archaeology Resource Kit

The Virginia Indian Archaeology Resource Kit contains books, drawings, videos, replicas, and a computer game that will give students a variety of ways to explore archaeology and the Indians of Virginia.

"In Search of the First People" provides an overview of Virginia Indian history and introduction to the Virginia Indian ARK.

The archaeology resource kit meets the following Standards of Learning:

• English 2.2, 2.11, 3.1, 3.2, 4.7, 4.9, 5.8, 6.2, 6.9, 7.1, 7.6, 9.2, 10.1, 10.10, 11.3, 11.9
• Mathematics 1.2
• Science K.9, 1.1, 1.5, 1.7, 2.1, 2.5, 2.7, 3.1, 4.1, 4.5, 4.8, 5.1, 5.7, 6.2, LS.12
• History and Social Studies K.1, 1.1, 1.7, 2.3, 3.3, 4.1, 5.1, 5.2, 8.1, 9.5, 10.2, 11.1, 11.17

African American Archaeology Resource Kit

Made available through the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, this kit contains a variety of resources, books, artifacts, maps, drawing and cards relating to archaeological findings about African-American life in Virginia. Educators can use these materials to explore content areas. They also use the kit to reinforce a variety of skills, including:

• Reading multiple texts (primary documents, text, maps, plans, physical objects, pictures) to learn about the past
• Quantifying (measuring, counting, grouping) and analyzing (comparing/contrasting) data
• Making and testing hypotheses
• Interpreting results (drawing conclusions, answering questions)

Students will explore African-American history, African American sites, Housing and Artifact exercises and Foodways. The "Introduction to the Archaeology of African-American Life" provides an overview of the African-American ARK. For more information, please visit VDHR's website.

The activities in this kit meet the history and social science Standards of Learning under Virginia Studies, including VS.1a-i; VS.2a,b and c; VS.3e; VS.4a, b and d. In addition, specific activities meet other Standards of Learning in math and English.