Program Contact
James Hakala
james.hakala@colorado.edu
The Colorado Archaeology in the Classroom project, modeled after the Fossils in the Classroom project, provides hands-on resources on archaeology to teachers and students throughout Colorado. This project provides classroom kits featuring hands-on artifacts and casts, standards-based curriculum, in-district teacher professional development and a classroom presentation.
The project’s goals are 1) to engage elementary students and teachers in classrooms and communities across the state in the study of Colorado archaeology – science, geography and history – through hands-on experience with artifacts, methods and tools, and 2) to get students turned on to Colorado history through archaeology in classrooms around the state. This project showcases the archaeological research of Dr. Stephen Lekson (emeritus), Dr. William Taylor and Dr. Samantha Fladd at the CU Museum of Natural History and strives to provide needed educational materials to schools with little or no access to CU Boulder resources.
Over the next year, the project will focus on the development of a robust set of online resources to augment the physical archaeology kits. These online lessons will also provide a framework to incorporate and highlight the voices of descendant community members whose ancestors resided in Colorado.
Numerous partners help make this project possible:
Mesa Verde National Park provides educational materials for the Colorado Archaeology in the Classroom kits and collaborates in the in-district teacher training for the project.
The Mesa Verde Museum Association provides printed and digital educational materials for the Colorado Archaeology in the Classroom kits.
The Federal Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) “Discovering Archaeology in Colorado” and “Intrigue of the Past” is used with BLM’s collaboration as the curriculum/teacher guide for the kits. This standards-based curriculum is widely used and well established in the field.
The Crow Canyon Archeological Center in Cortez, CO provided important visual timeline materials and pottery sherds for the kits.
The Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, provided hundreds of pottery sherds for the classroom kits.
CU Science Discovery advertises and manages the logistics for the Colorado Archaeology classroom presentation.
A grant through History Colorado’s State Historical Fund allows for the creation of an archival lesson utilizing Yellow Jacket materials from the southwest corner of the state.
As of Fall 2024, 199 kits have been distributed to 174 schools across the state of Colorado, reaching approximately 11,400 students.
Colorado Archaeology Classroom Kits
Additional Info
Colorado Archaeology classroom kits provide Colorado elementary school students with a hands-on opportunity to learn archaeology in the classroom.
Location 1
in colorado
Alamosa
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 2
in colorado
Arvada
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 3
in colorado
Aurora
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Ongoing
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Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 4
in colorado
Bayfield
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 5
in colorado
Bennett
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 6
in colorado
Black Hawk
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 7
in colorado
Brighton
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 8
in colorado
Calhan
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 9
in colorado
Carbondale
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 10
in colorado
Cheraw
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 11
in colorado
Colorado Springs
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
Yes
Location 12
in colorado
Cortez
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 13
in colorado
Cotopaxi
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 14
in colorado
Crawford
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 15
in colorado
Delta
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 16
in colorado
Denver
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 17
in colorado
Dolores
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 18
in colorado
Dove Creek
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Ongoing
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Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 19
in colorado
Durango
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 20
in colorado
Eads
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 21
in colorado
Fort Collins
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 22
in colorado
Fort Morgan
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 23
in colorado
Gilcrest
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 24
in colorado
Glenwood Springs
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 25
in colorado
Golden
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 26
in colorado
Greeley
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 27
in colorado
Greenwood Village
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 28
in colorado
Gunnison
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 29
in colorado
Haxtun
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 30
in colorado
Ignacio
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 31
in colorado
Keenesburg
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 32
in colorado
Kersey
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 33
in colorado
Lake City
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 34
in colorado
Leadville
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 35
in colorado
Littleton
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 36
in colorado
Loveland
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 37
in colorado
Mancos
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 38
in colorado
Monte Vista
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 39
in colorado
Montrose
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 40
in colorado
Monument
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 41
in colorado
Northglenn
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 42
in colorado
Norwood
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 43
in colorado
Ouray
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 44
in colorado
Pagosa Springs
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Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 45
in colorado
Peetz
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 46
in colorado
Pritchett
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 47
in colorado
Pueblo
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 48
in colorado
Rifle
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 49
in colorado
Salida
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 50
in colorado
Sheridan Lake
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 51
in colorado
Silverton
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 52
in colorado
Telluride
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 53
in colorado
Wiggins
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 54
in colorado
Woodland Park
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 55
in colorado
Ridgway
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 56
in colorado
Palmer Lake
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 57
in colorado
Peyton
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Location 58
in colorado
Raymer
Dates
Ongoing
Public or Private
Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)
Program Fee
No charge to attend/participate in activity or program
Sponsoring Units
Research Institutes
- University of Colorado Museum of Natural History
Program Partners
- Mesa Verde National Park
- Mesa Verde Museum Association
- Federal Bureau of Land Management
- Crow Canyon Archeological Center
- Maxwell Museum of Anthropology
- CU Science Discovery
- History Colorado's State Historical Fund
Audiences Served
- Rural Communities
- Socioeconomically Disadvantaged
- Students - Early Learning
- Students - Elementary School
- Students - Homeschooled
- Students - Middle School
- Teachers - Early Learning
- Teachers - Elementary School
- Teachers - Middle School
- Urban Communities
Topics:
- Arts and Culture
- Archaeology
- Anthropology
- Diversity, Inclusion and Equity
- Educational Research and Resources
- K-12 Education
- Museums/Museum Studies
- History
- Pre-K/Early Learning Education
- Environment and Sustainability
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Education
- Visual Arts (Drawing/Painting/Ceramics/Sculpture/Photography)
- Physical Sciences
- Social Sciences