ArkaeoSources for teachers

Dear preschool, elementary school, middle school, and high school teachers, we have gathered for you relevant books and educational resources all published at very different times. This will give you a broad overview of archaeology as a scientific discipline studying objects made by humans for human use.

Selection of references for elementary school to high school teachers

Just a reminder : archaeologists are not paleontologists.
A video such as Archaeology dig reveals preserved dinosaur does not represent the work of archaeologists, but of paleontologists studying dinosaurs. Therefore, this video should be called “Paleontologist dig reveals preserved dinosaur”. This misconception on archaeology is unfortunately very common.

A frequent mistake is to link archeological research and excavating.
In this scenario, neither paleontologists nor geologists would exist. However, geology has given archaeology a tool: the study of stratigraphy. Archaeology is not solely about excavation, but rather the exploration of human civilization through its technological artifacts and his/fer traces. This is why some archaeologists do not dig up artifacts, but instead focus on structures that are still standing, such as churches, or on objects like medieval manuscripts.

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Educational resources

ArkeoTopia, Augustin’s educational resoucres — edutainment in archaeology:

Jean-Olivier Gransard-Desmond’s “My Archaeology Book” offers English-language materials for learners of all ages, from kindergarteners to high school students. Through interactive activities such as drawings, videos, and observation challenges, this resource guides you through the various stages of archaeological investigation. Plus, it provides supplemental information to deepen your understanding.
Animals secrets of My Archaeology Book – list for activities with students for ages 4 (kindergarten) to 8 (primary school).
Tip for an aspiring archaeologist, the word hunt – Dictionary challenge to use the paper dictionary with rules for group and solo play as well as downloadable documents for students for ages 10 (middle grade) to 14 (high school).
An archaeological short story for all – A science short-story for students ages 8 (primary school) to 18 (high school) in order to explore secularism, fraternity, and the applications of archaeology in everyday life.
Fairies vs Facts: from reading to theater – A captivating method for engaging youth, from primary school through high school, in the joy of reading, or for honing their spoken word proficiency, is through the art of dramatic storytelling.
Le bon geste de l’archéologue — The Archaeologist’s Proper Technique is a video for all ages. A short video teaching the correct archaeologist’s technique. In French

Others educational resources from all over the world:

English Heritage Education, Archaeology: Leaning Pack, 2022 — Free download on line from ages 5 to 11
National Park Service, Junior Archaeologist, Activity Book Ages 6-12 — Free download on line from ages 6 to 12 and other resources for teachers
Society for American Archaeology, Teaching resources — Educational tools that will give learners a deep insight into archaeology, from kindergarten to high school, and examples of teacher’s syllabus.
English Heritage, Teaching and learning resources library — More than 100 free educational tools packed to give your learners a deep insight into the history of the United States History by field, grade, period, resource type in English and Spanish.
Smithsonian institution, Teaching resources — More than 100 free educational tools packed to give your learners a deep insight into the history of the United Kingdom History by stage, period and region.
Wikipedia, Project:Archaeology – Project page from the Wikipedia community working to improve entries related to archaeological research and civilizations. This allows you to offer your students a concrete research, reading, and writing project assessed by others (see the step-by-step guide for explanation, particularly on the importance of sources). For grades 3-5, Vikidia is a better resource.
John R. White. Hands-On Archaeology: Real-Life Activities for Kids. Prufrock Pr. 2005 — Don’t be misled by the title: this book offers a hands-on approach to archaeology for teenagers aged 12 to 18, using adapted methods and techniques.

Some resources for your students

Check out our special bibliography selection for archaeology:

Reference and resource portal

ArkeoTopia, Archaeological Resources from the Augustin’s World: articles, photos and examples of colored drawings – Discover the steps of archaeological research with drawings, videos, observation games, as well as additional information for all ages (from Kindergarten to High School).
Archaeological Institute of America, Educational & Virtual Tours Resources List — A good hub for the general public/teachers: you can quickly find a variety of resources (videos, visits, activities) and gateways to research sites
Crowdsourced Online Educational Archaeology Resources for teachers and students — Large annotated list: websites, YouTube channels, podcasts, tours, interactive activities, courses, etc. + age/area (for all ages)
The Archaeology Channel — Specifically designed for outreach activities: many “ready-to-use” links for classroom use (activities, lessons, interactive resources)
Explore the world of history with Goodreads, a platform dedicated to exchange about historical fiction and non-fiction books. Delve into various genres, including comics, tales, verse, novels, and documentaries, spanning different eras and catering to students of all levels.
Google Arts & Culture, At the Dawn of Art — resources on prehistoric art, including illustrations, 3D objects, and videos
UNESCO, World Heritage List—a visual and informational resource that allows you to contribute to the Wikipedia article on: World Heritage List
Collectively, a list of archaeological sites by country, Wikipedia — information and illustrations on world cultural heritage from different periods, with the option of reading it in different languages
Archaeo Book Club, an online community for lovers of archaeology and book — Podcast, Discord and more for High School students

Field Trips

Explore the world of museums by browsing through Wikipedia’s dedicated category. Alternatively, reach out to your local museum or archaeological organization for more specific recommendations.

Here are some suggestions for exciting excavation site trips and engaging activities to spice up your outings:

The International Archaeology Day is an opportunity for you to celebrate archaeology every year in October in the US but also abroad.
The European Archaeology Days are an opportunity for you to celebrate archaeology every year in June in Europe.
The European Heritage Days provides ideas and tips for families who want to visit museums and cultural sites in Europe.
The Heritage Open Days helps you find cultural outings suited to your child’s age in UK.
Science festival around the world

To go further

FAQ from Archaeological Institute of American except that archaeology is not about excavating, but about understanding human beings through the traces they have left or are currently producing.
Paul G. Bahn et Caroline Bird, Archaeology: The Definitive Guide, Fog City Pres. 2002, 432 p. et 650 illustrations – A two-part guide: a narrative to explore the past, a guide to discover the major sites on each continent.
Collective. Archaeology Entry on Wikipedia. [consulted 12/29/2025 à 14:00] providing information, images and links to specialties.
SCC Archaeology, How Has Archaeology Revealed Anglo-Saxon Rendlesham?. 2023. — An animated video which explains the archaeological techniques that were used to uncover the remains of the royal settlement at Rendlesham. More information on the emmayouell.com
To find archaeology magazines around the world use Wikipedia category like Archeology, a magazine dedicated to the popularization and news about archaeology in the World.
University of Oregon. Archaeology Field School Experience: Student Unearths 12,000-Year-Old Artifact. 2024: Gabi shares how her love for the outdoors, science, and making a difference inspired her to major in anthropology with a focus on archaeology. From her first class to discovering a 12,000-year-old artifact, Gabi highlights the pivotal role the University of Oregon played in shaping her career path. — Quick video on school student and what is a field school experience
Florida Public Archaeology Network. Field School: Shovel Testing. 2021: In this episode Kara Wallace, University of West Florida Field Director and graduate student, explains some of the fieldwork she led for her thesis research in the summer of 2021. She explains how learning surveying techniques and shovel testing prepares students for future job opportunities! — Video showing a field school excavation with students, site context, objectives, and what we are trying to understand