What an experience!

Hello!

During week 3, we each reviewed our findings and our research that we found in the artifact bags that were presented to us last class.

My group was presented with items found in the picture below.



Through the use of technology and making connections between each item, my group learned some things about each item. Each member in the group chose an item to start researching.
The first thing the group found out was about the doll in the center of the picture. This item is considered a Russian nesting doll. The doll pulls apart in the center and inside is another doll that does the same thing, and then another, and another.
The second thing was the box in the right of the picture that contains an American flag pin. Being that we knew that our teacher was from Russia, and that she moved to the United States at a certain point in her life, we assumed this was hers.
The third thing that we researched was the piece of paper in the front of the picture. We found a Russian keyboard on Google and decided to try to decode the words. In turn, we found out that it was a birth certificate. The birth certificate belonged to Dr. Smirnova.
The last thing that was presented in the bag was a picture. We noticed a date on the bottom. Being that the date was in the 1990's and the age of the woman, we determined this had to be Dr. Smirnova's grandmother.

In turn, we realized that each of these items had to do with Dr. Smirnova, Russia, and her grandmother. 

Though this project caused us to think and research differently then we are used to, it was extremely interesting and exciting. It was almost as if it were a game; which group could come up with what the artifacts were first. It was interesting to see how much we can find out from four to five different objects that are personal belongings to another. These were not things that can be easily found on the internet. Making good observations and thoughtful inferences is key within this project.

This experience has also provided me with a tool for my future career in education. Being that I am a college student, and I enjoyed the activity, there is no way that an elementary school student would not enjoy this. Providing the students with artifacts from a specific time period is a great way to introduce a new topic. This also will give the students a connection to the content. This is something that they can easily draw back on because the experience is entertaining.