Each module is organized with the following features:

Exploring Questions: these questions are meant to provoke children's thinking, and can serve as a form of assessment at the end of the module.  If using a project based model, these questions may correlate with questions students may have come up with independently about ancient Ashkelon. Finally, when using a backwards planning approach these questions serve as essential questions guiding student learning and instruction.  

• Practical Application of Feature
  - Can be used as a final assessment for either oral or written assessment.
  - Can be used to guide whole/small group discussions

Archaeology World Wall: These words are content specific words.  Basic definitions of the words are provided as they apply to the field of archaeology, and in particular, to the dig at Ashkelon. Teaching vocabulary words in important to building students' oral vocabulary, thus enhancing later reading comprehension.  Presenting the vocabulary in a word wall format builds students' independence in writing and word recognition and recall.  It is advised that these words be accompanied with pictures. Some of these photos have been provided.  As with all vocabulary, the more opportunities children have to hear and use the words in natural conversation the deeper the understanding the child will have of the word and it's concept.  

• Practical Application of Feature
  - Have words on a wall in an area of the classroom that is dedicated to your archaeological study
  - Have students create archaeology dictionaries

Log Book: The purpose of the log book is for students to record their thoughts, new understandings, and reflections on different topics. There is an initial log book entry for students to complete prior to viewing any videos.  This is meant to assess students' prior knowledge and to check for students' understandings, misunderstandings and misconceptions.  There are follow up log book entries for students to complete after watching each video. These entries encourage students to think and act like archaeologists. Furthermore these questions prompt students to analyze primary sources and evidence, emphasize perspective, and historically inquiry.

• Practical Application of Feature
  - Can be used as a writing activity during literacy centers
  - Can be used to guide whole/small group discussions
  - Form of informal assessment

Videos: The videos are both the primary sources and the evidence students use in their analysis and thinking about ancient Ashkelon.  The videos allow student immediate access to the archaeological site of Ashkelon, as well as an intimate view of the artifacts and structures found in Ashkelon. Many of the videos were created based on student questions and requests because of this the videos are highly engaging and the conversations taking place in the videos feel personal.

• Practical Application of Feature
  - Can be watched independently during centers and then students complete log book activity
  - Video can be watched as a whole group and then students complete log books independently

Interactive Homework: Interactive homework is meant to not only engage the child, but also the family in the learning that is taking place in the classroom.  The purpose of interactive homework is for students and parents to bring information into the classroom that the teacher would not otherwise have access to.  Many of these activities require students to gather data at home for in class analysis.  Again, in doing this, students are prompted to think like archaeologists. They are taking information from a society (the class) and making conclusions based on what they see. They are analyzing evidence to understand a society, engaging in critical thinking and inquiry.  

• Practical Application of Feature
  - an be used as informal assessment of students' understanding
  - Allows families to interact with what you are doing in the classroom in their homes

Junior Archaeologist Assignment: These activities are hands-on archaeology activities. Their purpose is to simulate some of ht experiences had and artifacts found in the field. Children are able to attache their knowledge to these hands-on experiences deepening their understanding and putting their knowledge into practical application while building retention. Many of these activities request teacher preparation and would be best done in an area of the classroom where they can be left out for students to visit over several days. Frequent opportunities to engage in these activities also students opportunities to test out different theories and ways of approaching the problems presented. This builds students' independence, competence, and confidence. It affords them the opportunity to engage in problem solving and hand-on archaeological inquiry.  

• Practical Application of Feature
  - Allows students to engage in higher level thinking activities that require application of knowledge
  - Helps students to generalize knowledge and make connections between and among ideas
  - Opportunity for informal assessment