Lesson Plans

Defining Sacredness

Produced by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis as part of the Sacred Places Exhibition.


The Children’s Museum’s lessons are designed to weave classroom experiences and museum education together. All lessons are interdisciplinary and can be used as individual classroom experiences or in combination to create a cohesive unit. Lessons are optimized when used in connection with museum virtual programs and field trips.

Defining Sacredness

Produced by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis as part of the Sacred Places Exhibition.


The Children’s Museum’s lessons are designed to weave classroom experiences and museum education together. All lessons are interdisciplinary and can be used as individual classroom experiences or in combination to create a cohesive unit. Lessons are optimized when used in connection with museum virtual programs and field trips.

Defining Sacredness

Produced by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis as part of the Sacred Places Exhibition.


The Children’s Museum’s lessons are designed to weave classroom experiences and museum education together. All lessons are interdisciplinary and can be used as individual classroom experiences or in combination to create a cohesive unit. Lessons are optimized when used in connection with museum virtual programs and field trips.

Defining Sacredness

Produced by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis as part of the Sacred Places Exhibition.


The Children’s Museum’s lessons are designed to weave classroom experiences and museum education together. All lessons are interdisciplinary and can be used as individual classroom experiences or in combination to create a cohesive unit. Lessons are optimized when used in connection with museum virtual programs and field trips.

Defining Sacredness

Produced by the Children's Museum of Indianapolis as part of the Sacred Places Exhibition.


The Children’s Museum’s lessons are designed to weave classroom experiences and museum education together. All lessons are interdisciplinary and can be used as individual classroom experiences or in combination to create a cohesive unit. Lessons are optimized when used in connection with museum virtual programs and field trips.

1.1 A Purpose-Driven Life: The Lyon-Martin House Primary Source Analysis Lesson Using HIPPO

This lesson is part of The Lyon-Martin House CyArk Tour lesson series and helps students learn and practice primary source analysis using the HIPPO acronym. Using the Lyon-Martin house tour and the Daughters of Bilitis’ Statement of Purpose, students will fill out a HIPPO document and respond to questions inviting them to think critically about stated goals and their achievability. In addition to laying the groundwork for analytical skills necessary for social studies, this lesson is self-guided and thus can be taught by a substitute teacher.

1.2 Lyon-Martin House Thesis Writing Workshop

This lesson is part of The Lyon-Martin House CyArk Tour lesson series. It helps students learn and practice a simple method of thesis statement writing and making historical claims using evidentiary supports. In addition to laying the groundwork for analytical skills necessary for social studies, this lesson is self-guided and thus can be taught by a substitute teacher.

1.1 Visiting the Neighborhood

Students will begin their study of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by going on the CyArk virtual tour of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park. In this lesson students will tour 20 stops focused on Dr. King's childhood neighborhood, home and church in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. Information contained in the tour serves as a starting point for a series of lessons focused on Dr. King's life, his contributions, and an examination of the Journey to Equal Rights for African Americans.

1.2 Mapping the Context with A Timeline of Events

In this lesson, students will analyze the social, economic and political context of national and local events that Dr. King grew up in and around. As a collection, the following activities provide an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the world in which Dr. King lived. However, these can also be used as individual activities.

1.3 Putting the Era in Perspective -1950s

The following lesson breaks down the social, economic, political context of national and local events in the 1950s. As a collection, the activities provide an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the world in which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his family lived.

1.4 Putting the Era in Perspective -1960s

This lesson details the social, economic, political context of national and local events in the 1960s. As a collection, the activities provide an interdisciplinary approach to understanding the world in which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his family lived during this decade.

1.5 A Visual Essay - Legacies of Love

In the following lesson, students will be engaged with the development of a visual essay (a sequence of images) that aims to tell a 'greater story'. Each activity contains an image, quote, and a prompt for student responses on the topics of family, home, and memorial. Students will produce a series of responses that should be 1-3 paragraphs long. Each image segment should be afforded 15 minutes for completion.

2.1 Exploring the Man Behind the Letter from Birmingham Jail

This lesson will ask students to consider the ideas, struggles, and message contained in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s critical piece A Letter from a Birmingham Jail that corresponded with his incarceration there for protesting the treatment of blacks in Alabama.

2.2 A Campaign of Nonviolence

This lesson will engage students in conducting research to form an argument, practicing critical thinking skills to respond to arguments and counterarguments, exercising written and oral communication skills, and practicing acknowledgment of a range of perspectives on an issue.

3.1 Who is Martin Luther King, Jr.?

The purpose of this lesson is to introduce learners to the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. as well as to the Civil Rights Movement. Learners will also reflect on their own experiences.

1.1 What Women Want - Life for Women before 1848

As a lead into this lesson, it is important to note that the overarching, compelling question for these lessons collectively is: To what extent were the early women's rights activists in Seneca Falls successful at achieving their goals? The activities in this lesson sequence are created so that they can build towards a final assessment, or used individually in support of a different culminating outcome at any teacher's discretion.

1.2 Radical Times Lead to Radical Goals

The core question for this lesson series is: To what extent were the activists at Seneca Falls successful in achieving their goals? This lesson asks students to explore and respond to this core question by answering the supporting questions: Who were the organizers of the Women’s Rights Convention at Seneca Falls, and were they radicals? What were the goals of the activists at the Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls?

1.3 The Future is Female

This lesson asks students to explore and respond to this core question by answering the supporting questions: To what extent did the women of the Seneca Falls convention achieve their goals? What were the most significant effects of the women’s rights movement in culture, politics, and economics? What does the women’s rights movement look like in the modern era?

2.1 Creating Context for the Women's Rights Movement

This lesson and the others in the series ask students to explore How and Why the women's rights movement emerged in antebellum America, what strategies led to its growth, who was involved, and how those people created alliances with other movements.

2.2 Whose Movement is it Anyway?

In this lesson students will learn more about the identities of key leaders of the movement, identify allies in the movement, and explore who was excluded.

2.3 Different Routes, Same Destination

During this lesson, students will work to survey the types of strategies used by the women's rights movement. Additionally, by examining the Declaration of Sentiments, students are asked to consider how social movements decide on and articulate their goals, and to explore how those decisions can be difficult.

2.4 Are We There Yet?

This lesson asks students to consider gender equality today, to examine what has been accomplished, and hypothesize about where the women's rights movement might be heading in the future. Students will reflect on an update to the Declaration of Sentiments written by Maya Angelou in 1977, and create their own updated Declaration for the current year.

1.1 Introduction to César Chávez and the United Farm Workers (UFW)

This lesson asks students to review and consider the basic ideas and concepts related to Cesar Chavez's work to improve the life of farmworkers and the subsequent development of the United Farm Workers union.

1.2 Remembering César E. Chávez

This lesson provides students access to understanding the humanity of our heroes. Consider using this lesson to help students recognize that they too can create meaningful changes and make real contributions to things they feel passionate about in their community and beyond, even as ordinary people.

1.3 A Deeper Dive into the Themes

In this lesson, students will be introduced to concepts related to the terms: Solidarity, Community Organizing Tactics, Gender Roles and Oppression. Students will also be given the opportunity to look more deeply at related themes and the roles they played in the struggle for Farm Worker rights as led by César Chávez and others.

1.4 Connections to the Present

This lesson is designed to help students connect the farm workers' struggles to contemporary struggles for workers and social justice and is designed as a culminating project piece for the lesson series.

1.1 A Nation of Immigrants?

Although Angel Island has been called the "Ellis Island of the West", this lesson will help students understand why that is not an entirely accurate description. While Ellis Island served largely as a gateway to America, Angel Island operated mores as a gatekeeper.

1.2 Chinese Exclusion in the United States

In this lesson, students will become familiar with the conditions that led to the migration of people from many Asian countries, including China, during the 19th century to America. Students will focus how the influx of these immigrants led to opposition to their admission to the U.S. and how both formal and informal processes were put in place to block access and integration.

1.3 An Investigation

In this lesson, students will learn the terms “Paper Sons” and “Paper Daughters” and the role the Angel Island Immigration Center played in implementing laborious and exclusionary processes to slow immigration of Chinese people into the United States.

2.1 Leaving Home

This Angel Island Immigration Station Lesson focuses on the reasons why people leave their country of origin to immigrate to another country, and the personal costs of that decision.

2.2 The Journey from Home

This Angel Island Immigration Station Lesson focuses on the physical journeys undertaken in immigrating to America. Students are asked to consider the different populations that immigrated to Angel Island as well as explore demographics in immigrating to America today.

2.3 A Destination

This Angel Island Immigration Station Lesson focuses on immigrant experiences upon reaching Angel Island. Students explore the policies and procedures that met immigrants at their initial arrival, living conditions at Angel Island, and the circumstances of extended detention.

1.1 "No Union More Profound" - The LGTBQ Journey to Equal Rights

This lesson is designed to help high school students understand the issues surrounding discrimination by analyzing the LGTBQ+ Rights movement. This lesson series focuses on the essential question: "How do you define the Journey to Equal Rights?"

1.2 "No Union More Profound" - The LGTBQ Journey to Equal Rights

This lesson is designed to help high school students understand the issues surrounding discrimination by analyzing the LGTBQ+ Rights movement. This lesson series focuses on the essential question: "How do you define the Journey to Equal Rights?" and makes use of previously covered material throughout.

2.1 Communities of Consequence - Exploring Place Based Monuments and Public History

This is the first lesson of a series designed to help middle grade learners recognize the value of historical sites and monuments. Using the CyArk Stonewall Monument as a virtual field trip, this lesson encourages discussion of locations that are curated to demonstrate shared cultural, social, and political values.

2.2 Communities of Consequence: Exploring Place Based Monuments and Public History

This lesson is designed to help middle grade learners recognize the value of historical sites and monuments. Using the CyArk Stonewall Monument as a virtual field trip, the lesson encourages discussion of locations that are curated to demonstrate shared cultural, social, and political values.

3.1 Should Difficult Topics Such as Ethnic Studies or LGBTQ History be Taught?

Students will explore the question, "Is it important to teach difficult histories such as the struggles of the LGBTQ community and Ethnic Studies in general in our schools?" To examine this question, educators will have students make use of the Socratic Seminar process while using a common information source to conduct an open dialogue to acquire a deeper understanding of the topic.

3.2 The People are REVOLTING! The Power of the Protest Sign

This lesson explores the development and evolution of the protest sign. Students will examine, interpret and create protest signs like those seen during the LGBTQ Movement, the Women's Suffrage Movement, The Civil Rights Movement, and The Chicano Movement.

3.3 The Power of Symbols and the Evolution of the Pride Flag

This lesson is designed to explain the origins and evolution of the most recognizable symbol of the LGBTQ+ movement - The Pride Flag. The lesson will also introduce additional versions of flags that are used to represent groups in the LGBTQ+ community. At the conclusion of the lesson, students will design their own flag that represents who they are.

3.4 Bayard Rustin-Angelic Troublemaker

This lesson explores the life, contributions and lasting legacy of Civil Rights leader and Gay man Bayard Rustin. It will explore how biographies may include or omit information about an individual. This lesson will also examine Rustin's writings and connect the motivations and strategies utilized in the Civil Rights and LGBTQ+ Rights movements.

3.5 A Student Tour Guidebook

This lesson provides students a very direct and simple Tour Guidebook consisting of questions that will frame their exploration of the Stonewall National Monument. Students use the CyArk guided tour led by Ken Lustbader of the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project as their key source for this tour. Students will explore the 9 segments of the Stonewall National Monument and answer questions connected to each part.

Personal Accounts of Slavery

The objective of this lesson is to encourage empathy among students and understand the relevance of the slave trade. First students will hear and respond to the personal account of an individual enslaved during the transatlantic slave trade. We will discuss what this experience was like, look at slave ships, and do a simulation of what it was like for the slaves. We will wrap up that discussion saying thankfully the transatlantic slave trade has ended and we have moved on from this dark spot in human history. Clearly, we would never let anything like this happen again. At that point, students will read about modern day slavery and have a discussion with their reactions.The final piece of this lesson relates to social activism. Students will write letters to political representatives who can choose to adopt anti-slavery legislature.

Analyzing the Impact of Slavery and the Sugar Trade in the Americas

In this lesson, students will learn the history of the sugar trade and how slavery had an impact on the World. Through reading of an article, socratic seminar, viewing the CyArk map and charting the the countries that took slaves, students will analyze and interpret historical sources, and understand how human and physical systems vary and interact.

Atlantic Slave Trade Webquest

The following webquest will provide you with a comprehensive overview of main topics that pertain to the Atlantic Slave Trade. You will be using hyperlinks to take you to different websites that include primary sources that will help create a full picture of the Atlantic Slave Trade. At the end of this lesson, you will need to apply the information that you learned in a culminating project that demonstrates accuracy of the information, application and empathy.

The Atlantic Slave Trade and Site Erosion

In this lesson, students will develop an understanding of how natural forces and human activity can affect erosion of earth materials over time. They will also develop a better understanding of the slave trade through an interactive read aloud about a young slave girl’s experience, and discuss why it is important to preserve significant historical sites like Annaberg.

Atlantic Slave Trade Project: BVSD Elementary Lesson Plan #1

In this lesson, students will participate in a digital scavenger hunt to explore the CyArk website and begin building interest around and background knowledge ab the Atlantic Slave Trade. This learning experience will require students to utilize geography, map, technology and literacy skills to understand and interpret information via a digital platform.

Recreando El Camino Real

En esta lección los alumnos aprenderán las técnicas de construcción de estructuras de adobe de la arquitectura colonial Española. A través de un proyecto práctico de reconstrucción, los alumnos tomarán parte de la construcción en adobe y de las pruebas de materiales, concluyendo con un informe de investigación que conecte las misiones históricas con el paisaje de sus ciudades contemporáneas.

Recreating El Camino Real

In this lesson, students will learn about the construction techniques of adobe structures in Spanish colonial architecture. Through a hands-on reconstruction project, students will engage in adobe construction and material testing, concluding in a research report connecting the historic missions to their contemporary city landscapes.

Forma, Función y espiritualidad en Rani ki Vav

En esta lección, los alumnos aprenderán acerca de la construcción de pozos escalonados, con particular énfasis en el origen de los materiales y las modificaciones para mejorar su funcionalidad. A través del análisis de Rani ki Vav, un pozo escalonado del norte de la India, los alumnos estudiarán tradiciones ceremoniales en relación al agua y la intersección entre funcionalidad y espiritualidad.

Form, Function, and Spirituality at Rani ki Vav

In this lesson, students will learn about the construction of stepwells, with particular emphasis on the origins of materials and modifications for better functionality. Through an analysis of Rani ki Vav, an ornate stepwell in northern India, students will study ceremonial traditions in relation to water and the intersection between functionality and spirituality.

Trazando el impacto del comercio trasatlántico de esclavos

En esta lección, los alumnos aprenderán acerca de la historia del comercio trasatlántico de esclavos y cómo este sistema ha impactado en el mundo actual. A través del estudio de mapas, viajes marítimos y oceanografía, los alumnos investigarán el clima político y económico que mantuvo el extensivo comercio de esclavos, y conseguirán un conocimiento más profundo de cómo este tipo de sistema ha impactado en las vidas de los individuos a lo largo de la historia y en la actualidad.

Mapping the Impacts of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

In this lesson, students will learn about the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and how this system has impacted our contemporary world. Through a study of maps, maritime travel, and oceanography, students will investigate the political and economic climates that supported the extensive slave trade, and will gain a deeper understanding of how a system of this kind has impacted the lives of individuals throughout history and today.

Trazando relaciones sociales: Planificación Urbanística de Natchez

En esta lección, los alumnos estudiarán la relación entre Natchez, un temprano asentamiento europeo en la parte baja del río Mississippi, con la concurrencia del comercio de esclavos en el contexto de los Estados Unidos. Centrándose en los cambios ocurridos en Natchez entre 1800 y la actualidad, los alumnos investigarán las tendencias en la planificación urbanística y los desequilibrios sociales como resultado directo del mercado de esclavos y las ciudades-subasta a orillas del río.

Charting Social Issues: Urban Planning at Natchez

In this lesson, students will study the relationship between Natchez, an early European settlement along the lower Mississippi River, with the concurrent slave trade within the context of the United States. Focusing on the changes within Natchez between the 1800s and today, students will investigate trends in urban planning and societal inequalities as a direct result of riverside slave market and auction towns.

Construyendo lo mejor: Comparando Observatorios

En esta lección, los alumnos aprenderán acerca de la función social y las técnicas constructivas de los Observatorios en el pasado y en la actualidad. A través del análisis de Chichen Itza y Chankillo, los alumnos se van a embarcar en su propio proyecto de investigación y reconstrucción, concluyendo en una maqueta o modelo 3D por ordenador.

Building the Best: Comparing Observatories

In this lesson, students will learn about the social function and construction techniques of observatories in the past and today. Through an analysis of Chichen Itza and Chankillo, students will embark on their own research and reconstruction project, concluding in a 3D computer model or physical model.

Talking Gothic: Style and Structure at Rosslyn Chapel

In this lesson, students will learn to recognize and describe key elements of Gothic architecture and identify which Gothic elements are featured at Rosslyn Chapel, developing a rubric for future recognition of architectural styles and congruency. Students will research other architectural styles as well as the symbology featured at Rosslyn Chapel, and will have the opportunity to develop their own unique style of design.

Master’s Apprentice: Measuring Rosslyn Chapel

In this lesson, students will learn the basics of measurements and architectural drawing. In understanding what details are important to document and record, students will translate their measurements into a 3D graphics software program to create their own accurate drawings of architectural features and various symbols represented at Rosslyn Chapel.

Engineering Rosslyn Chapel: Physics in Practice

In this lesson, students will learn about basic concepts of mechanical and gravitational forces, load bearing, and several forms of arch construction and strengthening. A field trip to Rosslyn Chapel is encouraged, where students will identify arch forms using correct terminology, and build off what they learn to construct their own arches!

Rock Art of the Past

Using CyArk's 3D data and accurate perspective drawings, students try their hand at interpreting rock art symbols! Students will learn about the tools used in making rock art, invent their own symbols, and paint a story using their symbols on rocks to decorate their classrooms. Along the way, students will reflect on why rock art was important to those who created it, and how we can appreciate and respect the past today.

Intercambio Cultural: Sé tu propio Guía

¡Pon a prueba tus habilidades como guía turístico! A final de la sesión, los estudiantes deberán comprender qué tipo de vida diaria debían tener las gentes de las misiones en California, comunicar acontecimientos históricos de forma apasionante y explorar el terreno de la grabación y edición de pistas de sonido para compartir sus conocimientos y trabajo con el público oyente.

Cultural Exchange: Be Our Guide

Test your skills as a tour guide! At the end of this lesson, students will understand what everyday life was like at a California mission, communicate historical events in an engaging way, and explore audio recording and editing technologies to share their work with a public audience.

La Próxima Parada: El siguiente destino en El Camino Real

Analizando el contenido disponible en 3D y dirigiendo una investigación independiente, los estudiantes propondrán la siguiente localización a lo largo del Camino Real. Los estudiantes tendrán que basar sus decisiones en cuestiones y perspectivas históricamente relevantes, argumentando su decisión en base a las razones que hayan creído convenientes delante de un Consejo - simulacro. ¡Deja que el Consejo decida!

La Próxima Parada: The Next Stop Along El Camino Real

Analyzing 3D content and conducting independent research, students will propose the next location along El Camino Real. Students will take on historically relevant perspectives and will rationalize their decision in front of a mock council. For the next stop along El Camino Real, let the council decide!

Diseño y Conquista : Arquitectura del Camino Real de California

Como los Españoles utilizaron la arquitectura para conseguir su objetivo en California? Utilizando visitas del lugar, visitas virtuales, datos de escáneres 3D y dibujos o modelos 3D como por ejemplo Google SketchUp o MineCraft, los estudiantes podrán desarrollar el trabajo acerca de un emplazamiento de misión concreto.

Design and Conquer: Architecture of El Camino Real de California

How did the Spanish utilize architecture to achieve their purpose in California? Using the historic record, virtual tours, 3D scan data, and 3D drawing/modeling programs like Google SketchUp or MineCraft, students will design their own mission site.

Modeling El Castillo Activities

Students begin with a web-based fact hunt to learn about the site and El Castillo. Students are then grouped into teams and are tasked with building a scale model of El Castillo.

3D Modeling and Scale

Construct a topographic model of Mount Rushmore. After the model is completed, students use concepts of scale and proportion (similarity concept in math) to calculate the scale of their model by comparing to real-life measurements.

Preservation at Mount Rushmore

Learn about the various preservation concerns at Mount Rushmore. By learning to recognize the various types of rocks found in Mount Rushmore and their different characteristics and varying rates of erosion, students will be able to understand the complexity of caring for a monument like Mount Rushmore.

Designing a Monument

Utilize resources available in the art classroom to recreate the Mount Rushmore Sculpture, or design their own version, where they chose the four figures from history they feel should be represented by the monumental sculpture. Students will present their final art piece to the classroom with a persuasive argument for their choices of the figures.

Mount Rushmore as Sculpture

Recreate the Mount Rushmore sculpture with accuracy in mind but using non-traditional sculpture materials. Use drawings and 3D content to get an understanding of the 3-dimensional volumes of the model for accuracy.

Carving Tools at Mount Rushmore

Learn about the marks that carving tools make. Students will learn about the processes of rock removal at Mount Rushmore and understand why the different tools were used at each point of the process.

Carving Tools at Mount Rushmore

Find simple geometric shapes in objects around them. Students will practice identifying and correctly naming geometric shapes within Mount Rushmore. Students will learn about the marks that carving tools make. Students will also learn about the processes of rock removal at Mount Rushmore and why the different tools were used at each point of the process.

Math at Mount Rushmore

Calculate the weight of Mount Rushmore. Start by calculating the volume using cross sections of the model. Use density of stone to finally arrive at a rough estimate of the weight. Finally, calculate when two cracks on the surface of the sculpture would intersect over time.

Math at Mount Rushmore

Recognize shapes in Mount Rushmore, whether it’s 2D shapes through a series of 2D drawings, or 3D shapes through measurable PDF’s of the 3D model of Mount Rushmore. Use geometric formulas to calculate the volumes of these shapes based on scaled representations. Effectively use understanding of scale to translate these calculations to life-size.

Math at Mount Rushmore

Understand that more complex shapes can be partitioned into smaller, simpler, geometric shapes. Learner will be able to understand the concept of grids and symmetry, and be able to use them to make basic or more advanced area calculations.

Geometry at Mount Rushmore

Find simple geometric shapes in objects around them. Students will practice identifying and correctly naming geometric shapes within Mount Rushmore. Students should already be familiar with geometric shapes and their names.

Use Photographs to Create 3D Models

Students learn how to use photography and free 3D modeling software from Autodesk to create a 3D digital model of their own head or any simple objects at home. Students can take their 3D model further by creating a 2D architectural drawing, just like the drawings that CyArk created for Mount Rushmore. The tutorial document should be opened in Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded for free here.

Respecting Our Past

Students learn about Hopi sites including Tutuveni and Dawa Park through a field trip activity and research through selected articles and the CyArk Hopi Petroglyph Sites portal. With the information gathered, students prepare a formal presentation concerning the issues of vandalism, deterioration, and preservation at Tutuveni and other Hopi sites.

History of Tutuveni and Hopi Clan Symbols

Students learn about the History of Tutuveni as an important stop along the sacred Hopi Salt Trail Pilgrimage. Through a field trip activity and research utilizing selected articles and the CyArk Hopi Petroglyph Sites portal, students gather information to be able to prepare a formal presentation.

Hopi Clan Symbols

Students learn about important aspects of Hopi culture and history through a study of Hopi clan symbols found in Tutuveni. A field trip to Tutuveni and Dawa Park, along with printable activities (online version available as well) allow students to gain in-depth understanding of the topic.

Creating a Professional Portfolio

Students will explore the heritage sites in CyArk’s digital archive and select their favorite site. Students will then use the information and material available in CyArk’s digital archive to practice creating a professional portfolio.

Constructing Perspective Drawings

Students will use a perspective view of the photo-textured point cloud data for Mission San Jose, of the San Antonio Missions, as the background for constructing a perspective drawing.

Comparing and Contrasting Heritage from Around the World

Students will select and study two heritage sites in CyArk’s digital archive. Students will then compose an essay comparing and contrasting the history, culture, and/or architecture of the two heritage sites selected.

Creating and Presenting an Architectural Project Presentation

Students will use materials created through the San Antonio Missions Digital Preservation Project, which are available on CyArk’s website, to create a presentation on one of the missions. Students will learn about the selected mission’s history and architecture, and will share what they have learned by giving an architectural presentation.

Creating Architectural Drawings with Computer Aided Drafting

Students will use point cloud elevations of the San Antonio Missions as the background for creating architectural line drawings. Students will learn the basic commands and conventions of computer aided drafting and will practice creating the components of a professional architectural drawing.

Mapping History with Google My Maps

Students create their own map in Google My Maps and place photos and videos on the maps for their mapping projects.

Virtual Scavenger Hunt

Ready to go on a virtual scavenger hunt? Using the maps on the CyArk website students will use the clues to complete a scavenger hunt at Pompeii, Ancient Thebes, and Deadwood USA.

Mapping and Measuring with Google Maps

Students play the role of surveyors by drawing a scale map of a building on campus. Students will then use scale to measure historical buildings and measure their school in Google Maps.

Digital Storytelling

Everyone has a story to tell! Students will write their own fictional story about a person living in a historical period and then create a digital story using pictures, videos, and other multimedia.

Virtual Tour Guide Lesson Plan

Take a virtual field trip! Students will create a virtual tour or create a digital travel brochure of a historical site. Students will narrate their tour using the power of their voice and media from CyArk's website.

Global Warming: The Effect of Rising Sea Levels

How could global warming affect our cities and monuments? Using an online, interactive map and a hands-on activity, students will investigate the potential effect of rising sea levels caused by global warming.

Archaeology and Erosion

Using 3-D archaeological data students will build scale models of a Mayan pyramid using sugar cubes. Using the sugar cube pyramids, students will then conduct an experiment on erosion to learn about its affect on archaeological sites. Who said science can't be sweet?