Costa Rica Archaeology Exhibit: Pre/Post-Visit Activity...Imagery From The Natural World: Ancient...

Exploring the KU Natural History Museum

© The University of Kansas Natural History Museum (2015) 1

Costa Rica Archaeology Exhibit: Pre/Post-Visit Activity

Target Audience: Middle school and above Objective: Explore two NGSS crosscutting concepts (Patterns/Scale) using an archaeology exhibit. Activity Description: Students organize the artifacts on display in our Imagery From The Natural World: Ancient Costa Rica archaeology exhibit and consider what kinds of information might be explored or communicated by different presentations. Varied grouping options can be used for this activity (e.g. small groups, peer partners). 1. Students cut out the artifact cards for the objects on display, and then sort/organize the cards in

one or more ways that make sense to them for how to present the objects. Students can use the exhibit introductory text and object information (page two), and the map (page three) for reference.

2. Discuss similarities and differences among the organizational schemes used and what kinds of

ideas or patterns might be explored or communicated by different presentations. 3. Visit the museum, before or after the activity, to view the exhibit and compare and contrast the

museum display with the organizational schemes used by students. Materials Needed: • Student

o Costa Rica archaeology artifact cards (object size scaled to US quarter) o Costa Rica archaeology exhibit introductory text and artifact description, and map

Optional: magnifying glass for close examination of object images.

• Teacher

o Example Introduction/Discussion Questions Selected NGSS Crosscutting concepts (NGSS Lead States, 2013) Patterns. Observed patterns of forms and events guide organization and classification, and they prompt questions about relationships and the factors that influence them. Scale, proportion, and quantity. In considering phenomena, it is critical to recognize what is relevant at different measures of size, time, and energy and to recognize how changes in scale, proportion, or quantity affect a system’s structure or performance. Example Introduction/Discussion Questions Patterns. How did you organize the objects? Why did you choose that approach? Why do you think the museum presented the objects in the way that it did? What kinds of information could or would be communicated by different presentations? Scale, proportion, and quantity. How might these objects be thought of differently within the context of the entire museum or outside the museum? What patterns do you notice at different sizes or scales? How are the properties of the objects communicated? Are there multiple examples presented?



Content: Exhibit introductory text and description of artifacts Title Imagery From The Natural World: Ancient Costa Rica Introductory text Costa Rica is a small, ecologically diverse Central American country. Indigenous groups used the diversity of plants and animals for food, shelter and clothing, and portray the natural world in their designs. The iconography or imagery on these artifacts reflect both real and mythical attributes of humans and other animals. These artifacts represent three cultural regions of pre-Columbian Costa Rica, dating prior to European contact. Artifacts Ocarina. An ocarina is a flute-like wind instrument that generates high-pitched whistles. Stamp or Roll. Stamps and rolls may have been used to decorate clothing or the body.

Figurine. Figurines depict experiences of everyday life and special occasions. Vessel. Vessels serve many purposes in everyday life and ceremonies. Tripod vessels often have

clay balls in the legs that rattle. Metate (muh-tah-tee). Commonly used for grinding food, metates may have also served a ceremonial purpose. Materials Clay. Clay is a fine-grained rock or soil material with one or more clay minerals. Basalt. Basalt is a fine-grained igneous rock formed by rapid cooling of magma or lava. Volcanic Tuff. Volcanic tuff is rock formed from volcanic ash. Stone. Stone is a general term that refers to unspecified rock.



Costa Rica archaeology exhibit map

Costa Rica archaeology artifact cards (object sized scaled to US quarter)

Metate Central Region 1,700 – 1,300 years ago Stone

Vessel Diquis Subregion 2,000 – 1,300 years ago Clay


Metate Central Region 1,000 – 500 years ago Stone

Vessel Gran Nicoya Region 1,500 – 650 years ago Clay


Metate Central Region 1,700 – 1,300 years ago Stone

Metate Central Region 1,500 – 1,000 years ago Basalt


Stamp Central Region 2,100 – 1,500 years ago Clay

Vessel (tripod) Gran Nicoya Region 1,000 – 500 years ago Clay


Vessel (tripod) Gran Nicoya Region 1,000 – 450 years ago Clay

Vessel (tripod) Gran Nicoya Region 800 – 450 years ago Clay


Vessel (tripod) Central Region 1,500 – 1,200 years ago Clay

Roll Gran Nicoya Region 2,000 – 1,300 years ago Clay


Ocarina Gran Nicoya Region 2,300 – 1,700 years ago Clay

Figurine Diquis Subregion 1,000 – 500 years ago Clay


Ocarina Central Region 1,300 – 1,000 years ago Clay



Figurine Gran Nicoya Region 1,200 – 650 years ago Clay

Ocarina Diquis Subregion 1,900 – 450 years ago Clay


Stamp Central Region 2,100 – 1,500 years ago Clay

Figurine Central Region 1,300 – 500 years ago Basalt


Vessel Diquis Subregion 700 – 500 years ago Clay

Mano (grinder used with metate) Central Region 1,000 – 500 years ago Basalt


Vessel (tripod) Central Region 1,600 – 1,300 years ago Clay


Vessel Gran Nicoya Region 2,300 – 1,500 years ago Clay


Vessel Central Region 1,500 – 1,200 years ago Clay

Vessel (tripod) Gran Nicoya Region 1,500 – 1,200 years ago Clay


Vessel Gran Nicoya Region 2,800 – 2,300 years ago Clay

Figurine Diquis Subregion 1,900 – 450 years ago Clay



Roll Central Region 2,100 – 1,500 years ago Clay


Figurine Central Region 1,000 – 500 years ago Volcanic tuff


Figurine Central Region 1,300 – 1,000 years ago Volcanic tuff


Figurine Central Region 1,300 – 500 years ago Basalt


Figurine Diquis Subregion 1,300 – 500 years ago Volcanic tuff

Costa Rica Archaeology Exhibit: Pre/Post-Visit Activity...Imagery From The Natural World: Ancient...

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