Investigating a Slave Cabin teaches students about the past lives of enslaved Africans at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest Plantation in Virginia through authentic archaeological and historical inquiry.
Instructions for the Teacher:
The teacher’s document is 31 pages, consisting of background information and four sections corresponding with the student notebook. It includes a brief history of African slavery in Virginia and the shelters where enslaved people lived. Quadrant maps from the archaeological site of a slave cabin at Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest Plantation are provided for students.
Student Archaeology Notebook:
The student notebook is 29 pages of articles and activities about the Poplar Forest Slave Cabin. The biography of Mr. Gregory Jefferson, a descendent of enslaved Africans at Poplar Forest, guides students through the investigation. Through archaeology, students discover artifacts left behind and how soil analysis assists in interpreting the site.
