Children and teachers explore an interpretive trail.
There's no better way to learn about the historical and cultural background of Texas than through hands-on activities. At the Nightengale Archaeological Center, students learn about the importance of preserving and protecting archaeological sites in a natural setting.
The following information will help teachers plan a school tour to the center.
Goals
Provide a field-based experiential learning experience.
Encourage academic performance in accordance with Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) objectives.
Educate students about the need for the preservation and protection of archaeological sites.
Promote an awareness of archaeology and the many disciplines it incorporates.
Present a background of Central Texas culture history.
Students participate in the dig box exercise.
Guidelines for school programs
Reservations are required in advance.
We offer a four program for $12 per student or a two program rotation for $6 per student.
Thirty student minimum; 80- student maximum per day.
Programs are scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays throughout the school year.
Program lasts approximately three to four hours.
Program descriptions
Excavation site tour
Over 170,000 artifacts have been recovered from this site. The tour is an interpretive hike lead by a guide that will show you the pits that the archaeologists excavated. There is a replica of a grass hut and real grinding depressions in bedrock that were used for thousands of years. The layers of time will take you on a tour that goes back 5000 years.
Museum tour and dig box excavation
In the museum students can learn about making tools from flint; how bones, antlers, and plants were used for tools, and products; and watch a demonstration of making fire with a bow-drill wood set. The dig box portion of this activity starts with the recording of data using the metric system and plotting points on a graph with an x-y axis. After recording the location of artifacts, we will move down through two layers of artifacts until we get to the bottom strata. Here the students will carefully excavate using brushes to reveal artifacts hidden under the dirt. After artifacts are uncovered we will interpret what has been found.
Primitive Hunting
Students will learn how to use an atlatl and practice throwing their spear at a target of a wooly mammoth. They will learn the importance of silently stalking upon prey and throwing rabbit sticks at silhouettes of rabbits. while working together as a team.
Texas Tribes
Students will learn how the Native Americans located in Central Texas used the natural resources of the Colorado River and how trade routes were established to help meet the needs of tribes all over the state. Students will learn about the the Tonkawa, Comanche, Karankawa, Lipan-Apache, Jumano, Caddo, Witchita, and Cohuiltecan. Then everyone will participate in a powwow and learn about dancing and singing.
Students throw a spear with an atlatl.
Teacher preparation
The tour can be conducted in all but extreme weather conditions. Make certain that students are dressed appropriately for the forecasted weather. The students will be outside for most of the visit.
The center has restrooms, picnic tables and drinking water. Visitors may bring lunches.
If you must cancel: Please call 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 8001 or (512) 303-5073 at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled visit. Also call if you have questions or comments about the center's program and activities.
Teaching aids
Texas Cultural Connections Initiative, Teaching Module: Teachers can use this curriculum before and after visiting the center. It also can stand alone for those unable to make the trip. The lessons are designed primarily to augment 4th- and 7th-grade social studies programs. However, they are flexible enough for use in other grade levels and across various disciplines.
“Footprints in Time,” an eight-minute video produced by LCRA in 2003 that provides a tour of the site suitable for children and adults.
Texas Beyond History, a public education Web site project that includes lesson plans about archeological and historical research on the cultural heritage of Texas.
A book, titled The River People, also includes lesson plans and is available for purchase from LCRA.
To register for school programs, call 512-303-5073 or 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 8002, or e-mail jeannie.smith@lcra.org.
