Interview: Using Artifacts to Explore Our Mentors and Ourselves

What do our possessions reveal about our personal identity? An inquisitive ninth grade class dug deep to find the stories hidden among the cherished artifacts of their mentors. A vibrant world of Social Studies came to life when these students-turned-archaeologists discovered how a letter to a father, a scarf from a distant land, and an heirloom pendant are historical capsules that can reveal our most personal and collective experiences – that an artifact from the past has the power to transport the beliefs, ideals, and principles we hope to preserve for the coming generations.