A HOST OF ACTIVITIES THAT WILL STIMULATE THE CHILDREN!
Prehistory - The aboriginal universe - Archaeology - Ecology
Pointe-du-Buisson Archaeological Park puts documents at your disposal to help you teach about the First Nations and archaeology as part of the social studies program. During their visit, your pupils will be able to explore disciplines such as archaeology, geography and history in Pointe-du-Buisson, a pioneer in archaeological research in Québec.
Download a printable version of the Interactive Educational Program (32.5 MB) in PDF format (french only, Acrobat Reader required - download Acrobat Reader).
Activities that also please the teachers
Our workshops are tailored to the new educational program of the Ministère de l'Éducation du Québec, are focused on skills development and are specifically adapted to each scholastic level.
Pupils are welcomed and supervised by experienced guides that will stimulate their curiosity.
Educational objectives
• Introduce children to archaeology and to the cultural world of the Amerindians and European settlers;
• Stimulate their imagination;
• Encourage cooperation between young visitors;
• Create an exciting, multi-sensory learning environment.
Knowledge acquired
• Knowledge of the importance of fishing for the survival of First Nations;
• Discovery, with the use of recreated prehistoric tools, of the main daily tasks performed during that time;
• Understanding that archaeology uses related sciences such as geography, history, geology and biology to reconstruct ancient lifestyles.
Targeted skills
• Learn the basics of archaeological work through exercises;
• Interpret past behaviours with the help of artifacts;
• Look for links between today's society and prehistory in order to better understand the past;
• Observe the variety of techniques and the riches related to fishing during prehistory.
Click here for rates.
We also offer school rates.
PRESCHOOL GROUPS
An excursion at Pointe-du-Buisson
Learning through play, activities, and the senses
Children imagine a trip on the water that will transport them to prehistoric times at Pointe-du-Buisson. They will follow in the footsteps of archaeologists who discover clues from the past. They will travel on board an imaginary pirogue and sail from one activity to another.
Educational objectives
• Introduce the children to the concept of archaeology by making them aware of the objects that are hidden in the ground;
• Initiate them to the concept of precious objects;
* Explain the basics of the archaeologist's work;
• Compare the life of Amerindian children of the past to their life today;
• Observe, compare and classify objects according to their characteristics.
Duration: 2 or 4 hours*
Maximum: 100 pupils
Ratio: 2 attendants per 25 children
Free admission: 2 adults per 25 children
* The order and the number of activities will differ according to the duration of the visit.
* There will be a 15-minute snack break upon arrival at the site.
Description of the activities
The pirogue: During discussions, children will investigate how this amazing vessel is made, used and preserved.
The laboratory: Analysis of real artifacts in the laboratory. Children will discover fragments and associate them with whole objects they will have seen during their visit.
The archaeological site: Discovery of the means the archaeologist uses to find old fragments buried in the ground.
The Iroquoian fishing hut: Re-created with the help of archaeological and ethnographical data, the hut gives children a chance to better understand the way of life of the Amerindians who lived at Pointe-du-Buisson.
The handling of prehistoric objects: This workshop is centered on the handling of objects to help children see the relationship between prehistoric tools and materials and understand the way they worked.
The puppet theatre: The children will learn about a mysterious fishing story with Yakuwisat, a young Amerindian.
Amerindian games: An initiation to the material culture of the Amerindians through games that date from prehistoric times.
PRIMARY
CYCLE ONE
The archaeologist's thousand and one questions
Detectives! Follow the timeline!
Like a detective, the archaeologist uses many clues found in the ground, in the environment and in ancient documents to solve mysteries. Armed with a notebook, pupils will identify clues that could help archaeologists gain a better understanding the lifestyle of those who inhabited Pointe-du-Buisson throughout the centuries.
Educational objectives
• Introduce the children to the concept of archaeology by making them aware of the precious objects that are hidden in the ground;
• Initiate them to the scientific archaeological approach;
• Invite them to voices hypotheses about the means of transportation used by the Amerindians;
• Compare the lifestyle of the Amerindians to today's lifestyles;
• Observe, compare and classify objects according to their characteristics;
• Identify the natural resources the forest could yield during the time of the Amerindians.
Disciplines
• Social studies
• Mathematics, science and technology
• Art
Duration: 2 or 4 hours*
Maximum: 100 pupils
Ratio: 2 attendants per 25 children
Free admission: 2 adults per 25 children
* The order and the number of activities can differ according to the duration of the visit.
* There will be a 15-minute snack break upon arrival at the site.
Description of the activities
The pirogue: Like detectives, children will investigate how this amazing vessel is made, used and preserved. They will discuss this topic, emit hypotheses, and try to solve the mystery.
The laboratory: Analysis of real artifacts in the laboratory. Children discover and follow the various steps real archeologists must take to analyse objects found in the ground.
The archaeological site: Children find out how archaeologists proceed to find old objects buried in the ground. They learn about tools and how to use them.
The Iroquoian fishing hut: Re-created with the help of archaeological and ethnographical data, the hut gives children a chance to better understand the way of life of the Amerindians who lived at Pointe-du-Buisson.
The handling of prehistoric objects: This workshop is centered on the handling of objects to help children see the relationship between prehistoric tools and materials and understand the way they worked.
The rapids: Children are invited to observe and identify the challenges and natural obstacles faced by sailors since prehistoric times and realize the importance of Pointe-du-Buisson as a transit point.
Exploring the nature trails: Discovery of the hickory-maple stand. Observe, touch and understand a natural habitat where people have lived for the past 5,000 years.
The puppet theatre: The children will learn about a mysterious fishing story with Yakuwisat, a young Amerindian. The story was inspired by an Amerindian legend.
Amerindian games: An initiation to the material culture of the Amerindians through games that date from prehistoric times.
CYCLE TWO
Looking for clues during an archaeological investigation
Experiment, observe and question!
In a notebook, pupils write down the thousand and one questions asked by the archaeologist. Who? What? Where? Why? How? To answer these questions, archaeologists will call upon other disciplines that will allow them to re-create the lifestyles of past inhabitants of Pointe-du-Buisson.
Educational objectives
• Introduce the children to the concept of archaeology by making them aware of the precious objects that are hidden in the ground;
• Handle, observe, compare and classify objects according to their characteristics;
• Initiate children to the scientific archeological approach;
• Make them aware of the changes that took place within Iroquoian society between prehistory and the colonization by Europeans;
• Explain the social organization and lifestyle of the Iroquoians;
• Explain why Pointe-du-Buisson was a favourite place of transit for Iroquoians.
Disciplines
• Social studies
• Mathematics, science and technology
• Art
Duration: 2 or 4 hours*
Maximum: 100 pupils
Ratio: 2 attendants per 25 children
Free admission: 2 adults per 25 children
* The order and the number of activities can differ according to the duration of the visit.
* There will be a 15-minute snack break upon arrival at the site.
Description of the activities
The pirogue: Children will analyze how this amazing vessel is made, used and preserved. They retrace all the steps real archaeologists must take when they work with an artifact.
The laboratory: In the lab, children analyze real artifacts and instigate their own research. They will discover fragments and associate them with whole objects they will have seen during their visit.
The archaeological site: Participants will learn what methods archaeologists use to find old fragments buried in the ground, and how they proceed to identify, analyze and preserve these objects we call artifacts.
The Iroquoian fishing hut: Re-created with the help of archaeological and ethnographical data, the hut gives children a chance to better understand the way of life of the Amerindians who lived at Pointe-du-Buisson.
The handling of prehistoric objects: This workshop is centered on the handling of objects to help children see the relationship between prehistoric tools and materials and understand how they worked.
The rapids: Children are invited to observe and identify the challenges and natural obstacles faced by sailors since prehistoric times and to understand the geological phenomena behind them.
Exploring the nature trails: Discovery of the hickory-maple stand. Observe, touch and understand a natural habitat where people have lived for the past 5 000 years.
Amerindian games: An initiation to the material culture of the Amerindians through games that date from prehistoric times.
CYCLE THREE
Getting to know the Iroquoians of the Saint-Lawrence
Archaeology at the service of history...
Like archaeologists, pupils help research the evolution and adaptation of the Amerindians and the European settlers. With the help of other sciences such as ecology, history and the many disciplines of archaeology, they shape arguments that will convince skeptics that populations have stayed at Pointe-du-Buisson for the past 5,000 years.
Educational objectives
• Introduce children to the concept of archaeology by making them aware of the precious objects - called artifacts - that are hidden in the ground;
• Distinguish between nomadic and sedentary lifestyles and compare them with our way of living;
• Develop a precise scientific vocabulary;
• Identify and understand the impact of geological and human activity at Pointe-du-Buisson: glaciation, erosion and deforestation;
• Make children aware of the changes within Iroquoian society between prehistory and the colonization by Europeans;
• Explain the social organization and lifestyle of Iroquoians;
• Explain why Pointe-du-Buisson was a favourite place of transit for Iroquoians.
Disciplines
• Social studies
• Mathematics, science and technology
• Art
Duration: 2 or 4 hours*
Maximum: 100 pupils
Ratio: 2 attendants 25 children
Free admission: 2 adults per 25 children
* The order and the number of activities can differ according to the duration of the visit.
* There will be a 15-minute snack break upon arrival at the site.
Description of the activities
The pirogue: Children will analyze how this amazing vessel is made, used and preserved. They will be asked to make connections between past and present means of transportation and notice the technological evolution that took place.
The laboratory: Like archaeologists, children will analyze real artifacts in the lab. They will discover fragments and associate them with whole objects they will have seen during their visit.
The archaeological site: Participants will learn what methods the archaeologists use to find old fragments buried in the ground, and how they proceed to identify, analyze and preserve these objects we call artifacts.
The Iroquoian fishing hut: Re-created with the help of archaeological and ethnographical data, the hut gives children a chance to better understand the way of life of the Amerindians who lived at Pointe-du-Buisson.
The handling of prehistoric objects: This workshop is centered on the handling of objects to help children see the relationship between prehistoric tools and materials and understand how they worked.
The rapids: Children are invited to observe and identify the challenges and natural obstacles faced by sailors since prehistoric times and to understand the geological phenomena behind them.
Exploring the nature trails: Discovery of the hickory-maple stand. Observe, touch and understand a natural habitat where people have lived for the past 5,000 years.
Amerindian games: An initiation to the material culture of the Amerindians through games that date from prehistoric times.
SECONDARY
The prehistoric adventure!
Discovering the archaeological profession...
By analyzing real artifacts in the natural laboratory of the Park, students familiarize themselves with the scientific approach to archaeology. They follow in the step of scientists in order to formulate hypotheses and understand how archaeologists manage to re-create history. They learn that human activity changes considerably throughout the ages and that its influence is felt in today's society.
Educational objectives
• Introduce students to the scientific approach used by archaeologists;
• Explain the techniques used to map the evolution of societies;
• Describe how humans adapt to their environment, from prehistory to today;
• Show the social and cultural organization of the Saint-Lawrence Iroquoians;
• Recognize the influence of Amerindian civilizations on our lifestyle today;
• Explain why Pointe-du-Buisson was such a popular meeting place from prehistory until the colonization of the region by Europeans, and understand its complexity.
Disciplines
• Social studies
• Mathematics, science and technology
• Art
Duration: 2 or 4 hours*
Maximum: 100 pupils
Ratio: 2 attendants 25 students
Free admission: 2 adults per 25 students
Description of the activities
The pirogue: Through discussion and analysis, students investigate the building, use and preservation of this very special watercraft.
The laboratory: Like archaeologists, students will analyze real artifacts in the lab. They will discover fragments and associate them with whole objects they will have seen during their visit.
The archaeological site: Participants will learn what methods the archaeologists use to find old fragments buried in the ground, and how they proceed to identify, analyze and preserve the objects we call artifacts.
The Iroquoian fishing hut: Re-created with the help of archaeological and ethnographical data, the hut gives children a chance to better understand the way of life and the social organization of the Amerindians who lived at Pointe-du-Buisson.
The handling of prehistoric objects: This workshop is centered on the handling of objects to help students understand how these tools were used. They should be able to make a connection between the materials that were used and the way the tools worked.
The rapids: Students are invited to observe the rapids and to realize what challenges and natural obstacles sailors have been faced with since prehistory.
Exploring the nature trails: Discovery of the hickory-maple stand. Observe, touch and understand a natural habitat where people have lived for the past 5,000 years.
The fossil garden: Fossil traces reveal species that lived and geological phenomena that happened 500 million years ago. Students will be able to understand the data and to interpret them.
Amerindian games: An initiation to the material culture of the Amerindians through games that date from prehistoric times.
PACKAGES
For rates , click here.
See also our school package.
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