Burke Boxes are portable boxes of scientific specimens and cultural artifacts for all ages, designed to supplement the study of various topics in cultural and natural history.
Ancient Egypt: From Excavation to Exhibition, was developed collaboratively with Burke archaeologists and educators, and focuses on two main themes: archaeology and museum collections. The archaeology section includes a paper excavation of the New Kingdom site in the Valley of the Kings (1550-1069 BC) and a sorting and sequencing activity using artifacts. To learn about museum collections, students study mummification and process their artifacts by forming curatorial teams, then present their work to the class as an exhibit. All lessons center on group-oriented activities and include all necessary background materials, objects, and handouts. This study collection is oriented toward grades 7 & 8, and is structured to meet the Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements for Social Studies, specifically addressing the Grade 7 Benchmark for World History.
Box Inventory (PDF)
Price: One week rental $40, two week rental $50, additional weeks $20 each. Prices do not include tax or shipping.
This collection contains a 1/3-size replica of the Rosetta Stone with Egyptian hieroglyphics, Egyptian demotic script, classical Greek writing, and replicas of small clay tablets with Sumerian pictographs and Assyrian cuneiforms.
Price: One week rental $40, two week rental $50, additional weeks $20 each. Prices do not include tax or shipping.
This collection is based on a local site that was excavated in 1992. Designed in conjunction with local Native American tribes, it focuses on the prehistory of the Puget Sound area. Central to this collection are exquisite replica artifacts, a video about the site, slides, books, and a comprehensive classroom curriculum. An interactive online feature,Archaeology of West Point, extends the study kit; students can explore 200 artifacts and test their own hypotheses about prehistoric life in Seattle.
Box Inventory (PDF)
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Price: One week rental $40, two week rental $50, additional weeks $20 each. Prices do not include tax or shipping.
Study the adventures of Lewis and Clark; learn about the evidence of their expedition found at Fort Clatsop National memorial. Included are several books, visual aids, and replica artifacts such as a powder horn, folk harp, candle mold, flint, and steel.
Box Inventory (PDF)
Price: One week rental $40, two week rental $50, additional weeks $20 each. Prices do not include tax or shipping.
Several activities introduce students to stone tool technology. Hands-on experiences illustrate how stone tools were manufactured, and how archaeologists analyze stone tools. Clovis replicas are included along with directions and supplies that allow students to learn how the points were attached to the shafts. Slides and books are also included in the kit, that allow students to get a glimpse of the terrain, animals, and possible migration routes that these early inhabitants could have encountered.
Box Inventory (PDF)
Price: One week rental $25, two week rental $30, additional weeks $10 each. Prices do not include tax or shipping.
This box is designed to introduce students to the subject of Archaeology. The collection includes a variety of objects such as potsherds, glass shards, bone tools, bone and shell fragments, and figurines, representing what archaeologists might find in a dig. Also included is a tool bag with archaeologists’ tools such as a waterproof notebook, measuring stick, flagging tape, paint brush, etc. Newly revised lesson plans and supporting materials emphasize Washington archaeology.
Box Inventory (PDF)
Related websites:
Price: One week rental $50, two week rental $60, additional weeks $20 each. Prices do not include tax or shipping.
