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Time Travelers’ Trash

Activity

Creating and Interpreting Modern Middens

Imagine that an archaeologist 500 years from now finds your lunch trash or backpack contents. What could they learn about your daily life, your culture, or your community? Now, create a “midden” (a kind of ancient trash pile) collage or drawing from your current day. Include things like food wrappers, drawings of objects, or things you find outside at school. Then, switch with a friend and play archaeologist: what does their midden tell you?

Science Seed

Archaeologists learn about ancient people by studying what they leave behind. This includes tools, pottery, artwork, and even trash heaps called middens. In Central Texas, Indigenous groups like the Tonkawa, Lipan Apache, and Comanche left behind tools made from chert, bones, and shell middens near rivers. By studying objects and where they are found, we can piece together how people lived, what they valued, and how they interacted with the environment, just like you can by analyzing a modern “midden.”

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Perez Elementary School

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.

Perez Elementary School is named in honor of Lance Cpl. Nicholas S. Perez, who gave his life in service to his country. Perez is a supportive learning community with a focus on service. At Perez, we believe effort creates ability and all students will learn at high standards if they are given clear expectations, taught using best practices adapted to their unique needs and provided extra time and resources as needed. Perez students have numerous opportunities to serve their school, community and environment. They receive powerful instruction in the core curriculum areas, as well as in technology, art, music, physical education, and health.

This project was made possible by The Powell Foundation.