Expanding on action-oriented history, it doesn’t have to be fast action. Kids love to dig, and history can be found in your own backyard or school playground. Depending on where you live, kids can unearth everything from arrowheads and dinosaur fossils to pottery shards and Roman coins. You can just supply some garden tools and let them dig away, or go all out and turn it into a ‘real’ archaeological site with more specialized tools, sifting screens, maps, designated staked out areas, and Indiana Jones outfits. Even if they don’t find anything more historic than the comb you lost five years ago, they’ll have fun trying – and it can lead to discussions on combs through the ages!
Once you’ve exhausted the possibilities of your own area, imagination (and a little artefact planting) can transport kids further afield. Purchasing a GeoSafari Egyptian Dig kit, or Wild Science Realm of the Vikings kit, or National Geographic Dinosaur Expedition kit will ensure that little excavators uncover something interesting. The one in the photo came up with, among other things, an ankh and a scarab.
Tip: Resist the temptation to let finds be brought inside and chiselled out on the kitchen table. This is definitely an OUTSIDE activity. (Unless you enjoy having dust and sand all over your house.)
For more ideas, check out these sites:
http://www.education.com/science-fair/article/earth-science_backyard-archaeology/
Time Travelling With Kids 