Grade 6 Students Complete Archaeology Interview Project—With a Little Help From Upper School AP U.S. History Students

The cross-division connection was especially valuable since several of the Upper School students did the same project in Mrs. Otto's class several years ago.   
The archaeology interview project has long been a staple of Middle School teacher Rian Otto’s grade 6 world history class—a way for students to conduct research on archaeology, learn more about the job of an archaeologist, and simulate the life skills needed in pursuit of a career, whether in archaeology or any other profession. 
 
“The project asks students to conduct research on what it takes to be an archaeologist. They learn what training and education is required and, once in the profession, what processes are followed to discover, extract, research and preserve artifacts,” Mrs. Otto said. “Additionally, students learn about other professions that are associated with archaeology such as geology, botany, linguistics, paleoanthropology.”
 
To bring life skills into the project, Mrs. Otto has students write a resume and secure an interview with Seekers International, a pretend archaeology team. Finally, students prepare answers to five interview questions and go through a simulated job interview, which they record with a family member and turn in with their resume.
 
Such life skills take practice, and Upper School teacher Kristina Taylor and her AP U.S. history students wanted to help. They came by during a block to walk through the interview process with the grade 6 students, listen to the students recite their answers, and take notes on what the students are doing well and what could be improved ahead of their final interview.
 
It was a cross-division connection that was especially valuable since several of the Upper School students mentoring the grade 6 Tartans were in Mrs. Otto’s class doing this very assignment several years ago.   
 
“Many of the Upper School students said they remembered feeling nervous before their interview when they did the project in the sixth grade,” Mrs. Otto said. “They gave helpful and specific feedback to the sixth graders, such as to improve eye contact, speak with more confidence and to sit up a little straighter. 
 
“A few Upper School students shared that they have recently gone through interviews for their first job or an internship and they applied the skills they learned during this project in the sixth grade.”
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