Personal Archaeological Homework Task Student Worksheet gives students the opportunity to apply historical inquiry skills by examining objects from their own lives as sources of evidence. This homework task helps students understand that everyday objects can act as historical evidence and that historians and archaeologists ask questions, make inferences, and recognise limits when working with sources.

Students select a safe object from home and respond to guided questions that focus on description, age, origin, ownership, use, and meaning. Through this process, students practise key inquiry skills by explaining how evidence can be interpreted, what information may be missing, and how certainty in historical conclusions can vary. The task also encourages students to think about how future archaeologists might interpret evidence from the present.

This resource focuses on evidence and inquiry using objects and sources, supporting students in applying historical thinking skills introduced earlier in the unit.

Personal Archaeological Homework Task Student Worksheet can be used after the Preserved Artefacts worksheet, allowing students to extend their understanding of material remains by applying these ideas independently in a homework context.

Benefits for students

• Applies inquiry skills using familiar, real-life objects

• Reinforces the idea that objects can act as historical evidence

• Encourages thoughtful questioning, interpretation, and inference

• Develops awareness of missing information and uncertainty in evidence

• Supports clear written responses using historical thinking

Why teachers choose this resource

• Simple, meaningful homework task with minimal preparation

• Clearly structured and accessible for Stage 4 students

• Directly aligned to HI4-INQ-01 (NSW Curriculum)

• Works effectively as a follow-up to classroom archaeology lessons

• Flexible task suitable for a wide range of student contexts

What’s included

• Student worksheet: Personal Archaeological Activity – Homework Task

• Guided inquiry questions focused on evidence and interpretation

• Reflection task on certainty and missing information

• Drawing activity to support observation and detail

Personal Archaeological Homework Task Student Worksheet provides a clear, student-friendly way for learners to apply historical inquiry skills at home by using objects as evidence and thinking critically about how the past is interpreted.

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