I. Begin with the orientation show in the
theater.
II. Display areas - Look for answers in each
area.
In order to help protect our exhibits, students may not use
writing materials in the Exhibit Gallery.
Devise a system for them to search, find and remember the
information. Tables in the Cafe may be
used for writing and, on occasion, adults
accompanying the groups may be responsible for writing down
information discovered by the children in the
gallery, but writing permits must be issued first.
A. Entrance Mural
- This mural shows what the city would have looked like around AD 1100.
a.
What are the three shapes of mounds that you see?
b.
Where is the leader’s home?
c.
Are most of the houses inside or outside the wooden wall?
d.
Where is Woodhenge?
B. Birdman Tablet
1. Why is the figure called "Birdman?"
a. What are the human features?
b. What are the bird features?
2. What markings are found on the back side of the tablet?
C. Recreated Village
1. What activities do you see the children doing?
2. What activities do you see the women doing?
3. What are the activities of the men?
4. Can you find the raccoon? What is he doing? Where is he?
5. What are the uses of the dog?
D. Hands-On Demonstration
Table
1. Children's games
a. How many times can you catch the ring in ten tries?
b. Can you catch all of the sticks at the same time?
2. Back at school math
a. Make a graph showing successful tries
b. Figure the ratios of successful tries
III. Exhibits - These areas will also explain
places to visit outdoors.
A. Mound 72
1. What shape is Mounds 72?
2. What was its use?
3. What items were buried with the Chief?
B. Twin Mounds -
Unexcavated
1. What was the use of a round top mound?
2. What shape is Fox Mound?
3. What was it used for?
4. What is a Charnel House?
C.
1. What activities were held in the plaza?
2.
What types of games did the Mississippians play?
3.
What might you purchase from a trader in the plaza?
D. Reconstructed
Stockade
1. Why was there a wall around the center of the city?
2. What was used to make it?
3. How many times was it rebuilt?
E. Monks Mound
1. How many terraces (levels) does Monks Mound have?
2. What was the large building on top?
3. In which direction is Cahokia Creek located?
F. Woodhenge
1. What was Woodhenge used for?
2. What importand days were
marked with a pole?
How Monks Mound was named.
French Trappist monks lived nearby in the early 19th century. A
monastery was built by them on Mound 48 and they cultivated crops on what
became known as Monks Mound.
How Monks Mound was built.
The Mississippians used
stone tools, digging sticks, woven baskets and their hands. Dirt was carried
from the borrow pits in the baskets to the building site. It has been estimated
that it took fifteen million baskets of earth to complete Monks Mound over a
300-year period. It was built in stages, perhaps enlarged following the death
of a leader in preparation for a new building for his successor. The borrow
pits inside the