Field Museum

How do we know about the past?

Form and Function Introduction

In this activity, learn about five disciplinary lenses and how they can be applied to explore how form relates to function.

How many stories can an object tell?

Modern Pueblo People Team Up With Researchers  

Using Evidence: You Be The Researcher

Use this chart to take notes on the form and function of four different objects in your life. 

Form and Function in your Life

Explore the steps of problem-solving and invention to discover how form has changed (or not) over time to serve a specific function: 
1. Define the problem and gather information, 2. Generate ideas to solve the problem, 3. Make it, 4. Assess and Tweak as Needed


Technological Change over Time-Part 1/2

Now that you have explored past and present examples of toasters and sandals and they ways these have changed over time, how do you imagine the future of toasters and sandals?  Review the objects in the last activity and think about what might change and what would stay the same as sandals and toaster technology continues to change. Consider the function of each and design a toaster or sandals for the future.

Technological Change over Time-Part 2/2

History Colorado

Learn about strategies used to make discoveries about the past. Apply disciplinary lenses to objects from history and modern day. Explore the relationship between form, function, and technological change.

Additional Resource for Using Disciplinary Lenses: 

Additional Information about Colorado's Pueblo People:

Rocky Mountain PBS Colorado Experience: Living West, Water

Colorado Encyclopedia Article on Mesa Verde National Park 

 Ancestral Puebloans of the Four Corners Region

Investigating Form and Function

World History

Social Studies

Resource Kit Overview

Ways of Knowing Part 1 - Tree Rings

A tapestry created by Emperor Qianlong to express his concern for people suffering famine and homelessness from floods in China.

As you observe the pottery items in this slideshow, explore the evolving role of pottery in Chinese culture and global trade networks throughout the history of China. Use disciplinary lenses and refer to object information and sources in the Additional Materials to conduct research about the significance of each of these pottery items. 

Pottery in China

Explore the types of pottery in the slideshow below. What can the shape and certain features tell us about how they were used or why they were created? 

Ancestral Puebloan Pottery

In this activity, learn about five disciplinary lenses and how they can be applied to explore objects from the past. 

A tool: Using Disciplinary Lenses

Use this annotation activity to collect answer to questions from one of the five disciplinary lenses introduced in the last activity. You will choose just one object from the pottery slideshows to apply disciplinary lenses, and compare your findings with classmates who have selected an alternative lens. 

Applying Disciplinary Lenses

Dozens of languages emerged throughout Chinese history. Evaluate the use of language on objects from across Chinese history and examine the role writing can play across time and context.

Changing Language in China

Pueblo people have been making pottery in the Southwest United States for hundreds of years. We can learn a lot from the traditions and knowledge that have been passed down from generation to generation.

Ways of Knowing Part 2 - Ancestors

Explore some of the ways we can know about the past. Practice and compare the many disciplinary lenses we can use to learn about the past while exploring the form, function, continuity and change of objects from across history.


Exploring Ways of Knowing

sherds.jpg

Pottery found at Xianrendong Cave, in Jiangxi Province, dates back to c. 20,000 years ago and may be the oldest in the world.

Pottery sherds from Neolithic China

Description

Object Information

Appears In

Investigating Form and Function

Exploring Ways of Knowing