The CU Museum is closed until January 8, 2026.
During this time, collection visits will be available by appointment and other special access requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis.Ìý
Please email cumuseum@colorado.edu for more information.Ìý
Colorado Archaeology in the Classroom

TheÌýColorado Archaeology in the ClassroomÌýproject, modeled after theÌýFossils in the Classroom, continues to enhance and expand the Museum’s and ³Ô¹Ï꿉۪s outreach efforts across the state by providing much needed hands-on resources on archaeology to teachers and students. This project provides classroom kits featuring hands-on artifacts and casts, standards-based curriculum, in-district teacher professional development and a classroom presentation. The response from teachers to the kits has been overwhelmingly positive, as a hands-on and affordable resource for teaching Colorado history.Ìý
The Colorado Archaeology in the ClassroomÌýis developed for Colorado School Districts by:
- Dr. Stephen Lekson, Ph.D.ÌýProfessor, Anthropology, and Curator of Archaeology, CU Museum of Natural History, Boulder.
- Jim Hakala,ÌýSenior Educator, CU Museum of Natural History, Boulder.
Partners in the Colorado Archaeology in the Classroom project include:
- provides educational materials for the Colorado Archaeology in the Classroom kits and collaborates in the in-district teacher training for the project.
- The provides printed and digital educational materials for the Colorado Archaeology in the Classroom kits.
- The (BLM) "Discovering Archaeology in Colorado" and "Intrigue of the Past" is used with BLM's collaboration as the curriculum/teacher guide for the kits. This standards-based curriculum is widely used and well established in the field.
- The provides the publication "Ancient Colorado: An Archaeological Perspective" for inclusion in the classroom kits.
- The in Cortez, CO provided important visual timeline materials and hundreds of pottery sherds for inclusion in the kits.
- The , provided hundreds of pottery sherds for inclusion in the classroom kits.
- advertises and manages the logistics for the Colorado Archaeology classroom presentation.
To find out how to get a Colorado Archaeology kit and curriculum for your classroom or school, arrange an in-district teacher training, and/or a presentation for your classroom, please contact museumed@colorado.edu or call (303) 492-1033.
Colorado Archaeology in the ClassroomÌýis generously funded by theÌý³Ô¹ÏÍø of Colorado BoulderÌýOffice of Strategic Relations and Communications and the ³Ô¹ÏÍø of Colorado Boulder Museum of Natural History.