Project Based Learning Electives provided by the Berrien Springs Virtual Academy
Archeological Dig Spring 2025
All students must complete a project for these classes.
Instructors: Jan Sigvartsen PhD, Leanne Sigvartsen
Email: lsigvart@gmail.com
Phone: 269-363-3968
Ages: 8 and up
Location: Orientation at Old Courthouse at the Berrien Springs History Center, 313 N Cass Street, Berrien Springs, then weekly classes held at Dig Site - 6179 Pheasant Court, Berrien Springs. *See syllabus for details.
Day & Time:
Archaeology Dig Schedule
Orientation and Introduction to Archaeology – select one timeslot you would like to attend orientation at the Berrien Springs Courthouse, 313 N Cass St, Berrien Springs, MI 49103.
- Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 7pm or,
- Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 7pm
Multiple class times are available to suit your schedule – select which timeslot (one only) that you would like to attend this two-hour class each week.
- Tuesdays 10am-12pm or,
- Tuesdays at 4pm-6pm or,
- Wednesday 10am-12pm or,
- Thursdays 10am-12pm or,
- Thursdays at 4pm-6pm
- Week 1 – Orientation at the Berrien Springs History Center (Old Courthouse), 313 N Cass Street, Berrien Springs 49103 - January 21 or 23,
- Week 2 – Dig site- April 1, 3, or 3 (depending on which day timeslot you selected)
- Week 3 – Dig site - April 8, 9, or 10
- Week 4 – Dig site - April 15, 16, or 17
- Week 5 – Dig site - April 22, 23, or 24
- Week 6 – Dig site - April 29, 30. or May 1
Course Overview: In this program, you will participate in a real archaeological dig. You will learn how archaeologists conduct a dig, identify and date artifacts, and catalog and record their findings. You are going to dig like the pros and you may uncover some amazing history from our own local area.
We have been given special permission to dig on a piece of land in Berrien Springs that was owned by successive generations of one family for nearly 100 years. Over this time, they created what is called a “Farmer’s Dump” - an archaeologist’s treasure trove of local artifacts from at least the past100 years. The Journal Era newspaper in Berrien Springs will be following our progress.
There will be Juniors classes for ages 8-13 and Seniors classes for ages 14-18 both during the day for homeschoolers, and after school hours for school students. A parent, grandparent, or guardian is welcome to accompany your young person.
*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class.
Teacher of Record: Tom Hurst
