Checklist for Trash Can Archaeology

Student Name: __________________

A clear logical inference is

made about who the
artifacts belong to.
Inferences are backed up
with at least two pieces of
supporting evidence.

Date:______________

Complete

Almost there

Incomplete

Inference is
logical and backed
up with 2 pieces of
evidence

Inference is
logical but not
backed up with
evidence

No inference is
made

Almost there

Incomplete

Inferences are
made about 2
artifacts.
Inferences are
logical and
backed up with
evidence.

Inferences are
absent or are
made about less
than 2 artifacts.

Almost there

Incomplete

Inferences are
made about the
importance of 2
artifacts.
Inferences are
logical and
backed up with
evidence.

Inferences are
absent or are
made about less
than 2 artifacts.

Clear and logical inferences

are made about what three
Complete
of the artifacts were used
Inferences are
for. Inferences are backed
made about 3
artifacts.
up with supporting evidence
Inferences
are
(e.g. Educated guess based on
logical and backed
similar items used today;
up with evidence.
educated guess based on
knowledge of the past).
Clear and logical inferences
are made about why three of
the artifacts were important
during their time in history.
Complete
These can be the same three
Inferences are
artifacts described
made about the
previously. Inferences are
importance of 3
backed up with supporting
artifacts.
Inferences are
evidence (e.g. It was
important for settlers traveling logical and backed
the Oregon trail to bring seeds up with evidence.
to plant when they arrived in
the West so that they could
grow their own food to
survive).