Testimonial from Jessica Nay
In classrooms today, finding ways to make history meaningful and engaging is just as important as it is in science. Jessica Nay, a dedicated history and social studies teacher at Excelsior Academy in Erda, Utah, has found that Research Quest provides a unique opportunity to connect students with the past through hands-on, investigative learning. By using artifact investigations, Jessica transforms historical study into an active exploration that sparks curiosity and builds real-world skills.
Connecting Classroom Learning with Real-World Work
For Jessica, one of the most powerful aspects of Research Quest is how it allows students to step into the role of true investigators. “Research Quest is a phenomenal resource to connect learning in the classroom with real-world work. Students loved becoming true scientists in this activity!”
Although often used in science classes, Jessica has seen firsthand how Research Quest can also enrich social studies instruction.
Jessica highlights, What do the artifacts from Range Creek tell us about the people who lived there? It was an effective activity for her social studies students because it gave them the chance to examine real evidence and make discoveries for themselves.
Making History Engaging: Artifacts in the Classroom
Jessica integrates Research Quest at the start of the school year while teaching Native American cultures. The blend of digital and physical artifacts makes the experience especially impactful. “I bring in a few real-life artifacts, and the students love being able to examine digital ones and then see the real ones in comparison.”
This hands-on approach not only excites students but also helps them connect the classroom to lived history. By analyzing artifacts, students begin to see themselves as historians—asking questions, testing ideas, and learning to interpret evidence.
Expanding Opportunities for Social Studies
While Research Quest is widely known in the world of science education, Jessica emphasizes how beneficial it is for history, geography, and Utah Studies as well. “It would be great for more social studies teachers to be aware of the options that Research Quest has available for their classrooms!” By bringing these tools into history lessons, students gain the opportunity to practice critical thinking, evidence-based reasoning, and problem-solving skills that go beyond any single subject.
Inspiring Students to Think Like Historians
Through creative use of Research Quest, Jessica shows how artifact investigations can transform history lessons into meaningful, real-world learning experiences. The combination of digital resources and hands-on engagement inspires curiosity, builds confidence, and encourages students to see history not as something distant, but as something alive, waiting to be discovered.
Research Quest is a program of the Natural History Museum of Utah in partnership with The Utah Education Network
