Where To Start?

Two great ways to start learning about how to use archeology as a teaching tool are our online guides, Archeology for Interpreters: A Guide to the Resource and its counterpart, Interpretation for Archeologists: A Guide to Increasing Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. Created to help National Park Service interpreters and archeologists discuss archeological resources with the public, educators can also use these guides to learn about incorporating archeology into their classroom toolkit.

• Archeology for Interpreters answers questions about archeological methods, interpretation with archeological data, sensitivity in cultural resource matters, and encouragement of a sense of stewardship in youth. It also provides numerous links to get you started, including recommendations on parks to visit, lesson plans, and publications. Perhaps most importantly, the guide intends to help you feel comfortable using archeology as a multi-disciplinary resource.
• Interpretation for Archeologists offers methods for encouraging students to find personal meanings in archeological resources. This guide discusses the elements of interpretation that teachers can develop for their classrooms, such as the connections between tangible, intangible, and universal elements that facilitate learning and discussion.

Why teach archeology and ethnography?

For students —Uncovering artifacts can be an exciting adventure. Deciphering how objects were used, who might have used them, and other aspects of their context helps students to think about the commonalties between cultures.

For teachers —Many disciplines such as mathematics, geography, cultural studies, and citizenship can be taught through anthropology. Archeological activities can promote social interaction alongside scientific investigation.

For preservation —Students who know about archeology and ethnography will have a greater appreciation for sites that are historically and culturally significant. Hopefully, this will lead to less looting and vandalism and greater support for stewardship in the future.

Visit archeological sites
Visit archeological sites. Here are a few of the best places to start looking:

• Contact your closest national or other park for information about archeology and ethnography fieldtrips and educational material. See which national parks have outreach programs at Park Educational Resources in archeology and ethnography. Check out the National Park Service LearnNPS website.
• Learn what resources are available through nearby museums and online exhibits. The National Museum of Natural History maintains the National Anthropological Archives, which has online exhibits mainly on Native American subjects.
• Visit your state Department of Education online to learn how anthropology can fit into curriculum requirements and what resources they suggest.
• Ask your state archeologist about educational programs, such as having a professional speak at your school. A state archeologist could also put you in contact with a nearby archeological society. The National Association of State Archaeologists keeps a list of state archeologists.
• Participate in a state archeology event. Contacts for states with activities can be found at the State Archeology Weeks and Months page.
• Contact an archeological center about educational programs and traveling materials. Here are a few centers with resources that may also by helpful for out-of-state teachers.
• Crow Canyon Archaeological Center:
  Resource guides and online interactive activities are provided in addition to information about on-site programs in Colorado.
• Anasazi Heritage Center:
  Descriptions of Anasazi life, material for loan, trip planning resources and more for educators are offered on this Colorado museum site.
• Mississippi Valley Archaeology Center:
  The University of Wisconsin - La Crosse created a primer on pre-European people in the Mississippi Valley and provides information about traveling teacher kits.
• Southeast Archeological Center:
  This NPS center offers lists of online resources, publications, and training programs.
• Texas Archeological Society:
  The Education Committee of TAS offers links to resources on Texas archeology that are useful for non-Texan teachers as well.
• Also see Volunteer Opportunities

Lesson Plans
Collect lesson plans, activities, and teaching aids. Here are a few of the best places to start looking:

• Girls Dig It
  A program by Girls Incorporated, an organization for young women.
• Colorado Coal Field War Project
  Lesson plans created by attendees of the Colorado Endowment for Humanities Teacher's Institute.
• The Society for American Archaeology
  SAA educational publications are listed here and available by mail. Teaching Archaeology: A Sampler for Grades 3 to 12 is available online and has several lesson plans.
• The American Anthropological Association
  The AAA arranges resources by subject, including various anthropological disciplines, Native American, and African American studies.
• The Heritage Education Network
  Ideas, lesson plans, activities, and other resources for teaching heritage are included on this site. Topics include archeology, architecture, farms, cemeteries, and family history.
• Links to the Past - Tools for Learning
  Feature stories, lesson plans, publications, and other learning tools are available here from the National Park Service.
• Teaching with Historical Places
  This index provides lesson plans sorted by subject and often connected to a national park. Instructions on how to use TwHP lessons are also available. Also read some of the articles in "Creative Teaching with Historic Places."
• Bureau of Land Management
  BLM provides classroom activities that incorporate online interactive components and printable posters. Of special interest is the nationwide teaching resource Project Archaeology.
• Anthropology on the Internet for K-12, Smithsonian Institution Libraries
  A database of anthropology Internet resources on various topics including linguistics, socio-cultural anthropology, and archeology is maintained here.
• Anthropology Outreach Office
  The National Museum of Natural History has prepared learning activities and bibliographies that may be particularly useful for teaching Native American studies.
• Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC)
  Educational services and products clearinghouse managed by the Department of Education. Lesson plans can be found by searching by subject under social studies and anthropology.
• Alexandria Archaeology
  The Office of Historic Alexandria offers several online resources. Archeologists at Work introduces the five steps of archeology through a case study of an apothecary shop. Educational Activities for Home and Classroom teaches about the methods used by archeologists. Also, be sure to look at the Kid's Page for activities for younger children.
• Luna Ship Expedition
  Visit the Teacher Corner of this site from the University of West Florida for activities and resources about the excavation of a 16th-century Spanish ship in Pensacola Bay.
• Federal Resources for Educational Excellence
  This site lists educational resources on government web sites.
• Newton's Apple: Archeology
  Information, resources and activities related to being an archeologist.
• Glossary of Archeological Terms created by the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Online Activities
Find interactive anthropology activities that students can do online. Below are several useful sites:

• Also see For Kids
• Just the Arti-Facts
  Learn about Chicago by looking at artifacts from the Chicago Historical Society.
• Royal Ontario Museum
  Try the program "Archaeological Analysis: Pieces of the Past," under "Interactives," where students analyze the artifacts found at a fictional archeological site. Also, Homes of the Past: The Archaeology of an Iroquoian Longhouse introduces Iroquoian architecture through archeological findings.
• Consult Publications and Media Resources.

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where to start?

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