National Geographic
Genetic Markers: Connecting the Dots
Biology buffs simulate how genetic markers are passed among populations in order to understand how these markers can help anthropologists map human migration. A couple of volunteers leave the room while you walk the remaining learners...
Curated OER
Hominid Traits: Ape to Man
Twelfth graders collaborate and analyze information about our hominid lineage. They discuss evidence researched by anthropologists. Students use spreadsheet data to compare means of locomotion, diet and brain size.
Curated OER
Exploring Human History
Students study the four main subdivisions of anthropology and how they overlap. They explore the careers of several contemporary anthropologists and their fieldwork, comparing the methods and applications of their work.
Curated OER
Stonehenge: Solving Ancient Mysteries
Students explore archeologists and anthropologists and the tools and methods they use to gather and interpret scientific evidence. They research current archaeological excavations and contact the scientists working at these digs.
Curated OER
Native American Three Sisters Gardens
Students investigate companion planting. In this communtiy gardening lesson students explore the tradition of the Native American Three Sisters gardening approach. Students act as botanists, anthropologists, folklorists, and curators.
Curated OER
social Studies: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorow
Sixth graders take an Internet trip back in time to explore ancient cultures. Working in teams, they assume the roles of theologian, cartographer, economist, political analyst, and anthropologist. The same groups then create time...
Curated OER
Harvest Celebrations Around the World
Students, working in groups as cultural anthropologists, research harvest festival around the world. They design a Harvest web page based on their research.
Curated OER
The Short Answer
Students examine the discovery of the Flores man. In this anthropology lesson, students discover details about the Flores man and the work of anthropologists. Students are challenged to create their own stories that explain Flores man.
Curated OER
Wanted - Butch and Sundance
Students explore forensic anthropology. Given data, students determine which bones might have been the remains of which individual. They discuss how scientists work with inconclusive data.
Curated OER
Women in Anthropology
Twelfth graders identify women who have excelled in anthropology. They present their findings which are compiled with other students' research to produce a list of women anthropologists.
Curated OER
Biology: Howler Monkeys Tell All
Students examine a PBS special about howler monkeys as an introduction to scientific forensic investigative methods. In groups, they conduct a host of experiments containing clues which point to discovery. By challenging assumptions,...
Curated OER
Knife River: Early Village Life on the Plains
Students discover the complex culture and trading economy of the Hidatsa and Mandan tribes in North Dakota during the 18th century, as seen by anthropologists and artists.
Curated OER
East to West: Africa's Influence on Mexico
Your historians and social anthropologists study the relationship between peoples of ancient Africa and ancient Mesoamerica. They relate in written or verbal form the African presence in the ancient Americas. They create their own...
Curated OER
How Big is Big?
Geography learners compare and contrast population densities throughout the world. Using maps, they estimate the relative size of the world's regions and populations. They develop analogies to discover the world they live in and...
Channel Islands Film
Once Upon A Time (Saxipak’a): Lesson Plan 1
As part of a study of the history of the Chumash on California's Channel Island chain, class members view the documentary Once Upon a Time, respond to discussion questions, and create a timeline for the different waves of migration.
Channel Islands Film
Sa Hi Pa Ca (Once Upon a Time): Lesson Plan 2
What tools do archaeologists and anthropologist use to learned about what life was like in the past. After watching West of The West's documentary Once Upon a Time that details how scientists use artifacts to establish a history of the...
Curated OER
Building Bodies
Students identify key anatomical similarities and differences between great apes and humans. They infer likely anatomical features in ancient human ancestors and list principal anatomical changes in primates necessary for adaptation to...
Sociology Central
Functionalist View of the Family
Any social science class studying functionalism and family may benefit from these eight pages of background information and activities. It does not include specific learning objectives, assessments, or rubrics, but it is a great source...
Curated OER
The "Science" of Racism
How can we keep racism out of our society? Analyze the factors that lead to racism today and research previous scientific findings that impacted social policy. Your high school students identify ways to prevent past mistakes from...
Curated OER
Cultural Riches
Young scholars examine culture and how immigrants adapt to American culture while contributing elements of their various cultures to that of the United States.
Curated OER
Lost Treasures of Tibet: Mandalas
Students examine the history of mandalas from Tibet. After reviewing the Designing a Mandala handout, they use geometric symmetrical shapes to create their own examples. Next, they write poems or essays and explain the meaning of the...
Curated OER
The Inuit Family: A study of its history, beliefs, and images
Students study the Inuit in terms of their geographic location and its influence on their way of life. They investigate Inuit imagery as a reflection of their belief system and focus on the objects of the Inuit to introduce...
Curated OER
The Use of Myths in Science
Students are told stories, myths and legend to explain their world. After telling the tales and discussion them, students are assigned to write a myth that describes a familiar situation, such as why the school garbage cans are always...
Curated OER
The Use of Myths in Science
Students examine folk tales to determine the basis for scientific myths. They demonstrate through the discussion of the folk tales that the perception of the world has changed as new information is gained. They write their own folk...