NEWS RELEASE

November 19, 2004

For More Information Contact:
Maureen Malloy
Manager, Education and Outreach
Society for American Archaeology 
202/789-8200
maureen_malloy@saa.org

For Immediate Release

Archaeology Supports Education in Today’s Classrooms

American archaeologists have recently made a rare and unusual discovery—and not from an ancient site half way around the world.  Archaeology’s latest discovery and perhaps best kept secret is being unearthed in the more mundane setting of the American classroom, where archaeologists have discovered that their methods and research—too often inaccessible to non-scholars—are helping teachers engage students in the study of subjects from art to zoology.

George Brauer, a social studies educator with 30 years experience in the Baltimore County, Maryland, Public Schools says “Archaeology is a great hook for engaging students in order to teach them social studies content and skills.” Teachers of science, language arts, and math are finding the same thing.  Archaeology may be the Rosetta Stone of education today—a key that unlocks student interest and enthusiasm, and helps teachers create lively lessons that support local and state education standards.

At the annual meeting of the National Council for the Social Studies in Baltimore this week, educators can choose from six presentations and workshops that use archaeology to entice students, teach diversity, understand chronology, and practice critical thinking skills.  Archaeologists from the Society for American Archaeology, the Society for Historical Archaeology, and Project Archaeology—a heritage education program of the US Dept of Interior-- will be in the Exhibit Hall at Booth #853 to provide teachers with career information, activities and lesson plans, and training information to  help them incorporate archaeology into their classroom teaching.

Content Provided by Maureen Malloy.

Posted by Patrice L. Jeppson 02/17/2005.