FPAN at National Council of Social Studies!
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| Christy Pritchard and Sarah Miller representing FPAN and AEC at NCSS. |
For the third year in a row FPAN has had a presence at the National Council of Social Studies annual conference. Attendance of teachers and educators is generally up in the 5,000 range with very few opportunities to learn about archaeology. Jeanne Moe of Project Archaeology and representatives from the Archaeology Education Clearinghouse have attended for several years setting up a booth and proposing workshops. This year we joined forces and put together an exhibitor session, a full hour presentation to support our exhibit in the hall.
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| Project Archaeology and Archaeology Education Clearinghouse exhibits. |
Archaeology is a seamless fit for social studies. Take a look at the 10 major themes from the national standards (from Chapter 2 of National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies):
1. Culture
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of culture and cultural diversity.
2. Time, Continuity, and Change
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the past and its legacy.
3. People, Places, and Environment
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of people, places, and environments.
4. Individual Development and Identity
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of individual development and identity.
5. Individuals, Groups, and Institutions
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of interactions among individuals, groups, and institutions.
6. Power, Authority, and Governance
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people create, interact with, and change structures of power, authority, and governance.
7. Production, Distribution, and Consumption
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of how people organize for the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services.
8. Science, Technology, and Society
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of relationships among science, technology, and society.
9. Global Connections
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of global connections and interdependence.
10. Civic Ideals and Practices
Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the ideals, principles, and practices of citizenship in a democratic republic. We're all over this! Culture, change over time, use of technology? It would be impossible to pick up a archaeology lesson that didn't address these strands.
One of the best things I gained by attending the conference was learning how teachers are already incorporating history into their classrooms. From our ice breaker warm up we learned teachers are doing a wide array of activities. Check out our braining storming list:
The conference allowed me to meet southeastern social studies specialists, countywide coordinators, and pre-service instructors wanting Florida based materials and follow up. In this way I think we've served the state well. Next year's conference is in Seattle which is too far a stretch for this Florida girl, but I hope archaeologists at Project Archaeology and the AEC keep up the good work!
Want more on NCSS and Archaeology Education? Look for my blog post on the Archaeology Education Clearinghouse at the Society of Historical Archaeology's new blog to be launched in 2012!Text and Images: Sarah Miller, FPAN staff