Teacher's Resources

Classroom Activities & Projects

Be the Anthropologist!

Level: High school - Grade 11 in Ontario

Goals:

Discover how anthropologists learn about traditional and modern cultures through the study of artifacts
Use the vocabulary of anthropology studied in the classroom previously
Foster independent research and presentation skills; foster teamwork

Description:
Divide your students into pairs. Ask each pair to select a shoe from the web exhibition 'Appeasing the Spirits', and to complete Worksheet 3: Be the Anthropologist!. The worksheet asks students to determine how the boot or artifact is indicative of:

The economic system of traditional Coastal Alaskan peoples (trade, manufacture, origin of materials used, food, shelter, etc.)
Gender roles in the societies of Coastal Alaskan peoples
Spiritual and/or religious beliefs among the Coastal Alaskan peoples
Cultural life (art, dance, music, storytelling, social relationships)
Social structures (power, hierarchy)

Each boot or artifact is indicative of all these aspects discussed in anthropology. Students should use the web exhibition as a source of information, but can also use other sources for relevant material (library or Internet).

Assign the worksheet either as written homework, or ask each pair to prepare a classroom presentation.

The Cold North

Level: 8-12 years

Animals of the North

Level: 8-12 years

Be the Anthropologist!

Level: Grade 11

Read a Shoe

Level: Grade 11