All About Archaeology

Younger Students

Videos

Sherdy the Pot Sherd - 7 minute video
Gus Finds an Artifact - 15 minute video
Recorded on a single VHS tape, these two videos teach children about archaeological sites, artifacts, and preserving the past with entertaining animated characters. Suitable for students in elementary school. A perfect introduction to Dig It! our mock archaeological dig.



Dig It! 

A school yard archaeological project designed for upper level elementary and junior high school students. Create an archaeological site in a sand box and let your students uncover it like professionals. The kit contains a tarp with the outline of a prehistoric house, laminated artifact pictures, a set of digging tools, and a teacher guide with detailed project instructions. Please contact Public Outreach Coordinator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (486-7004, x22) to borrow this kit.
 

A Box of Artifacts

Educators can check out a box of traveling artifacts from the museum's teaching collection. These are real prehistoric tools, with interpretive information supplied by the museum, that can be handled by students. Please contact Registrar This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (486-7004, x24) to borrow this material, or visit the collections page for more information on the teaching collection.

Older Students

Stories in Stone - 20 minute DVD
This documentary film explores Kodiak prehistory and its value to Alutiiq people, examining the results of a museum excavation on Kodiak's Uganik Island. The film includes excavation footage as well as interviews with archaeologists and Native people. Produced by the Alutiiq Museum for the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Available for purchase from the museum store ($10), or for loan from the museum library.

High School Credit for Community Archaeology - Students can earn half a credit of independent study work for participating in Community Archaeology for 2 weeks (a total of 80 hours). Students are supervised and trained by museum archaeologists, and receive a packet of educational information to read. Each student is expected to participate in all aspects of the excavation and keep a daily field journal. At the end of the project, the museum notifies the Kodiak Island Borough School District of students who have completed these requirements and provides a grade. There is no charge for this course. This opportunity is open to all students 14 years or older. Please contact Public Outreach Coordinator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 907-486-7004, x22 to learn more.

Advanced Students

College Credit for Community Archaeology - This opportunity is open to both high school and college students. Participants are supervised by museum archaeologists. They are expected to read introductory articles on archaeology and Kodiak prehistory assigned by the museum staff, participate in all aspects of the excavation, keep a detailed daily field journal, and complete a site report at the end of the excavation. Up to 6 college level credits are available for participating in the project - 1 credit for each 40 hours you work. At least half of these must be on the excavation. The museum charges $50 per academic credit. Your fee covers instruction time, supplies, and field gear. Students must also register for Anthropology 431 - Field Methods in Archaeology - at Kodiak College. You can register before, during or after the dig. There is a one-time $40 registration fee payable to the college at the time of registration. This course is graded on a 4.0 scale. Please contact course instructor, Curator This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (486-4004, x23) to learn more.

Graduate level credit for participation in Community Archaeology can also be arranged through the University of Alaska Anchorage. Please contact course instructor, Curator Patrick Saltonstall (486-4004, x23) to learn more.