Archeology Information for Teachers

Teachers' Opportunities in TAS—2012

Dr. Paul Smith leads a teachers' workshop in flint knapping techniques at the 2008 TAS Field School. Teachers learned to make tools such as arrow points, scrapers, and blades.

Join members of TAS in the classroom and in the field to learn archeological methods and techniques AND receive lessons for your classroom.  Receive professional development credit: the Texas Archeological Society is accredited by the Texas Education Agency as a provider of Continuing Professional Education.  TAS offers numerous opportunities for teachers to gain credit for attending TAS activities.  The TAS website and newsletter, Texas Archeology, provide information about each of the events sponsored by the Texas Archeological Society.

TAS Archeology Academies are weekend workshops providing in-depth instruction for anyone interested in archeological topics.  Avocational archeologists experience new dimensions of expertise; professional archeologists benefit from review; undergraduates, graduate students, and educators may receive credit for the classes.  The goal of Texas Archeology Academies is to show how archeology is done and why we do it.  For 2012, the workshops will be Lithics: Reading Stone Artifacts, February 4-5 in Uvalde, and Ceramics: The Stories Found in Pottery, March 3-4 in College Station.  See what was planned for the 2011 Texas Archeology Academies (Archeology 101 and Geoarcheology) here.

Have a week to spend learning about archeology and participating in archeological investigations?  The TAS Field School is held in early June, with information published online and in the newsletter each spring.   In 2012, TAS will be collaborating with Texas Parks and Wildlife to search for and document archeological and historical sites on the not-yet-open-to-the-public south section of the Devils Rivers State Natural Area north of Del Rio.   In 2010 and 2011 TAS explored sites in an area west of San Antonio.   Along with the usual activities available, teachers had the option of signing up for additional training.   See what was offered to teachers at the 2011 Field School near Hondo here.

A sharp-edged flint blade produced at a hands-on flint knapping teachers' workshop is put to good use at the catered prime rib dinner sponsored by TAS Perryton hosts, the Courson family.

The 2012 Annual Meeting will be held in Tyler October 26-28.  In additional to a short luncheon/Business Meeting on Saturday, numerous papers on various archeological and historical subjects are presented at Annual Meetings, and there are special talks given at the Friday evening Public Forum and at the Saturday evening Banquet.  Some Annual Meetings also include field trips (see 2009).  See what was planned for the 2011 TAS Annual Meeting here.

Information and links to yet-to-happen activities, including some not sponsored by the Texas Archeological Society, may be found on the TAS Calendar; check out the dates mentioned and plan to work a lecture, a weekend, or a week of learning about archeology into your future. Questions about TAS learning events and how credit is awarded may be sent to the TAS Education Committee chair, Robin Matthews.

Been There and Done That!

The TAS Education Committee had an exhibit booth at the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented Professional Development Conference on November 11-12, 2009 at the Fort Worth Convention Center.  Robin Matthews, Education Committee Chairman, presented "Archeology in the Classroom" during one of the breakout sessions.  Dr. Carolyn Boyd from the SHUMLA School was a co-presenter.  The TAS booth had materials from SHUMLA School, the Rock Art Foundation, and the Gault School of Archaeological Research to hand out.