Where can you mix history, geography, psychology, biology, chemistry, and fun? The best answer is a course little-known to high school students: anthropology. Though there are many definitions of anthropology, the simplest is that anthropology is the study of humans from the very beginning of human history to present. The four fields of anthropology (physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, archaeology and linguistics) shed light on the human journey. Where did humans come from and when? How do we communicate with each other, build societies, and create culture? What evidence have our ancestors left behind to guide us through their journey? This truly remarkable field is one that I first found in college and have had the privilege of sharing with my students for the first time over the 2011-2012 school year.
What started out as a question mark became a passion. As an undergraduate engineering student at the University of Pittsburgh, I took an elective course in archaeology. This one little elective became so much more as my mental wheels began turning. What was this blend of social studies and science? I was mentally shocked and unprepared for the fact that my two greatest interests could be married in one subject area. I switched my major and frankly did not care what in the world I would do with an anthropology degree. Forget the reliable, black and white world of engineering; I was much too interested in the grey in-between of interpreting archaeological and cultural evidence. As the semesters flew by, my interest in all of the four fields grew, as did my wish to share them with others.
After finding my way into the field of education, I was hopeful that I would one day teach an anthropology course. The idea of exposing students to this amazing subject area before they left high school became very important to me. After all, not many young adults will to take a chance on something they have never heard of, especially if they are paying for courses at the college level. After accepting a position to teach history at PA Distance Learning Charter School, I brought up the possibility of adding an anthropology course. This is a course that not many high schools offer even though teachers with a Social Studies 7-12 certification are indeed qualified to teach it. The idea of a history teacher teaching a course heavy in science is very foreign. Usually, such cross overs occur between science and math or history and English. However, I felt that I would be up to the challenge of writing such a course for upperclassmen to take as an elective. I was given permission to write the two-part, full-year, honors course over the summer and begin teaching it in the fall of 2011.
Evidence suggests that the course has been a success. When students stay after class to ask analytical questions and request further information, you know that you have their attention. Even students who did not earn an “A” in the class were constantly pulling me in all directions with inquiries. One student even requested an anthropology textbook for her birthday. Two students have asked for further information about pursuing anthropology in college. I have never had the privilege to teach such a curious group of students nor to go so deep with challenging content. My students have certainly held their own and taken the role of Mrs. K.’s guinea pigs in stride. Furthermore, they have met or exceeded every expectation that I had for the course’s maiden voyage. I am truly fortunate to be able to share my favorite subject with my PA Distance Learning students and to love what I teach.
