Grade levels are suggested, but we will be glad to work with teachers to produce programs for other levels. A completely new, larger gallery showcases Native American technology, art, and culture from the Ice Age to the 21st century. The hows and whys of archaeology are interwoven in the story. Interactive components are included. The basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter are explored in the gallery and in interactive displays.
Interactive displays illustrate how archaeologists discover ancient ways of life.
The theme is the changing way of life of Native Americans in Tennessee over the last 12,000 years and up to the present day. Students engage in a variety of artifact-based activities and demonstrations to illustrate the theme. A 10-minute video on the Cherokee in the 18th and 19th centuries, as well as contemporary Native American views, is included. The methods and techniques of archaeologists as they work to learn about Tennessee's past will intrigue and inform. Students will explore the contributions of biology, chemistry, mathematics, and art to the study of people of the past.