Project Archaeology, a national education program, will offer a free in-person workshop for K-12 teachers in Huntsville, Ala. This three-day teacher workshop held June 13-15 will focus on “Project Archaeology: Investigating Rock Art,” an integrative, inquiry-based social studies and art curriculum. The curriculum guides 3rd-5th grade students through a complete archaeological investigation of Painted Bluff, a rock art site near Huntsville, Ala.

By participating as a learner, workshop participants will discover past cultures through a rock art site. The course will enable participants to effectively teach 3rd-12th grade students about rock art in a way that aligns with state standards. Learn how to think like an archaeologist while applying the tools of scientific inquiry to an investigation of art, culture, and the past. Experience engaging instruction with Project Archaeology’s award-winning curricula. Transform the classroom into a community of student archaeologists who ask questions, make observations and support their inferences with evidence, analyze primary sources, relate culture to their own lives, and passionately share what they learn in a variety of ways.

More than 19,000 teachers, archaeologists and other educators have participated in over 1,000 Project Archaeology workshops during the past 34 years. Curriculum use impacts approximately 370,000 formal and informal learners annually.

A travel stipend of up to $300, lunches, snacks and drinks will be provided as part of the workshop. Participants will also receive a copy of “Project Archaeology: Investigating Rock Art” and “Investigating Painted Bluff Rock Art” as part of the workshop. LaDonna Brown, a member of the Chickasaw tribe, will also provide a cultural presentation. One optional graduate university credit will be offered for $23. Applications, which are due by April 10, 2024, are available on Project Archaeology’s website.

The Institute for Heritage Education (IHE) and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) organized the workshop under a cooperative agreement. IHE is a national non-profit that promotes understanding and respect through cultural heritage education. TVA — the main financial sponsor of the event – is a federally-owned public utility corporation with a broad mandate to manage the Tennessee River system for the benefit of the people of the region.