The American Anthropological Association (AAA) is celebrating anthropology and anthropologists around the world through Anthropology Day. Anthropologists are innovators and creative thinkers who contribute to every sector of society.
Anthropology Day is a day for anthropologists to celebrate and share their discipline with the public around them. Activities around the world will build enthusiasm and awareness for current and future anthropologists. We have a host of resources and ideas to help you get started for your AnthroDay events.
How to Get Involved
We welcome your participation in any capacity. The exciting part about our effort is that it requires no fundraising and focuses solely on public education and having fun with anthropology.
Here are some event suggestions to get you started!
Activities and Games
K-12 Outreach
Visual Representation
Contests
Information Sharing
- Language
- Develop a game that matches the word “thank you” written in different languages with the correct language.
- Archaeology
- Collect artifacts from around your campus (ex. a former arsenal) and let participants categorize them.
- Biological
- If available, get a prehistoric skull from your school’s collection and let participants examine it and ask questions. The more examples the better.
- Cultural
- Develop a game matching hand gestures with what they mean in other cultures.
- Develop a world music playlist.
- Develop a selfie station. Provide props and ask students to take photos they feel represent them culturally.
- Trivia
- Develop a trivia game.
- Students can spin a wheel and answer a question based on one of the four sub-fields of anthropology (depending on where the wheel lands) and win a prize if they get the answer right.
- Guess the Language game
- Anthropology themed Jeopardy
- Other games
- Anthropology After Dark event: Turn your department lobby into an Egyptian tomb (possibly constructed by archaeology students) or other fascinating location and offer tours where participants may also drop off canned goods for the local food bank.
- Organize a scavenger hunt across campus that allows students to photograph the listed anthropology related items with their cell phones.
- Create an in-person or virtual escape room. Take a look at the ISU Anthropology Department "Mystery of the Misplaced Mummy" escape room for inspiration.
- Write cards for school students (high school or elementary).
- Visit a school and develop an activity for them to learn about anthropology.
- Have students write anthropology slogans in Mayan glyphs or Egyptian hieroglyphs.
- Divide activities in rooms or tables:
- Room/Table 1
Showcase casts of fossil skulls and tools, as well as some modern ape and human skulls. Also develop a small activity project explaining the difference between words and icons, using stamps of Egyptian hieroglyphs and emoji stickers. Develop a poster that provides basic information about prosimians, New World monkeys, Old World monkeys and apes. - Room/Table 2
Have participants at one table with popsicle sticks and one with clothespins where people can make a God’s eye and a worry doll (or a similar craft project connected to a cultural tradition). Provide associated handouts explaining the cultural function and meaning of the objects. - Room/Table 3
Develop a mock archaeological dig set up in plastic tubs. Each tub can contain either soil (for little kids) or stratigraphy layers of sand and soil (for older kids). You can embed plastic coins, beads and arrowheads in the soil. You can provide hand shovels, trowels and sifters for them to use. - If possible, provide an associated coloring book and/or word search puzzle for every participant.
- Room/Table 1
- Diversity Wall
- Provide students with the opportunity to write on a single piece of cardboard the name of the country they feel represents them culturally.
- Make a “living collage” of pictures and stories that participants can interact with and add to throughout the week.
- Department Cheer
- Organize your space into a variety of activity areas. Highlight the four sub-disciplines with four posters. Create a sign with the header “Anthropology is…” and let participants write their thoughts on cards/paper and tape to the wall.
- Develop a short informational video and promote it via social media.
- Essay Contests
Prizes are always fun so get creative with ideas or, if funds permit, offer a small monetary prize!- Contestants can “Describe in one page the most unusual, exciting, or sublime anthropological experience you have ever had.”
- Video Contests
- Contestants can “shoot a one-minute (or less) video depicting how you went about explaining to your friends and family what anthropology is and why you want to be an anthropologist.” Videos can be made alone or by a team.
- Sessions/Talks
- Have a former student give a talk about their current research project.
- Watch a movie about anthropology (ex. The Anthropologist, Margaret Mead: Taking Notes, and The Wisdom to Survive) and hold a discussion afterward. Don’t forget the popcorn!
- Forums
- Host a “works in progress series” that allows students to share their research, test their presentation skills and get some constructive criticism.
- Information Booth
- Set-up a booth/table with club information on campus. If space permits, you can separate the four different fields into separate tables.
- Department Open House & Tours
- Set up a table in the anthropology department and provide tours of campus museums, etc.
Anthropology Day Campaign Checklist
This checklist will help organize your successful event.
At Least Four Weeks before Launch
- Recruit volunteers to help implement your event
- Meet with your team to brainstorm other unique ways to promote the day
- Contact AAA with your event plans
- Reach out to local schools and community centers about holding an event
Three Weeks before Launch
- Secure date(s) and venue(s) to set up event
- Reach out to anthropologists on campus at the undergraduate, graduate, and faculty levels who could participate, provide tours, or share their work.
Two Weeks before Launch
- Create flyers or other materials promoting the campaign.
- Checkout the AAA posters and logos available to help promote your event
- Email participants with a schedule of the event(s) your group will be hosting.
- Use the AAA Media Toolkit to share your event with local media!
One Week before Launch
- Meet with your team to discuss roles and responsibilities.
- Email and share your event on social media to engage additional potential participants. Have a member of your club, group, or department share why they love anthropology each day leading up to Anthropology Day. Make sure you mention AAA or use #AnthroDay.
During the Campaign
- Send campaign updates including photos of events and stories from attendees. We will post your updates social media to spotlight your activity.
After the Campaign
- Provide feedback to AAA about how the campaign went, including suggestions for next year.