K-12 Anthropology Resources

The American Anthological Association invites you to explore resources we’ve complied for K-12 students and teachers. These resources include our Junior Anthropologist Award membership program for students interested in the field of anthropology. Teaching and learning materials, such as open access textbooks, blogs, and standards resources. As well as information on internships for high school students.

Junior Anthropologist Award

Do you know an elementary, middle, or high school student who is interested in people, culture, and history? Consider nominating them for the Junior Anthropologist Award!

The Junior Anthropologist Award Recipients will receive a complimentary AAA membership through their high school graduation, that includes a copy of Anthropology News, our member magazine, access to AnthroSource, our digital library of journals, and a membership in the National Association of Student Anthropologists (NASA). Become a Junior Anthropologist Award member today.

Teaching Resources for K-12 Teachers

• PERSPECTIVES – An Open Invitation to Cultural Anthropology
  The first peer-reviewed open access textbook for cultural anthropology courses that is great for high schools and introductory cultural anthropology courses. Produced by the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges and available free of charge for use in any setting.
• EXPLORATIONS: An Open Invitation To Biological  Anthropology
  The first comprehensive, peer-reviewed open access textbook for biological anthropology courses. Produced with support from the Society for Anthropology in Community Colleges (a section of the American Anthropological Association) and a grant from Minnesota State. Available free of charge for use in any setting.
• The Teaching Anthropology Blog
  This blog provides short, informal articles that relate to pedagogical approaches, teaching resources and reflections on the art and practice of teaching anthropology.
• Smithsonian Anthropology Outreach and Education Materials
  Information from the National Museum of Natural History.
• AnthroNotes
  AnthroNotes, the award-winning publication of the Smithsonian’s Department of Anthropology, was published from 1979-2012 to present archaeological and anthropological research to educators and the public in an engaging and accessible style.

Standards and Syllabi

• IB Diploma Programme – Social and Cultural anthropology
  This link connects you to a directory of schools in the US that have an IB Diploma Programme for social and cultural anthropology.
• IB Social and Cultural Anthropology syllabus
  A standardized syllabus for IB Social and Cultural Anthropology programmes
• C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards
  A powerful guide to help each state strengthen instruction in social studies by establishing fewer, clearer, and higher standards for instruction in history, geography, and anthropology kindergarten through high school.

Internships

• American Anthropological Association Virtual Internship
  Each spring, the American Anthropological Association offers virtual internship opportunities for high school students interested in learning more about anthropological research. Internships are four weeks in length and usually extend from mid-May through mid-June.
• Anthropology Outreach Program, Smithsonian Institution
  Internships offer student-mentor relationships and career-enhancing experiences for undergraduate, graduate and sometimes even high school students. Whether working directly with the public, contributing to the administration and operation of the facilities, or actively engaged in our scientific pursuits, interns gain valuable job skills, unique insight into operations, and enliven the community!
• National Park Service
  There are opportunities for high school, college, and graduate school students to work with the National Park Service. Many of these jobs are filled at the park level but others are advertised and recruited nationally by the National Park Service or in partnership with several national organizations.
• The Field Museum
  A few salaried internships per year are available for high school students to work directly with collections and research staff at the Museum.