01-24-07 - North America — United States, Pennsylvania
A Valley-based organization is using 21st century technology to make the local prehistoric era come alive again.
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The Susquehanna River Archeological Center for Native Indian Studies (SRAC) is developing educational materials to get kids excited about learning about the Native Americans who lived locally, said Deb Twigg, executive director of the non-profit organization, which is based in the Valley.
"Local history is so neglected in our schools," said Ted Keir, chairman of the board of directors of the SRAC, explaining why SRAC is developing the materials.
The organization has developed its first "learning module," which teaches how Native Americans used stone tools locally to obtain food, Twigg said.
The learning module will be used for the first time in the coming weeks by Robin Munn's fourth-grade class at Snyder Elementary School, Keir said.
The module includes written material on the Internet that was produced by the SRAC for the fourth-graders to read. While reading the material, the students can click on the names of the tools to view videos of Keir - a local expert on Native American history and archeology - describing the various tools and how they were used.
Most of the videos are three to four minutes long, but the module also includes an introductory 15-minute video of Keir discussing early Native Americans and how they lived, Twigg said.
At the same time the students study the learning module, the actual tools discussed in the module will be displayed in a showcase for four to six weeks in a hallway in the school, Twigg said. Many of the tools can be taken out of the case by the teacher and given to the students to hold in their hands, Twigg said.
Keir is also working with Munn to provide her with the background knowledge necessary to teach about local Native Americans, Twigg said.
Keir has a master's degree in earth science, taught earth science for more than 20 years at Athens High School, and often gives educational programs in the local area on Native American subjects.
"Professionals and amateurs alike respect his knowledge (of archeology and Native American subjects), because he knows his stuff," Twigg said. "Kids love him."
Keir was also a commissioner on the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission for nine years. "
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