Location
The Pecos Day Camp activities were held on the SHUMLA campus and on the Shumla Ranch, 50 miles west of Del Rio, Texas.
Instructors
SHUMLA instructors included museum specialist Angel Johnson, Pecos River Kids Coordinator McKinney Briske, history enthusiast Al Morgan, life science educator Missy Harrington, educator and weaver Sally Finkelstein, artist and renowned flintknapper Steve Norman, artist and historical craftsman Brenda Norman, anthropologist Jack Johnson and musician Nathan Martinez.
Activities
On November 11, 2005, approximately 80 students and teachers from the 5th grade of Benavides Elementary in Eagle Pass, Texas attended a full-day Shumla Survivors: Scientists of the Lower Pecos Pecos River Kids Day Camp at the SHUMLA campus. Using archeology as a foundation for teaching math and science skills, SHUMLA provided hands-on opportunities for enhancing classroom lessons. Students were divided into six groups: the Bear Clan, Deer Clan, Hawk Clan, Wolf Clan, Ringtail Clan and Panther Clan. Upon their arrival at the SHUMLA campus each clan was directed to its first station to begin a rotation of lessons and demonstrations. These stations included:
- Paint Making Experiment: Angel Johnson led students in a hands-on experiment replicating prehistoric paint making and discussed how prehistoric art was used to communicate information necessary for survival.
- Working with Wool: The students, under the direction of Sally Finkelstein, combed wool and spun it into yarn and then calculated how much time it would take to make a meter of yarn and then a sweater. The students also used their geography skills to locate where on the map the Navajo people live.
- Music from the Past: Jack Johnson and Nathan Martinez explored the archaeological records of musical instruments in this area with the students. The students then used their deductive reasoning to identify a piece of an ancient musical artifact. At the end the student used replicas of ancient instruments in a jam session that really brought the music to life.
- The Adaptation Station: Missy Harrington instructed students about the nature of plant and animal adaptations. Students were able to analyze different materials, including an attention grabbing coprolite, underneath stereoscopes.
- Lifeways: McKinney Briske and Al Morgan will work with students to compare their lives with archaic peoples living in Hinds Cave northwest of Comstock, TX. The students will conduct hands-on analysis of replica artifacts in order to enhance their comparison.
- Demonstration: Steve Norman demonstrated for students flintknapping techniques used by early hunters. Brenda Norman showed prehistoric techniques for making cordage, sandals, and baskets.
Volunteers
Programs at SHUMLA are made possible through the help of our volunteers. This program's volunteers were Nyta Brown, Sandy Carrington, Nathan Martinez, Angel and Jack Johnson (Student Conservation Association interns from the National Park Service), Al and Nancy Morgan, Jack Harrington, Steve Norman, Brenda Norman, Jerrie Cargil, and Mary Locke Croft.
Cost
This program was underwritten by a grant to SHUMLA from a private sponsor, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Community Outreach Program.
Information
For more information contact the education division at education@shumla.org or call the office at
432-292-4848. |
