SASSA in Action!

Originally published April 12, 2019

We are back in the classroom! Our PREP volunteers have been busy introducing some of our exciting modules to students at a local middle school. We begin by offering a brief lesson which connects what students have already learned from their teachers with what we are doing that day, plus some additional materials they need to learn. Then we dive into the fun stuff that makes SASSA a unique program — hands-on, experiential activities!

During a recent event, we introduced students to flintknapping, the process of making stone tools from raw materials. We approach the topic from an interdisciplinary perspective by first demonstrating the importance of physics, such as laws of motion and force, and then introducing less familiar archaeological concepts. Students then have the opportunity to apply what they learned in different activities, including knapping “obsidian” rock candy and cutting different foods using the “stone” tools they made.

PREP participant, Erin Crowley, prepares to demonstrate how to flintknap using “obsidian” rock candy. © SASSA