Secrets of the Neanderthals (NR – 2024) Film Quiz | Documentary for Grades 6-10

Secrets of the Neanderthals Film Quiz asks Grades 6–10 to use evidence from one documentary to answer clear questions, connect small clues to big ideas, and explain how place and climate shape human life.

Film Summary

Secrets of the Neanderthals (NR – 2024) follows archaeologists and geneticists from Shanidar Cave to global DNA to show complex care for the dead, flexible survival, and the pressures that ended a long-lasting way of life. Students practice nonfiction evidence writing by tying teeth, tools, and bones to big ideas about diet, ritual, and movement. Runtime: 80 minutes.

Parental Guidance

Not rated (NR). Includes non-graphic discussion of human remains, burial practices, and lab work visuals (e.g., skeletal analysis, dental calculus). Teachers may wish to provide context before scenes on death and excavation. IMDb title page and parental guide: IMDb Title | Parental Guide.

Perfect For

• World History / Prehistory / Ancient Civilizations
• Geography (routes, landforms, climate and movement)
• Science of evidence (proteomics, dental calculus)
• Sub-day lessons with accountability

Skills Addressed

• Read/listen for evidence and explain it clearly
• Connect small clues to big ideas
• Link climate and landforms to human choices
• Practice argument and collaboration

What’s Included (zip)

• Teacher Guide (PDF/Google Doc, editable, ~10 pages)
• Student Worksheet (Google Slides/PPTX, editable, ~20 slides)
• Bonus: Google Forms 30-question self-grading quiz

Standards: CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.3, CCRA.W.1, CCRA.W.2, CCRA.W.9, CCRA.SL.1, CCRA.L.4

Disclaimer: Independently compiled; not affiliated with the documentary’s creators.