Secrets of the Dead: Africa's Golden City (PBS, 2026) — Great Zimbabwe Worksheet, Answer Key & Google Forms Quiz

A one-period fill-in-the-blank worksheet for Secrets of the Dead: Africa's Golden City (PBS, 2026), the documentary about Great Zimbabwe, plus answer key. The film follows an African-led archaeology team at Great Zimbabwe, the stone city built by ancestors of today's Shona people, as new finds trace its gold working, its Indian Ocean trade and its founding just after AD 1000. Designed to be completed during the film's 55-minute runtime. Print, hand out, and you're set. Ready as a no-prep sub plan, emergency sub plan, or movie-day lesson.

• Worksheet: 1 page, 15 fill-in-the-blank questions in transcript order

• Answer key: 1 page, simple numbered list

• 55-minute runtime — fits one class period

• PDF format, two-sided printable, low-ink

• World History, grades 6-12

• A self-grading Google Forms quiz - auto-graded the moment students submit

• Multiple choice, built from the same questions as the printable worksheet

• Assign paperless through Google Classroom, or by link - works on any device

• One-click access: the last page of the PDF carries a "make a copy" link that copies the quiz straight into your own Google Drive

• Use the printable worksheet, the digital quiz, or both

ALSO WORKS FOR

• Emergency sub plans - leave the film and this worksheet; a sub needs no prep and no subject knowledge.

• First week of school - a low-stakes, self-contained assignment while routines are still settling.

• Movie day with accountability - students have something to complete while the documentary runs.

• No-prep days - print and go, or assign the PDF digitally.

WHERE TO WATCH

PBS premiere date: October 14, 2026. New Secrets of the Dead episodes stream free in the US on pbs.org and the PBS app for a limited time after broadcast; check that it is available to you before you plan the lesson.