How far have California's Channel islands moved? What was the rate of this movement? Class members first examine data that shows the age of the Hawaiian island chain and the average speed of the Pacific Plate. They then watch West of the...

Young historians use primary source materials to investigate the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor and the sinking of the USS Arizona. After reading background articles and studying maps and images of the attack, class members consider whether...

It was only eight square miles, but the island of Iwo Jima was soaked with the blood of 26,000 American and 19,900 Japanese soldiers who died fighting over it during World War II. Viewers consider the battle and its strategic importance...

Nauru is the smallest country in Oceania and is one of the least-visited countries in the world. Its 12-mile perimeter surrounds only about 11,300 people. While it once was home to phosphate mines as a result of the guano deposits on the...

The Federated State of Micronesia may cover 217 square miles, but the country's landmass only covers a fraction of that. The 600 islands are home to a diverse indigenous culture, and the marks of colonialism, including English and...

Kiribati—prounounced Kiri-bas—is a little-known island nation made up of 33 different formations in the Pacific Ocean that span all four hemispheres. The Micronesian country also may be home to the last generation to live there, as...

An engaging video details the history behind Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Viewers discover how the holiday came to be and sheds light on diverse cultural traditions.  

Are some families down to their last generation? The final segment of a two-part climate change series investigates the vanishing Marshall Islands. Scholars divide into research teams to analyze three different individuals whose lives...

How does climate impact the town, city, or area where people live? Scholars research the concept of climate change as it pertains to the Marshall Islands. The opening lesson of a two-part series uses interactive online resources and...

When studying artifacts, especially tools, how do archaeologists determine what the devices were used for? In what ways might researchers' previous experiences influence their perception of an artifact? An article about researchers'...

Imagine sailing around the world, or even around the Pacific Ocean, in an outrigger canoe without the the aid of a GPS? Or a compass? Or even a sextant? The Polynesians did. Find out how with an engaging video that details how they used...

Young scholars watch a slide show about the Philippine Reefs to explore the topic of fish populations. In this reef and fish population lesson, students watch a slide show about fish populations and how the Peace Corps works with...

Students examine how the author confronted the challenges of a new language and a new culture. They examine how the author's penchant for running featured in his adjustment to the culture of Fuling and in his learning of the Chinese...

Learners study the dynamics, the challenges, and the rewards of adjusting to a new culture, as illustrated by the author's account of his father's coming to terms with Sri Lankan customs. They reach the enduring understanding, "It is...

Students explore the concept of crossing cultures. They examine how Americans may be viewed by people in another culture and discover that that Peace Corps Volunteers are trained to cross cultures respectfully so that they are accepted...

Students examine the author's running race from two different cultural perspectives to see just how different the effects of culture can be. They practice thinking about an issue from different perspectives and create a script that can...

Students study China's cultural and economic complexities through a slide show that is written, read, and photographed by a Peace Corps Volunteer. They answer the questions: What does SARS stand for? [Severe acute respiratory syndrome]...

Eighth graders examine different pieces of literature from specific isolated Pacific islands. In this Geography lesson plan, 8th graders read and interpret a written selection. Students construct a map of the stories setting.