Curated OER
Good Book, Bad Book: Lesson 2
An interesting way to incorporate pop culture and the elements that make a book good. Kids watch a clip from MTV Cribs, they discuss how good or bad books are similar to good or bad homes. They are all different and not everybody will...
Curated OER
Comparing Cities and Their Common Functions
Ninth graders begin the activity by watching a PowerPoint on the functions of cities. In groups, they use the internet to research various cultures throughout history and the cities that were formed at the time. They present their...
Curated OER
Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skulls
Young scholars research information about the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), a major celebration in Mexican culture, and compare it to similar holidays in other cultures. They discover various folk arts and festive traditions...
Curated OER
Examining What Sharing Really Means
After reading "The Senegalese Miracle" about the degree of sharing the author encounters upon arrival in Africa, class members read Mike Tidwell’s “Sharing in Africa” and compare the two stories. This cultural diversity lesson plan...
Curated OER
Patchwork Quilt
Students compare and constrast fiber arts from a variety of cultures and time periods. They draw a patchwork quilt using irregular geometric shapes and bright colors. Students display their quilts as part of an exhibit. They are told...
Curated OER
Cats and Superstition: Fun Trivia Quiz
Answers to this quiz are very well cited, so if your class is studying Halloween, symbols, superstition, world cultures, or cats, it could spark spirited discussion about comparative traditions.
Curated OER
Native Americans: People of the Plains
A Venn Diagram invites learners to compare the roles of men and women in Native American societies. Learners write down as many ideas as they can, including roles that men and women shared
PBS
Venn Diagram: My Partner and I Are Different
Celebrate your class's diversity with this Venn diagram template. A perfect resource for building a classroom community at the beginning of the school year, pupils are able to learn about their peers while discovering what makes them...
Curated OER
China's Customs
Students discuss important customs and traditions in their cultures, examine Chinese customs and traditions, and work in groups to create skits about Chinese customs and culture.
Curated OER
Myths, Folktales & Fairy Tales
Young scholars relate the myth genre to history and culture. In this myths lesson, students compare culture in the past and present. Young scholars answer critical thinking questions and discuss the unique characteristics of the...
Curated OER
Comparing Christmas Around the World
Christmas inspired lesson and project ideas that help students sharpen critical thinking skills.
Maryland Department of Education
The Concept of Diversity in World Literature Lesson 5: The Tragic Hero
Should identifying a tragic hero be based on a universal definition or a definition based on the morals and values of a specific culture? As part of a study of Things Fall Apart, class members read Sylvia Plath's "Colossus" and then...
Curated OER
1920s Variety Show
To better understand the cultural achievements of the Harlem Renaissance and become familiar with its major figures, class members examine a painting by Aaron Douglas and a poem by Langston Hughes and compare how the artists develop...
Curated OER
Lesson: Communication, What's Valued, and the Written Word
Upper graders compare their cell phones to a lacquer box from the Japanese Edo Period. They consider how each is a form of communication and how the very nature of each object communicates social norms, ideology, and beliefs. A really...
Mary Pope Osborne, Classroom Adventures Program
Mummies in the Morning Egyptian pyramids, hieroglyphics
Visit the Magic Treehouse and take your class on a trip through time with a reading of the children's book Mummies in the Morning. Using the story to spark an investigation into Egyptian culture, this literature unit engages...
Curated OER
How Do We Know About People From The Past?
It's not enough to see or just read a primary source document; one has to analyze them fully to understand their historical implications. First learners are introduced to what primary and secondary sources are, then they read a bit of...
Curated OER
Comparing Cultural Differences and Similarities of Women's Roles through Art
Pupils study the architecture and decoration of Hindu temples, compare them with, and apply them to, a place of contemplation they will design for themselves.
Curated OER
The Differences Among Us
Young scholars compare cultures. In this writing skills lesson plan, students collaborate to chart the tradition and cultural beliefs of their classmates. Young scholars use their finding to write comparative essays regarding the...
Curated OER
Identifying the Social and Cultural Contexts of a Time Period-The Journey of the Jewish Americans
Students discuss the experience of 19th century Jewish American immigrants. In this US history lesson plan, students research the cultural, social, and economic experience of Jews who immigrated to the United States. Students view a...
Curated OER
Shizuko’s Daughter: Before, During, After Lesson Plan
Shizuko's Daughter by Kyoko Mori presents a vivid picture of Japanese culture and history. As kids read through the third chapter, they find novel-specific vocabulary to enhance their understanding and use context clues to determine...
Curated OER
Introduction to World Religions
Sixth graders compare and contrast the world religions. In this cultural practices lesson, 6th graders locate places in the world where Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Islam are practiced.
Curated OER
Comparative religious Teachings
Ninth graders examine the goods and culture that was traded along the Silk Road. In this World History lesson, 9th graders compare and contrast the belief systems of the Silk Roads. Students analyze a primary text of sacred and...
Curated OER
The Finish Line
Learners investigate the philanthropy of various cultural traditions. In this cultural education lesson, students read a handout about Native American, European American, and African American traditions and identify the philanthropic...
Curated OER
The Poinsettia: Native Mexican Plant vs. U.S. Christmas
Students compare and contrast native Mexican poinsettia plants to those marketed in the United States. They watch a PowerPoint presentation, and listen to a version of the legend of the poinsettia. Students then create a paper pinwheel...