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Curated OER

Identity in A Raisin in the Sun

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders read the play, "A Raisin in the Sun," and participate in a class discussion about "identity." They discuss racial identity and examine and interpret how community influences a personal identity. They demonstrate how...
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South Africa Story: Apartheid, Diamonds & Gold

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use the internet to research the history, culture and political issues in South Africa. Using writing activities, they discover more characteristics of the country. They write how the natural resources found in the area affect...
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People for the Land: Native Americans in Iowa

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Young scholars identify Iowa's American Indian cultures and complete a research project for the topic. For this Iowa's American Indian lesson, students research read the background information about tribes in Iowa and complete a research...
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Other Countries

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students select a country and conduct research on the culture, population, geography, and government of their country. They conduct research using the Internet and a variety of resource books, and write and publish a report that...
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Thanksgiving (ESL)

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate a traditional American Thanksgiving. They recreate the first Thanksgiving in the classroom complete with food and appropriate decorations.
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Haitian Immigration: Twentieth Century

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students read a narrative about the culture, heritage and history of Haiti including the contributions of Haitian immigrants in the U.S. They conduct further research on Haitian culture and prepare a presentation for the class.
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Personal Heritage

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders investigate their personal heritage. For this personal heritage lesson, 4th graders fill in an outline with information about their personal heritage. They create a poster about themselves. This lesson is aimed at...
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What do we know about Iraq?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students develop viewpoints on world issues and concerns. Students review facts on historical time periods. Students compare past happenings to present situations in history. Students differentiate between various forms of ethnic...
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Creating Stories Using Pictographs

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars participate in diverse cultural activities that lead them to a better understanding of Native American people. They use pictographs to write a story, imagining themselves as tribal members. Students transfer their story to...
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Religions of the World

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders explore the part that religion plays in a culture. They explore how many different religions there are in the world and where they're located.
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How Does Ancestry Affect Folklore?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars break into groups of 4 or 5 and choose an option to demonstrate a different cultural perspective in a fairy tale or other folklore that they are familiar. Possible choices are: PowerPoint presentation, video, digital...
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Post- Modernism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students participate in a lesson that investigates post-modernism in American literature. They conduct the lesson with the help of reading "America" by Ginsberg to create context. Then students define the genre and the culture that has...
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Changing Attitudes in America

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discuss strategies for confronting destructive stereotypes and mythologies, as well as promoting racial understanding in Students.
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Economic Crisis in Argentina

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate the history, people, and the economy of Argentina. They complete a Webquest, explore various websites, answer discussion questions, and identify and read newspaper articles about local businesses that export goods to...
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Touring the World With Tomie dePaola

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners listen aloud to books by Tomie dePaola. They utilize the Internet to study the geography and culture of the places the they read about in Tomie dePaola's books. They answer questions about Norway through an Internet treasure hunt.
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Stories Share Similar Scenes

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students listen to similar stories that come from different cultures and compare them. In this folktale lesson, students focus on different versions of "Cinderella," then complete a worksheet which is embedded in the plan about two...
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Designing A Mythical Creature

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Pupils study mythology and why human cultures require them.  In this investigating myths lesson students design a creature that fits an explanation of a natural phenomena then demonstrate the concept of "myth" and "legend".
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Birthday Party

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students help plan a party for Q-Bear and think about some of the different ways people celebrate their birthdays. They then demonstrate knowledge and understanding of customs and traditions associated with participation in cultural...
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George Orwell's Essay on his Life in Burma: "Shooting an Elephant"

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Students read George Orwell's essay "Shooting an Elephant" as an analysis for the historical context. In this historical analysis activity, students analyze the main points in the essay to identify its cultural and historical context....
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The Poinsettia: Native Mexican Plant vs. U.S. Christmas

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners 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...
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Taking a Stand - 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery Voting Rights March

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the 1965 Selma-to-Montgomery Voting Rights March. They view pictures reflecting their perceptions of their most important rights as citizens, write journal responses, create collages illustrating courage, and read...
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Wagons West: Native Americans

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students examine interactions between Native Americans and settlers. In this Westward Expansion instructional activity, students analyze select passages from Plains Indians by Dana Newmann and The World of Native Americans by Marion...
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Strawberry Girl: Outdoors in Florida

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners explore nature by researching the state of Florida. In this animal identification lesson, students read a children' story and research the Internet to discover the difference in animal life between the early 1900's and present...
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Religious Expression in Public Schools

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore religious expression in the United States. In this religious freedom instructional activity, students read a handout regarding Religious Freedom Day and other handouts regarding religious expression in public schools....