Curated OER
Compare and Contrast Culture
Fifth graders compare and contrast the cultures of American culture with that of the other cultures of North America. Using traditional and Internet research, 5th graders gather data on one element of culture for comparison. Data...
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Cultures Around the World
Students explore the concept of culture. In this culture instructional activity, students discuss how clothing, food, celebrations, holidays, and travel contribute to the formation and perpetuation of culture.
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The Other Americans
Students explain the concept of culture and identify the components of a culture. They describe the characteristics of selected immigrant groups and the conditions they faced upon arrival in the United States. Students analyze the...
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The Blind Men and The Elephant
Students read a traditional story from India and discover how two people can see the event in different ways. Using their own experiences, they examine how each of their classmates is affected by them in how to read a situation. They...
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Power Poetry
Students use poetic devices to discuss political issues. In this cultural diversity instructional activity, students listen to the president's State of the Union address and write poetic pieces that express their opinions about issues...
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Storytelling: Oral Traditions Learning Center
Young scholars explore the oral traditions. In this storytelling lesson, students compare and contrast stories from the cultural traditions of Alaska and Hawaii.
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Retraidos
Students discuss the statement "You can buy in any language, you sell in the language of the customer." Students watch a demonstration of personal space and discuss the different distances that various cultures assign as appropriate...
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A Single Lucid Moment
Students examine a case study of contrasting values between cultures. They read and discuss a story of a family of Peace Corps volunteers in Papua New Guinea, write a response to the story, and write a script for a dramatization of the...
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Growing up Spanish in America
Students explore Hispanic culture. In this cultural diversity lesson, students read Wachale by Ilan Stavans and respond to discussion questions about the story. Students journal about their impressions of the story as well.
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Native American Interaction with Other Peoples
Students examine the relationships between Native Americans and the Europeans who settled America. In this cultural diversity lesson, students analyze primary documents and respond to essay questions regarding the relationships.
Smithsonian Institution
Borders and Community: Early 20th Century Chicago Neighborhoods and Ethnic Enclaves
Chicago is one city, four neighborhoods, and countless nationalities. The lesson explores the ethnic division of Chicago in the early twentieth century. Academics read primary sources, analyze maps, and tour an online exhibit to...
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Belief Systems Along the Silk Roads
Learners examine cultural diffusion. In this Silk Road lesson, students research primary sources to compare and contrast the religious beliefs encountered and shared by those who traded along the Silk Road route.
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Quilting
Second graders make a quilt. In this cultural diversity lesson, 2nd graders review their knowledge of the Metis people. Students work in groups to create a class quilt that illustrates the lives of these people. Quilt themes include...
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Good Apples
Students investigate diversity. In this diversity lesson, students look at a variety of apples in order to compare and contrast their physical characteristics. They apply the concept to people by listing how people are the same and...
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Multicultural Music Connections
Native American music is fun to listen to and great to play. Third graders get multiculturally inspired as they discuss musical sounds from around the globe, then play a few traditional Native American instruments.
Facing History and Ourselves
After Charlottesville: Public Memory and the Contested Meaning of Monuments
Are Civil War monuments a kind remembrance or a reminder of a dark past? The activity focuses on the public's memory of the Civil War and the monuments that represent it. Young academics explore past efforts to change historical symbols...
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Let's Celebrate Ramadan!
Students explore and study about Ramadan. They list what already know about celebrations, listen to a variety of books, compare/contrast various celebrations and create a project for each lesson. Each student assesses Kidspiration on the...
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Brief Encounters (Looking at Ourselves and Others)
Learners participate in a simulation in which they examine how different cultures interact with one another. In groups, they follow the behaviors for their specific group while a group of observers records their interactions. To end the...
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We and Thee
High schoolers examine class structure. In this diversity education lesson, students discuss stereotypes within their school as an introduction to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. After high schoolers have read the play and discussed...
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European Capital of Culture 2008
Students explore the meaning of culture. They read and discuss news stories concerning cultural cities. Students design and create a campaign poster and text that demonstrates why a particular city should be known as a place of culture.
University of the Desert
Do Journalists Shape or Report the News?
Analyze the presence of negative stereotypes and biased reporting in news media, and how this affects one's understanding of other cultures. Learners read newspaper excerpts and quotes from famous personalities to discuss...
Curated OER
Picturing America: Images and Words of Hope from Romare Bearden and Langston Hughes
A carefully crafted three-day instructional activity integrates poetry and visual art. By analyzing and comparing Langston Hughes' poem "Mother and Son" and Romare Bearden's collage "The Dove," readers explore the theme of hope. The...
Facing History and Ourselves
Understanding Identity
Key to social-emotional learning is understanding who we are. The first lesson in an Understanding Identity unit asks class members to consider the factors that shape one's concept of themselves, the parts of their identity they choose...
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Be Who Your Are
An engaging video begins a lesson all about the representation of Native Americans in all types of careers. Following a discussion about the video, scholars participate in a gallery walk showcasing various Native American figures. Pupils...