Center for History Education
Fighting for Whose Freedom? Black Soldiers in the American Revolution
Fight for freedom! The lesson delves into the world of African American soldiers during the American Revolution. Scholars read documents, such as the Dunmore Proclamation, to understand how the British government treated African...
Center for History Education
Japanese American Internment During World War II
World War II turned nations against each other and neighbors into enemies. An eye-opening lesson explores the dark past of Japanese-American internment camps during WWII. Scholars learn of the fear and distrust toward Asian Americans...
Curated OER
Poetry: When the Rain Sings Poems by Young Native Americans
Poetry can express feelings, values, and culture; it also provides insight into a time and place. Young analysts discuss the meanings of several poems from a collection of Native American works entitled, When the Rain Sings. They then...
Curated OER
All About Me
Students create a collage from magazines, and the internet that is reflective of themselves and write a friendly letter via email to a pen pal. They take their letters through the writing process and write their final draft on Microsoft...
Curated OER
Countering Homophobia: Feelings, Tolerance, Sexuality, Stereotypes
Young scholars explore and discuss name-calling, feelings and myths relating to homosexuality through labeling feelings and participating in a game.
Curated OER
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner
Students create Thanksgiving menu and pre-dinner blessing or ritual that is sensitive to five different imaginary Thanksgiving guests from a variety of backgrounds.
Curated OER
African Masks And Their Impact On Western Art
Explore the influence of African-style masks on Western art. Learners create individual masks using construction paper. They discuss and explore the techniques used to create these types of masks. The resource includes links to...
Smithsonian Institution
African American Music: Let’s Sing and Play Clapping Games
Two lessons focus on making a beat. Using popular African American music of its time, scholars listen and analyze the rhythm then recreate it with hands drums, and cups.
Curated OER
How To Make a Rainstick
Students research the uses of rainsticks in ancient native cultures. The teacher discusses the ceremonies rainsticks were traditionally used in. The students then construct their own rainstick.
Curated OER
Where I Come From
Students examine family traditions as a microcosm of larger cultures. They examine their own family traditions to identify how beliefs, values, and customs vary from culture to culture and how those traditions influence their perception...
Curated OER
Contemporary Mexican and Puerto Rican Immigration
Students in an ESL classroom compare and contrast Puetro Rican and Mexican cultures. In groups, they research the reasons why people leave one country for another and how to obtain a visa. As a class, they brainstorm a list of the...
Curated OER
Something From Nothing
Students listen to story Joseph Had A Little Overcoat to explore people from another culture and how one item can be used to make other items; students use scraps of fabric and other knickknacks to create pictures or toys.
Curated OER
Globalization 101
Students reflect on how religion has played a major role in globalization. In this lesson, students visit multiple internet sites, then participate in a class discussion on the various ideas on globalization that they learned in their...
Curated OER
How Does Ancestry Affect Folklore?
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...
PBS
Stories of Painkiller Addiction: Contemplating Nature vs. Nurture
Does having an addict in your family make it more likely to become one yourself? Explore the genetic risk factors, as well as the prominent environmental influences, for substance addiction in a lesson that encourages awareness and open...
Curated OER
Using Southeast Asian Folktales to Teach Reading and Writing
Students use maps to locate the countries of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. In groups, they compare and contrast the three countries in regard to their culture, morals and values. They read various examples of folktales and write their...
Curated OER
Religions of the World
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.
Nuffield Foundation
Assessing Human Hearing
Young scientists explore hearing through multiple experiments, demonstrations, and activities. They focus on the changes in hearing over a lifetime, how we can determine where a sound is coming from, and the ability to filter noises.
Curated OER
Stampin' Ground
Students anticipate the results of using stamps to create patterns and visual effects through repetition. They enhance their understanding of positive and negative space. Also, investigation is done on fabrics and products made in...
Curated OER
Reshaping Body Image
Students view images and write responses based on their impressions. In this body image lesson, students brainstorm how body image is influenced culturally and participate in a small group discussion on these influences. Students view...
Curated OER
Treasures Along the Silk Roads
Ninth graders examine the travels of the Silk road. In this Ancient China lesson, 9th graders analyze slides of artifacts as cultural and social representations of the Silk Road civilizations. Students create a word map and creative...
Curated OER
China's Ethnic Minorities
Third graders are introduced to various Chinese ethnic groups. They consider how geography affects ethnic groups and examine artifacts produced by Chinese peoples. They prepare a presentation of their research and artifact interpretation.
Curated OER
Living Together as One
The ultra-glamorous Muppet, Miss Piggy, launches a study of discrimination and ways to develop a more inclusive community. A series of videos and activities raise awareness of discrimination and journal prompts asks participants to...
Curated OER
Courtship and Calligraphy in The Tale of Genji
Students discover through an examination of The Tale of Genji the importance of calligraphy to courtship rituals in the Japanese court culture of the late Heian period ( 897-1185). Three possible enrichment activities are included