Curated OER
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...
Facing History and Ourselves
Identity and Place
Build scholars' ability to understand their own values and learn about World War II at the same time. Scholars write poetry and discuss identity and place in depth with an in-depth social studies resource.
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Jazz in America Lesson Plan 6
Students survey bebop, cool jazz, and hard bop. They explore how bebop, cool jazz, and hard bop reflected American culture and society in the 1940s and 1950s.
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Jazz in America Lesson Plan 7
Young scholars survey free jazz and fusion. They explore how free jazz and fusion reflected American culture and society in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Language Arts Exploration
While an interesting lesson plan idea involving the exploration of a story about an Asian American boy named Imduk, a teacher would need to have assess to the Scott Foresman reading program to make this work. If not, a teacher could use...
Curated OER
Diversity - Grade 7
Seventh graders consider the diversity of the First Nations cultures in Canada. In this cultural diversity lesson plan, 7th graders research the cultural groups of the First Nations as well as their contributions to Canadian society....
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Diversity - Grade 8
Eighth graders consider the diversity of the First Nations cultures in Canada. In this cultural diversity lesson, 8th graders research the cultural groups of the First Nations as well as their contributions to Canadian society. Students...
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Proud to Live in New Jersey
Students explore New Jersey. In this New Jersey social studies instructional activity, students define vocabulary and participate in activities centered around the agriculture, geography, industry, history, and culture of New Jersey....
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Harlem Renaissance
Students discover the Harlem Renaissance. In this early 20th century lesson, students use various primary sources including handouts, worksheets, maps, music, and poetry to examine aspects of African American culture. Students will...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Walt Whitman to Langston Hughes: Poems for a Democracy
Explore the idea of democratic poetry. Upper graders read Walt Whitman, examining daguerreotypes, and compare Whitman to Langston Hughes. They describe aspects of Whitman's I Hear America Singing to Langston Hughes' Let America Be...
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I am Special and You are Special Too - Project Children L.E.A.D.
Eighth graders recognize what makes them special through class participation and discussion of rap music, writing a poem about themselves, and designing their own special hat while working in groups.
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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...
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Say Hi to Haibun Fun
Learners examine the Japanese writing form of Haibun. They identify the elements of Japanese prose and poetry, analyze a haibun for writing devices, complete a graphic organizer, and compose an original haibun as a form of journal keeping.
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Introduction to Ludwig van Beethoven
"Ode to la Tortilla" and "Ode to Joy"? Sure! Use Gary Soto's poem to introduce learners to the ode format. After examining the descriptive words Soto uses, class members study a poster of Ludwig van Beethoven, suggest words that describe...
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American Transcendentalism and Buddhism:
Young scholars study American transcendentalism through readings of Emerson and Thoreau. They make cognitive connections to the similarities to Buddhism in these writings. The connection of the literary movement is explained in the art...
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Post-Colonial Writers Unit
How do cultural and historical background impact thought? To explore this essential question, class members view of portion of the film, The Passage to India, read an excerpt from The Magician’s Nephew, and Nissim Ezekiel’s...
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Exploring Race Through Literature
Provide your class with an opportunity to examine race through a variety of literary works. They read and analyze a chosen poem, interview, speech, or story describing race in America. They then use key words from the original work to...
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You've Got to be Taught to Hate and Fear
Students explore themes of prejudice and acceptance. In this character education instructional activity, students listen and respond to several fiction books, poems, and lyrics with a similar theme. Students locate articles with the main...
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Say Hi to Haibun Fun
What is a haibun? With this interesting lesson, writers will experience the Japanese writing form haibun, identify elements important to Japanese writing styles, analyze a haibun, and compose their own. Different from the typical journal...
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Traditions and Transformations
Students examine how traditions change over time. In this lesson on Jewish culture, students interview persons of the Jewish faith, write poems, and create murals that exemplify Jewish culture.
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Multi-Media Hero Analysis
Students consider how the attributes of heroes have evolved. For this character traits lesson, students define heroism in their culture and research the epic heroes of literature. Students select heroes to write about and share their...
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Jazz in America Lesson Plan 7
The student will explore free jazz, fusion, and contemporary jazz. They will listen to avant garde, fusion, and pop recordings. In addition, they participate in a class discussion regarding jazz's contribution to and reflection of...
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We of the Sea: Tribal Native American Stories
A video featuring members of Oregon’s Astoria Native American fishing community launches a study of the oral tradition of poetry, and how traditions are passed down within different cultures. Activities, assessments, extensions and...
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Awareness OF Self And Others
Students engage in a activity that attempts to convey information about self and others. The activity teaches them about diversity and attempts to heighten the awareness of respecting it. They become engaged in the activity with the use...