Sargent Art
Rainsticks
This rainstick instructional activity isn't just about making art; it's about understanding Native American symbols and culture. Kids read about the use of rainsticks and why specific symbols were used to decorate them. They then make...
Maryland Department of Education
The Concept of Diversity in World Literature Lesson 4: Proverbs
"Eneke the bird says since men have learnt to shoot without missing, he has learnt to fly without perching." As part of their study of Things Fall Apart, class members read Paul Hernadi and Francis Steen's essay, "The Tropical Landscapes...
Curated OER
Ancient Aztecs
Is it a calendar? A religious symbol? A political statement? One thing for certain is that Aztec sun stone designs remain an important symbol in Mexican cultural art. Young artists craft their own Aztec Sun design incorporating ideas...
US Institute of Peace
Perspectives on Peace
Is peace simply the absence of war, or is there more to the story? Young social scientists define peace in the second installment of a 15-part series. Groups work together to explore cultural concepts of peace and the peacemaking process...
Annenberg Foundation
Mapping Initial Encounters
Picture someone's excitement of seeing a horse for the first time. How about a cow? The Columbian Exchange changed life for not only Native Americans, but also for Europeans and the entire world. The second lesson of a 22-part series...
Missouri Department of Elementary
Diversity Day
Party time! Here's a resource that suggests celebrating diversity by organizing a school-wide event that features performers and speakers that represent the various cultures and traditions. The packet includes a list of suggested...
Scholastic
Pilgrim and Wampanoag Daily Life for Grades 3-5
Thirteen steps make up a lesson that challenges pupils to compare and contrast the daily lives of Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe. Learners revisit the Graffiti Wall then break into small groups for an investigative reading assignment...
Curated OER
Who Built the Ohio Earthworks?
Students identify relationships between geography or climate and locations of prehistoric sites. They describe the resourcefulness of prehistoric cultures who had to depend upon raw materials in their environment to survive.
Curated OER
The Blues in the Arkansas Delta
Oh I love the blues! Here is a wonderful four page reading passage that focuses on the Delta Blues. It covers topics such as, the music's cultural influences, origin, form, terminology, and significance. A great way to integrate...
Curated OER
Rangoli Designs
Students use colored chalk on sandpaper to make authentic Rangoli designs in the Hindu Tradition. They study Diwali and the Hindu culture and research authentic Hindu designs and symbols. They identify traditional symbols that are used...
Curated OER
Textile Quilt
Students, after researching various textile patterns, colors and motifs, explore and discover the vibrant colors and patterns of traditional African fabrics. Together they create an informative classroom textile quilt that illustrates...
Curated OER
Between Fences
Students explore how tightly the fence is intertwined with American history, politics, industry, and daily life. In this art and history lesson plan, students examine cultures throughout American history that experienced tension as they...
Curated OER
Lesson Plan: How Coyote Came to Shuffle Off to Buffalo
Creative kids read, discuss, play-act, and sketch to examine the cultural significance of Old Man Coyote. They listen to several stories involving Coyote, analyze the Harry Fonseca painting Shuffle Off to Buffalo, and write Coyote...
Curated OER
Lesson: Struggle and Transformation: Jaguar & Adolescence
To break down complex themes, discuss a sense of self, and learn a bit about Mayan culture, learners start through art analysis. They analyze a Mayan incense burner, discuss themes, and then write a short story that includes themes from...
Curated OER
Lesson: The Power of Music
The sounds of the past echo through art and our social understanding. Will the sounds of today echo into the future? Learners discuss the cultural and social impact of music, then analyze the art on an African Drum. They develop...
Curated OER
Lesson: The Gift of Giving
Giving gifts has been a part of the human experience since modern man walked the earth. Upper graders explore the culture of gift giving in Mayan times through an artistic analysis. They analyze gift giving and palace life as seen on an...
Curated OER
Chinese Jeopardy
Play Jeopardy with this primary level China PowerPoint. The questions are simple and focus on the geography, culture, animals, food, and Inventions of China. There are 5 point levels available for each category.
Curated OER
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: Follow the Dream: Celebrating Diversity
The teachings of tolerance and diversity are necessary and poignant at all times of the year and for every grade level. This lesson focuses on Dr. King's message and how it has impacted African/American culture. Students will complete a...
Curated OER
Western Civilizations, Chapter 2: Gods and Empires in the Ancient Near East
Ancient Hebrew history comes to life through this online western civilizations tool, which follows history in detail from ancient origins to modern-day. Chapter two covers ancient eastern cultures, including beginnings of Hebrew...
Curated OER
Chapter 28: Red Flags and Velvet Revolutions: The End of the Cold War, 1960-1990
Set your historians up for testing success using this interactive flashcard tool. It is one of many learning strategies offered in this thorough online resource. Although designed for use with a text, the site is valuable independently....
Curated OER
Invaders and Settlers: The Vikings
Introduce your young historians to the amazing Vikings! This presentation provides information on the culture, travels, rule, religion, and tools used by the Vikings. After each 3-5 slide section are slides containing compression...
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension: The Mango Tree
Readers examine the traditional Indian story "The Mango Tree" as a literary analysis exercise. The story is broken into three parts, each followed by short-answer reading comprehension questions. While there are referential questions...
Curated OER
The Roaring 20s
America during the 1920s was quite an interesting place! Bring the jazz, poverty, consumer excess, culture, and politics to life with this presentation. Primary source images, excellent descriptive text, and a wide span of topics are...
Curated OER
PERCEIVINGT A CULTURE THROUGH ITS LITERATURE
Young scholarsexamine cultural values in literature, identify the cultural assumptions, prejudices, and purposes of authors and translators, use historical perspective to determine if the values and lifestyle depicted apply to...