Curated OER
Bunyan, Appleseed, and More
Ninth graders listen to a variety of tall tales and compose their own tall tale. In this tall tale instructional activity, 9th graders complete KWL chart about tall tales. Students discuss the elements of tall tales and then read...
Curated OER
Recognizing Text Relay
Fifth graders recognize and distinguish between different types of text. After a discussion of the various types of text, small groups compete in a relay race game demonstrating their knowledge of the text. Correct choices earn...
Curated OER
Seven Chinese Brothers
Fourth graders identify the characteristics of a tall tale. They read "The Seven Chinese Brothers" and analyze it for these characteristics. Students complete a comprehension worksheet and discuss why "The Seven Chinese Brothers" can be...
Curated OER
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Learners hear the story How I Spent My Summer Vacation by Wallace Bleef and share their own summer experiences. They write a tale about one event that happened during their summer using exaggeration.
Curated OER
PUPPETRY
Learners explore world cultures through their puppetry. Your students explore puppets that are used in various cultures and create their own. The Internet experiences in this instructional activity are designed to be teacher-directed...
Curated OER
Traditions and Languages of Three Native Cultures: Tlingit, Lakota, and Cherokee
Learners explore the connections between tradition and language. They examine the environment, history and culture of the Tlingit, Lakota and Cherokee tribes and identify the importance of maintaining languages for oral traditions.
Curated OER
Celebrating Groundhog Day with your Students
Celebrating Groundhog Day in your classroom is a fun-filled way to explore science, art, and literature.
K12 Reader
Customs and Traditions
Here's a two-part reading comprehension learning exercise that asks kids to read a short passage about the customs and traditions of Native American tribes and then to answer a series of questions based on the article.
Activated Story Theatre
Orpheus- A Greek Myth: Reader's Theatre Script
Is this any way to treat a Greek Myth? By all means, turn the tale of Orpheus into a reader's theatre exercise.
Curated OER
The See Family
Third graders examine photographs as primary source documents. Students are broken into groups and are given photographs of the See Family.
Curated OER
Sondheim: Voice of Cultural Change
High schoolers explore Stephen Sondheim's contributions to musical theatre in the context of the dramatic cultural shift that occurred in American life in the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.
Curated OER
Through the Eyes of the Big Bad Wolf
Imagine how the wolf would tell the tale of Little Red Riding Hood or The Three Little Pigs. Young writers re-imagine classic tales by adopting the point of view of another character in the story. After reading models like The True Story...
Curated OER
Analyzing the Use of Irony in a Short Story
Ninth graders examine how literature connects to real-life and see how irony aids in the development of theme. They read Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, and discuss elements of foreshadowing and situational irony. Then learners will write...
Curated OER
Once Upon a Pop-Up Book
Learners design and illustrate a pop-up book of their original writing after studying the book, The Jolly Postman: Or Other People's Letter's. They present their book and complete a self-assessment rubric.
Curated OER
Analyzing Story Elements
Lesson ideas to teach students how to analyze story elements through visual representation.
Curated OER
Building a Cohesive Learning Community
A classroom where each person feels important, respected, and accountable provides the foundation for successful learning.
Curated OER
Good Heavens
Pupils look at the history of science to identify some of the scientific ideas that different cultures have contributed to science throughout history. They describe using examples ideas developed by different cultures to explain the...
Curated OER
A Storytelling Festival
Students explore the native cultures of the Americas, to learn some aspects of oral storytelling, and to share their knowledge with others. They, in groups, write a story that should say something important about the culture from which...
Curated OER
America's Mighty Rivers
Students examine the cultural importance of America's rivers. Using the Mississippi and Hudson Rivers, they examine a story that takes place on each river. They are introduced to the concepts of preservation and stewardship.
Curated OER
Half Man, Half Limping Rabbit
Students explore culture and change through reading "Half Main, Half Limping Rabbit" by Nina Porzucki. In this literature and cultural lesson plan, students discuss Dracula and other folk stories from Romania. Students identify the ways...
Curated OER
Continuity and Change
Young scholars identify those freedoms most important to them and identify characteristics of a "good" rule. They then develop "good" rules for the world and identify how decisions or rules made today might affect the future.
Curated OER
Flag Etiquette
Students study flag etiquette. In this US flag activity, students explore the flag and its history. Students also demonstrate the proper procedures for folding a U.S. flag.
Curated OER
As the Kids Come and Go: Mapping a Classroom
Map the classroom with your kids to help them understand how maps work and how to read them. The lesson plan starts off with a story about animals living and moving around the globe, and then kids create maps of their classroom to show...
Yale University
The Harlem Renaissance: Black American Traditions
Aaron Douglas, Meta Warrick Fuller, Palmer Hayden, William Johnson, and James Lesesne Wells, the painters and sculptors of the Harlem Renaissance, are featured in a unit study of artists of the Harlem Renaissance.