Curated OER
Spanish Influence on United States Currency: The Origins of the "Dollar"
Sixth graders research the Spanish influence on early colonial America and the process of establishing the present U.S. currency. They read and discuss an informational handout in small groups, and take a short quiz. Students then...
Smithsonian Institution
Be a Food Detective
What are packaged food products really made of? This activity will prompt your learners to consider and investigate the source of ingredients in their food. They begin by breaking into groups and analyzing food labels by identifying...
Curated OER
Grocery Store Field Study
Students visit a local grocery store (not a community market) to gather information about where some commonly eaten produce items come from. Once they have collected this information, locate the countries of origin on a map and research...
Curated OER
Mediterranean Trade in the Late Bronze Age
Seventh graders analyze the amount and conditions of trade in the late Bronze Age. In groups, they research where a variety of items and goods originated. They participate in Mediterranean trade days in which they try to acquire as...
Curated OER
"Uncle Sam's Got Himself in a Terrible Jam": Protest Music and the Vietnam War
"And it's one, two, three...what are we fighting for?" Use music to assess the climate of protest during the Vietnam War, listening to and analyzing Country Joe MacDonald's "I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-To-Die Rag" (lyrics included)....
Curated OER
Classroom Supplies
Challenge young mathematicians to buy classroom supplies by staying within the means of a $1,000 budget. The mathematical activity provides learners with the opportunity to decide what items from the supply list would benefit a class of...
Curated OER
Artists Teach Us to See the World through Visual Symbols
Tenth graders analyze a biographical piece of art by Raymond Saunders. They identify shapes, symbols, and lines that are used, and how the piece relates to the artist's life and modern society. They design and create an original piece of...
Curated OER
Shopping Basket
Students study the origins of the items in a typical shopping baskets. They investigate how raw materials are processed into products that are purchased when shopping.
American Museum of Natural History
Global Grocery
A walk through the grocery store is like a walk around the world. An interactive activity shows popular grocery items and where the ingredients originate. Perfect as a remote learning resource, the lesson connects groceries to the...
K12 Reader
National Symbols
What do the flag, the bald eagle, and the Statue of Liberty remind you of? After reading a short article about these national symbols, middle schoolers are asked to identify ideas that these items represent.
Beyond Benign
Truckin’ to Your Table
Food takes a trip to the table. Class members choose a meal from a menu and calculate the total cost of the meal including tax and tip. Using a food origin card, pupils determine how far each of the ingredients of a meal traveled to end...
Curated OER
African Folk Tales
Seventh graders listen to, recite, and research African folktales. They research African artwork to add to their original folk tales which they write.
Curated OER
Global Economy: A Simple Activity
Students explore the global economy. In this economics lesson, students examine clothing labels in search of the countries the clothing was made in. Students consider the implications of a global economy.
Curated OER
Clothes
Let's go shopping! Featuring terms like blue jeans, high heels, and slippers, this ESL presentation would be a good addition to your unit about clothing. Each slide features one item of clothing, a fun illustration, and a short description.
Curated OER
Spice Up Your Life
Second graders identify major spices found in the world. They link spices with countries they are grown in and the uses for these valuable items.
Curated OER
We Live in an International Community
Students locate the different countries from which their clothing originates. Using a blank map, they identify and color in those areas.
Curated OER
The World In My Community
Students identify products in their community which are imported from other countries. After conducting a personal household survey, students research the product's country of origin. They discover the role imports have upon their...
Curated OER
Tracing the History Of Food
Students explore cultural variations in food preparation. They pick a country and research dishes of cultural significance. They prepare their food and present the dish to the class creatively.
Curated OER
Barter Day
Fourth graders understand the process of bartering. For this barter day lesson, each student barters an item in their desk with another student. All items are returned at the end of the activity and it is important to tell the students...
Curated OER
Armchair Travelers
Learners consider how other countries and cultures influence furniture and home furnishings. They create a design plan for a particular room using the influences of a particular country.
Curated OER
Exchange Students
Students discuss as a class the items they value and why. They read an article about the popularity of cellphones in Iraq. In groups, they work together to create a guide to their culture to share with others visiting their classroom....
Curated OER
The Price of Relief
Students calculate and graph the costs of essential items needed in Kosovar refugee camps on an individual, family, and camp basis. Additionally, students explore how relief organizations and businesses participate in relief efforts.
Curated OER
Map the Civil War
Students explore the Civil War through original maps. In this mapping lesson, students calculate distance and show it on an original map. Students examine the type of landscape and its landmarks and draw symbols on the map.
Curated OER
Clothesline Sleuth
Third graders discover the origin of an item of clothing. In this clothing lesson, 3rd graders navigate the net to locate information related to various fabrics. Students answer questions and define vocabulary about fabrics. Students...