Teaching Tolerance
Fairness Fair
How can we create a more fair world? Chances are, class members have some ideas! After reading a text about fairness, individuals create skits around the ideas of fairness. Extend the learning and make their presentations a...
Curated OER
African Myths
Students discover the role of storytelling in the African culture. In this multicultural lesson, students discuss the elements of the African myth and record them on the board. Students visit an African folktale website and read examples...
Curated OER
Exploring Values Towards Conservation
Students read First Nation story, identify values expressed in it and discuss how those values relate to conservation issues faced today. Students then seek out stories relevant to climate change from their own Elders and respected...
Curated OER
According to Tradition
Students analyze a historical document. They review oral histories as a tradition of storytelling in Native cultures and listen to an excerpt from The Life and Traditions of the Red Man. They write an episode or story that has been...
Curated OER
African American Poetry: Family and Traditions
Students are introduced to the elements of African-American poetry. As a class, they are read different types of poems to discover there are different styles of poems and practice rhyming words. They share information on their family...
Curated OER
Our Small World
Students explore indigenous and Native cultures, and promote appreciation for the contributions from these cultures. They explore the concept of cultural conservation and gain more understanding about the issues that tribes face today. ...
Curated OER
My America
Eleventh graders compare 1920's America to modern America. In this historical perspectives instructional activity, 11th graders research both eras in American history using inquiry skills. As a culminating activity, students create...
Curated OER
Myth, Legend and Folklore
Students examine the role of myths and folklore in the Native American culture. They listen to examples of oral history and write their own. They share their story with the class.
Art Institute of Chicago
African Myths and Stories
Young historians discover African stories associated with a royal altar tusk from the Kingdom of Benin in Nigeria, read myths illustrated on the tusk, and write a story about the life of an oba using figures depicted on the tusk.
Curated OER
Job Day
First graders discuss jobs in the community. In this lesson on careers, 1st graders read and discuss different jobs in the community. They find new vocabulary and discuss what job they would like when they get older.
Curated OER
Touring the Museum
Second graders create a living sculpture using their peers. Working with a partner, they manipulate their partner's arms and legs to create a living statue. They create a story to go along with their sculpture, explaining what the...
Curated OER
Diversity
Fourth graders discover cultural heritage by investigating the Aboriginal community. In this Canadian History lesson plan, 4th graders identify the First Nations of Canada and research them using an atlas and the web. Students create a...
Curated OER
"Julie of the Wolves"
Fifth graders research life in Alaska and compare life there to their lives in this lesson. They read "Julie of the Wolves." They research through the novel and other reference books facts about the Alaskan climate and geography. They...
Curated OER
Governance
Students explore government by researching Native American history. In this First Nations culture lesson, students define the Aboriginal action of speaking in a circle as a group. Students discuss their likes and dislikes with the class...
Curated OER
Australian Travel Adventure
Seventh graders are introduced to the states and territories within Australia. Using the internet, they bookmark sites and take notes on what they want to share with their classmates. They also complete a map study on the country to...
National Endowment for the Humanities
A “New English” in Chinua Achebe’s “Things Fall Apart”: A Common Core Exemplar
To examine the “New English” Chinua Achebe uses in Things Fall Apart, readers complete a series of worksheets that ask them to examine similes, proverbs, and African folktales contained in the novel. Individuals explain the meaning...
Curated OER
Acadie -- Alive and Well!
Learners examine the culture of Acadian through the paintings of Robert Harris. Using the internet, they read examples of Acadian history through primary source documents. As a class, they continue to share stories orally by pretending...
Curated OER
Interview With A Legend
Eighth graders investigate how Language Arts and Social Studies can be integrated in the curriculum. They conduct research about a famous person in history. Then students use the information to write a report for the class. Then students...
Curated OER
Ancient Egyptian Culture
Fifth graders participate in a Webquest on Ancient Egypt. They identify clothing and jewelry, list the steps of mummification, decipher hieroglyphics, and complete a Travel Log.
Curated OER
Rock Art
Fourth graders examine and interpret rock art to illustrate its importance in the cultural heritage of a people and as a tool for learning about the past. They create their own rock art that is a symbol of their culture.
Curated OER
Eleanor Roosevelt, A Leader Who Helps People
Students are introduced to Eleanor Roosevelt the person. They are introduced to how she cared about people. Students are introduced to the concept of leadership. They write a poem about Eleanor Roosevelt as a leader, or they write a...
Curated OER
Folktales (African American, Chinese, Japanese and Korean)
Students participate in a variety of activities that are concerned with comparing different cultures through the literary genre of folktales. The stories are used to stimulate student interest and provide a context for how a society...
Curated OER
Chinese Shadow Puppets
Students explore Chinese culture by performing a shadow puppet play. They create the puppets, develop a script, and rehearse and perform a play which illustrates an understanding of Chinese stories and traditions.