Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American Aloha Lesson Plan: Perpetuating Indigenous Cultural Traditions in Diaspora

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine the culture and decline of the culture of native Hawaiian people as the islands were colonized. They study issues of cultural identity for Native Hawaiians.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

International Festival: France

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore French culture. In this cross-curriculum social studies lesson, students listen to Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans and identify words and landmarks associated with France. Students pronounce several phrases in French,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

International Festival: Greece

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students celebrate the culture of Greece. In this multicultural lesson, students participate in several activities which examine the culture of Greece. Students study the Greek alphabet, identify the country on a world map, and make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

International Festival: Mexico

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students explore the culture of Mexico through music and food. In this multicultural instructional activity, students read the book Mexico and listen to samples of Mexican music. Students use ingredients to make tacos.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Types of Folklife Worksheet

For Students 7th - 8th
In this types of folklife worksheet, students define the varying types of folklife, their motifs, and any variants. Students are challenged by the cultural processes they must categorize.
Lesson Plan
UTSA Institute of Texas Cultures

Teaching Through Kamishibai and The Art of Chinese Calligraphy

For Teachers 2nd - 8th Standards
Young learners discover kamishibai, a popular Japanese storytelling art, and explore how these Japanese folktales illustrate the country's cultural themes and values through discussion and storyboarding. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Up From the Streets: Hip Hop as a Recognized Art

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students discuss the historical roots of Hip-Hop to the present as an example of an art form that arose from the street into popular culture. Emphasis is placed on in-class discussion and written reflections in this introductory lesson...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Styrofoam Relief Prints

For Teachers K
Using Styrofoam trays, kindergartners carve and create their own prints. They create an image in the Styrofoam, ink it up, and then use it to create prints. It would be great to mention and show how ink blocks or block prints have been...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Power to the People: Social Movements of the 1960s

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students engage in a professional development workshop for teachers in the delivery of curriculum about the era of the 1960's. The emphasis of the workshop is using popular culture of the time in order to launch investigations that are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

1950's Popular Culture

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils gain a basic understanding of Capitalism and Communism, the ideologies that fueled the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons Lesson 1

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the affect of a theme song can have on a show or performer. They compare and contrast an original television theme song with classical music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons Lesson 2

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the origins of ragtime music in American and analyze its musical form.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keep on Pushing: Popular Music and the Civil Rights Movement

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars explore music that exemplified the Civil Rights Movement. For this music and history lesson, students research 1960's protest songs, Motown recorded music, and rap of the 1990's to consider the power of music and its...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Guide Through the Culture of the Blues

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the history of blues music and discover how it relates to the music of today. As a class, they listen to the drum songs of Africa and compare it to the use of drums in pop music today. Using the internet, they research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

17th Century Music and Dance

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore American history through hands-on use and demonstration of musical material culture representing early colonial America. They compare the music of colonial America to modern music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tobacco: Exploring Tobacco Culture

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders are introduced to the tobacco planting process. Using primary sources, they identify the steps necessary to grow the popular crop. They create a flow map to organize the process graphically. They discuss the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African American Community and Culture

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the rise of jazz music. In this Duke Ellington lesson, 4th graders watch video segments regarding Ellington's life and showcasing a performance of Ellington and his band. Students discuss the rhythm...
PPT
Curated OER

Roman Relaxation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
So what did the ancient Romans do to have fun? Explore the Colosseum, amphitheaters, baths, and arenas that housed the exciting and at times dangerous activities enjoyed in ancient Rome. An interesting look at ancient life!
Worksheet
Catherine Schmidt-Jones

Two Traditional Korean Songs

For Students 3rd - 5th
"Arirang," the most popular Koeran folk song, and "Doraji" are featured in a resource that includes suggestions for how to incorporate these hauntingly beautiful songs into your curriculum.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Canvas Folding Screen

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Elementary, middle, and high schoolers design canvas folding screens; much like the ones that are so prevalent in Asian homes. Be warned that this art lesson requires a lot of materials, so it will be expensive to implement. However, the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dreamcatchers

For Teachers K - 5th
After reading a Native American legend about dreamcatchers, why not make some. This resource provides several good links that explain the legend of the dreamcatcher and step-by-step instructions for making them with the class. Tip: If...
Lesson Plan
Institute for Humane Education

I've Been Branded!

For Teachers 6th - 12th
How many pairs of Nikes® or Apple® products are in the average American home? What makes someone buy one particular type of laundry detergent over another? Scholars grapple with these questions as they develop a list of brands they use...
Lesson Plan
Anti-Defamation League

On-Screen Diversity: Why Visibility in Media Matters

For Teachers 4th - 7th Standards
Characters play a significant role in why we like certain shows and movies but are the characters we watch representing the diverse society in which we live? Scholars examine this question through thoughtful discussion about popular...
Lesson Plan
Media Smarts

Unit Two: Celebrities and World Issues

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Develop media smarts by considering the power of celebrity involvement in world issues. A look at the work of such celebrities as Angelina Jolie, Oprah, and Bono prepare learners to develop their own media campaign for a global...