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Cuisine Art

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the history of the foods of different ethnic groups and the significance of these foods in perpetuating culture.
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A Native American Legend

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students compare the Native American version of Cinderella to the more popular version they know. They compare legends with fairy tales and explore character traits and discuss the meaning of good character. They write a fairy tale of...
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Conflict Diamonds

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine how diamonds are portrayed in American culture. They identify the political and social implications of conflict diamonds and the locations of these diamonds in Africa. They evaluate the effectiveness of the...
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Border to Border

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars use the Internet to gather information on the country of Mexico. They also discover the culture of their people and compare them with the United States population. They take a virtual tour of some of Mexico's most...
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Virtual Travel Plan

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students navigate the web to prepare for an imaginary trip and record expenses involved.  In this state culture and symbol lesson plan, students gather information to be used in a multimedia project.
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Resources for Teaching Women Writers

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders explore, discuss and experience a wide variety of texts from around the world written by women. They analyze the different genres covered and view a lot of unique point of views from different female perspectives. Topics...
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Understanding and Appreciating Poetry: Afro-Americans and Their Poetry

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders are introduced to poems written by African-American authors. As a class, they read excerpts of poems from different time periods and discuss how and if anything has changed over time with discrimination and equal rights...
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African Dance and Song

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners participate in a Zulu song game. They listen to African music and discover that is is a part of the culture, ceremonies, and dances. Students learn the dance/song, "Vulani Ringi Ring," and practice it after memorizing the words.
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Student Mad Libs

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Young scholars investigate the different parts of speech by participating in a fill in the blank activity. In this Mad Libs lesson, students define the different parts of speech and discuss how they are used appropriately in sentences....
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World-Water Hero

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students make up a superhero. In this water quality lesson, students create a superhero with super powers that can improve water quality and availability.
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Cinco de Mayo

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners become familiar with the celebration of Cinco de Mayo and the reasons Mexico fought for independence. In this Cinco de Mayo lesson, students write a KWL about Cinco De Mayo. Learners explore celebration vocabulary  in...
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Taking a Closer Look (Critical Viewing)

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore persuasive writing in advertisements. In this advertisements lesson, students evaluate tobacco advertisements for persuasion techniques. Young scholars then create a counter advertisement against smoking.
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Those Amazing Animals

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students understand the roles of animals in entertainment and sports. In this animal welfare lesson, students recognize that some animals are used humanely and others are used cruelly. Students classify different animals into the lists...
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Folk Music

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners explore Folk Music in Iowa. For this folk music lesson, students discuss different types of folk music and how it relates to life in Iowa. They take the tune of a song and write their own lyrics to describe their life. 
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Pizza Portions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore mathematics by participating in a pizza pie activity. In this nutrition lesson, students identify the caloric intake in a piece of pizza and estimate the average number of slices eaten by a person. Students utilize...
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The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders discover the thematic connections between classical literary and popular song lyrics.  In this English instructional activity, 11th graders research a specific topic to be presented to the class.  Students...
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Duke Ellington and the Rise of Jazz in New York

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Pupils consider how Duke Ellington impacted the rise of jazz music. In this jazz music lesson plan, students listen to a lecture regarding the life and work of Ellington. Pupils also watch a video regarding Ellington and discuss music of...
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Symbolism in China's Material Goods

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students make a generalization about the process of 'looking' and 'grouping', hoping to show that we, as Americans, show preferences and shared choices. They study examples of American art through time and create a class chart...
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The Golden Age of Radio

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders analyze popular radio shows of the 1930’s-1940’s.  In this American History lesson, 11th graders examine life before television and one of the ways people entertained themselves....
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The 1828 Campaign of Andrew Jackson: Issues in the Election of 1828 and Beyond

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students research the campaign and election issues of Andrew Jackson. In this presidential election lesson, students research the campaign of 1828. Students then list the important issues. Students discuss the political advertisements in...
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Petanque: A Lawn Game

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders play the popular French game, Petanque.
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Form and Theme in the Traditional Mexican Corrido

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the traditional Mexican musical form of corridos. In this cross curricular history and music lesson, students analyze the lyrics of popular corridos and the corridos' importance in Mexican culture. Students will...
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USING THE SOFTWARE PROGRAM "HYPER-STUDIO"

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students demonstrate the steps to follow in using the software to create a presentation. They use context of cultural history of the four periods of Native American lifestyles in Illinois and create a presentation.
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March Into Shamrock Season

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students use St. Patrick's Day activities to explore symmetry and words. In this lesson about St. Patrick's Day, students experience the Irish culture by learning about the Irish shamrock, and learning some Irish words. Students create...