Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Founding of Los Angeles, California

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders examine the social and cultural impact of settler groups in California and the origins of the founding of Los Angeles, California. They read and discuss an informational handout, and discuss what it is and was like to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mythopoly: Where in the World Is Odysseus?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study Greek mythology. Among other activities, they evaluate a work of art and discuss the influence, significance, and history as it pertains to mythology. As a culminating activity they create a board game that shows their...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Fables Unit Lesson Plan

For Teachers 3rd
Students study fables in a broad context. In this literary lesson on fables, students define terms unique to them. Students use a variety of technological resources to gather and classify information into three categories. Students also...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering Why I Am Who I Am

For Teachers 10th - Higher Ed
Learners analyze their family history and traditions. For this family history lesson, students identify family members to research and interview their family about the people. Learners write their family histories and traditions....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Customs Past and Present: Exploring Cultural Rituals

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners examine cultural traditions. In this cultural studies instructional activity, students conduct interviews and research online digital tools that allow them to discover their family's cultural traditions. Learners prepare...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Folklife and Folklore

For Teachers K - Higher Ed
Student examine the basic characteristics of folklore. In this folklore lesson, students complete activities to identify two kinds of folk, folk groups, and folklife. Students list daily activities in their home, identify folk groups...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

More Folk Songs

For Teachers 1st
First graders explain that texts of folk music are handed down by tradition. They sing two folk songs.
Lesson Plan
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Fables and Trickster Tales Around the World

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students analyze fables and trickster tales from various cultural traditions. In this fable analysis lesson, students identify the elements of fables and trickster stories. Students read Aesop's fables and Ananse spider stories....
Lesson Plan
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History in Pictures

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders interpret diary entries, letters and read maps to better understand portions of history. They create an oral presentation demonstrating understanding of how cultural characteristics have been communicated through art,...
Lesson Plan
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The Vision Quest

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore lives of Chief Plenty Coups and Crow Indians, focusing specifically on tradition of Vision Quests. Students identify reasons for Vision Quests, and create presentation to share information found with classmates.
Lesson Plan
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What Causes the Seasons?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate why the seasons occur throughout the year. They read a traditional wisdom story pertaining to the seasons. They create their own wisdom stories about the seasons and act them out for the class.
Lesson Plan
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Celebrating the Solstice and Equinox

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders graph the number of daylight hors throughout the year and examine why day length varies. They discover that seasonal changes and latitude on Earth affect the number of hours of daylight in each day. Students listen to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Ingredients Needed for a Musical National Park

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners identify musical sites that are worthy of being included as units of the National Parks System. They anthologize American music from primitive times to today.
Lesson Plan
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Between the Rivers

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders compare and contrast historical American cultures.  In this American history lesson, 2nd graders participate in reading, writing, oral, and hands on activities. Students discuss the similarities and differences...
Lesson Plan
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The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders complete activities for the book The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush, by Tomie dePaola. In this literature lesson, the students read the story and summarize the main events. They look for story elements focusing on the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Lesson Plan: Someone's in the Kitchen

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students use vocabulary necessary to complete cooking activities and tell others about the food. They discuss similarities and differences between Native American and other nationalities' foods made in their families.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cinderella Stories From Around the World

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders are read a variety of Cinderella stories from around the world. In groups, they complete a comparison chart for each story and how it compares to the American version. To end the lesson, they participate in a fairy tale...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cinderella Stories From Around the World

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders review the basic story of the Cinderella fairy tale. In groups, they read various stories of Cinderella from different cultures. They use a compare and contrast chart to examine the differences between the American...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plan: A Bird's Tale

For Teachers K - 5th
Who wouldn't love to get a letter from a blue bird? Elementary art enthusiasts analyze the social and historical context of Ason Yellowhair's Navajo piece, Bird and Cornstalk Rug. They examine the construction and images on the rug...
Lesson Plan
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Japanese Tea and Teacups

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Upper graders use the potter's wheel to make Japanese style tea cups, which they will use in a Japanese style tea ceremony. They hone their sculpting techniques while exploring Japanese cultural and the history of tea. There are two...
Lesson Plan
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Infusing Equity by Gender into the Classroom: School to Career

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers identify nontraditional career areas for their gender and discuss gender bias and stereotyping.  In this nontraditional careers lesson, students research a nontraditional career and shadow the job in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trading Traditions: Based on the American Samoa Quarter Reverse

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate U.S. Currency by researching American Samoa.  For this monetary unit lesson, students define the reverse and obverse of a coin while completing a currency related worksheet.  Students identify American...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oral Presentation of a Report With Visual Support

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create multi-paragraph report using the researched information. Over several class periods, students research a topic of their choosing and create a one-two page report. Student reports are presented to the class using an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Integrating Japanese Folk Tales into the Classroom Using Japanese Kamishibai

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students study Japanese folk tales focusing on the traditional values and key elements. They compare the Japanese values with their own. They discuss Japanese art before designing a set of kamishibai on which they write a summary of a...