Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Bartered Bride

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the ways music is used to convey ideas about a culture. They define folk art by viewing and comparing visual folk and fine art. Then they analyze the musical piece," The Bartered Bride" and relate it to how folk art can...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African-American Gospel Music

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine gospel music including the lyrics and instrumentation. They explain the meaning of the lyrics and how they are related to the cultural values associated with the music. They differentiate between gospel and spiritual music.
Lesson Plan
Vermilionville

Mardi Gras Elementary

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd Standards
You don't have to visit Vermilionville to experience the Cajun traditions of Mardi Gras. After examining pictures and hearing stories about these colorful traditions, learners create their own Courir de Mardi Gras masks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Have a Fiesta!

For Teachers 1st
First graders plan a Mexican fiesta, create a paper flower and cook a tortilla to eat with a fruit drink. They listen to Gary Soto's, Too Many Tamales and June Behrens', Fiesta! Cinco de Mayo.
Lesson Plan
Lee & Low Books

First Come the Zebra Teacher’s Guide

For Teachers 1st - 5th Standards
Accompany a reading of First Come the Zebra written and illustrated by Lynne Barasch with a teacher's guide equipped with before reading, vocabulary, and after reading activities. Additional social studies,...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Lesson 1: The First Great Awakening

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
High schoolers examine the First Great Awakening and how it affected religious belief in colonial America. They read and analyze primary source documents, explore various websites, and write a five-paragraph essay examining the beliefs...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tears of Joy Theatre Presents Anansi the Spider

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
Accompany the African folktale, Anansi the Spider, with a collection of five lessons, each equipped with supplemental activities. Lessons offer multidisciplinary reinforcement in English language arts, social studies, science,...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Myth of the West: Kit Carson to the Rescue

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
There's nothing like the Wild Wild West! Scholars investigate the American Frontier through the eyes of Kit Carson. To complete the first installment of a three-part series, they use presentations, a short video, and primary and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese Poetry: Tanka? You're Welcome!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the structure and content of the Tanka form and to arrive at a definition of the structure in English. They analyze a tanka to determine its structure and intent and compose two Tanka; one in traditional form and one...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create Thanksgiving menu and pre-dinner blessing or ritual that is sensitive to five different imaginary Thanksgiving guests from a variety of backgrounds.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Felt Bags

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Pupils study the history of bags, pouches and purses. Use of these items spans the entire globe and encompasses practically every civilization. The lesson culminates with learners creating their own bag from a variety of choices. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Indian Basket Weaving

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students explore Indian Basket designs, experiment with weaving materials and create their own baskets in this 5-day Arrt lesson for the early-elementary classroom. The lesson includes scoring guides and illustrated directions for students.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Luck of the Irish

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students are introduced to a variety of customs and traditions relating to the culture of Ireland. They view a video, explore the art of storytelling, research sport origins, cook Irish food and discuss well-known Irish proverbs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creating a Multiple Image Page

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students review basic computer skills and view images produced with multiplet images. They complete the Photo Draw Activities worksheet then create a multiple image composite page using computer graphic image programs and images found on...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Double Consciousness: Black Conceptual Art Since 1970

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students discuss the act of selection as a central component in contemporary art making in this visual art lesson ideal for the high school or junior high classroom. Emphasis is placed on the artwork of Duchamp and contemporary artists.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Sculpted Fiesta Feast

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the Mexican History.  In this World History lesson, 5th graders create a traditional Mexican feast using sculpting clay and paint. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ta he thaw nu ha la tu-Traditional Oneida Song

For Teachers K - 12th
Students practice singing a traditional Oneida song. They discuss the meaning in both the English and Oneida languages and how the words to this song demonstrate important feelings for the Oneida people.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies: Families Today and Yesterday

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine past and contemporary family life. Using Venn diagrams, they compare and contrast the two and write short statements about them. Among the areas for consideration are clothing, food, transportation, and traditions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tapping the Trees-Traditional Oneida Song

For Teachers K - 5th
Students practice singing the song, Tapping the Trees. They discuss the meaning in both the English and Oneida languages and how the words to this song demonstrate important feelings for the Oneida people.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Oral History: Interviewing Elders

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine oral history traditions. They interview family members about their childhoods and compare them to their own. Students use the collected information to make posters, letters, essays, or poems about their research.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making A Karuta Game

For Teachers 1st - 9th
Students explore the culture of Japan be creating a traditional Japanese game called Karuta. They conduct research in order to find the rules for the game and to make cultural connections. The content of the game is modified according to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Techno Celebrate

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore world traditions by utilizing computer programs. In this Internet research lesson, students utilize the TechnoCelebrate digital database to locate information regarding cultural celebrations. Students utilize Microsoft...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Folktales Lesson

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore what a folktale consists of as it relates to oral tradition. For this folktale lesson, students are told the African folktale, Why the Sun is Lives in the Sky and make personal inferences about what the folktale is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Folk Tales

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders listen to, recite, and research African folktales. They research African artwork to add to their original folk tales which they write.