Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Exchange, Destruction and Reconstruction of Architectural Signs and Symbols in Mexico-Tenochtitlan: A History of Order and Power

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders use the internet to research the history of cultures throughout the world. In groups, they disucss the meaning of various symbols and view Tenochtitlan as a center of power and wealth. They use everyday materials to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cardboard Radial Weaving

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students explore cultural history by participating in an arts and crafts activity. In this weaving lesson, students identify the many cultures that used weaving methods and local plant life to create baskets and other useful tools....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultures Around the World

For Teachers K - 4th
Students explore the concept of culture. In this culture instructional activity, students discuss how clothing, food, celebrations, holidays, and travel contribute to the formation and perpetuation of culture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Cultures

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the nature of culture, and compare/contrast various cultures and their artifacts and ceremonies. They develop a class list of artifacts, complete a worksheet, and create a poster or diorama describing an object that is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Medieval Ethiopia, Mali and Nigeria: The Influence of Culture in Africa

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners are introduced to the concept of cultural diffusion. In groups, they identify the culture of Mali, Nigeria and Ethiopia and work together to research how cultural diffusion has changed the country. To end the lesson, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Countries, Food, and Culture

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students examine foods from other countries. In this multicultural lesson plan, students write down names of different restaurants and categorize pictures of foods according to the specific restaurant. For example, Won Ton Soup would be...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Social Studies - Germany Culture

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore German culture.  In this World History lesson plan, 8th graders examine specific traditions in Germany then compare the traditions to the United States through research, activities and discussion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultures of Our Nation

For Teachers K - 4th
Learners bring in family items that represent their culture and present them to the class. In this culture lesson plan, students can bring in food, music, dance, pictures, and more.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Culture Everywhere

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study their culture while filling in a chart that shows how culture meets basic human needs. They examine the role of archaeologists in studying people from past cultures.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultures

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine and analyze photographs of other cultures. They answer discussion questions, identify bias and point of view in the images, conduct research on another photo, and compare and contrast two cultural images.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comparing Cultures Through Symbols

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine symbols used by the Plains Indians. Using examples of African art, they discuss what symbols they use that relate to the Native American symbols. They compare and contrast the two cultures and discuss as a class to end...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Compare and Contrast Culture

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders compare and contrast the cultures of American culture with that of the other cultures of North America. Using traditional and Internet research, 5th graders gather data on one element of culture for comparison. Data...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Peace Corps Challenge Game- Food from Other Countries

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students examine traditional foods from other cultures.  In this Peace Corps Challenge game, students research food preferences and delicacies in other countries and compare to the traditional American cuisine. Students...
Lesson Plan
Penguin Books

Folklore and Fairytales: A Guide to Using Traditional Tales and Reimagined Classics

For Teachers K - 8th Standards
Every culture has its own stories to tell. An interesting educator's guide shares a large collection of fairytales and folktales, some from different cultures and some re-creations of classics. A summary and brief teaching ideas...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Native American Story Necklaces

For Teachers K - 6th
Combine a study of Native American history and art in this lesson. Learners discuss the importance of fetishes in Native American culture, the history of necklaces, and create their own works of art. Your class will find this to be both...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Heart of Human Experience: Cultura Azteca

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore Aztec culture to gain understanding of relationship between music, recreation, and culture. Seven lessons on one page.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Family Quilts Keep us Warm

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students explore families and culture. In this family and culture lesson, students discuss their families and their similarities and differences. Students read the book The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco and create their own quilt...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soneka's Village

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students explore the Maasai culture. In this cultural traditions lesson, students read primary documents and story books about the Maasai in order to compare their culture to the culture of those living in a Maasai village.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese Music Study

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Gagaku is music traditionally played in the Japanese imperial courts of long ago. Learners listen to this and other traditional Japanese music to gain an understanding of culture and music history. They work to identify Japanese...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Storytelling: Oral Traditions Learning Center

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars explore the oral traditions. In this storytelling lesson, students compare and contrast stories from the cultural traditions of Alaska and Hawaii.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovering New Perspectives on Life

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars examine the experiences of a Peace Corps volunteer. In this global studies lesson, students listen to the story of a volunteer about the lessons he learned during his time in Morocco. Young scholars discuss how they would...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Single Lucid Moment

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine a case study of contrasting values between cultures. They read and discuss a story of a family of Peace Corps volunteers in Papua New Guinea, write a response to the story, and write a script for a dramatization of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Waking Up, Stepping Out

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine cultural differences. In this Peace Corps lesson, students compare their culture to Nepali culture as they read and discuss Waking Up, Stepping Out by Steve Iams.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hawaii: A Stolen Star

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Explore the islands of Hawaii. Investigate Hawaiian culture and compare their personal traditions to Hawaiian traditions. They locate Hawaii on a map and research the history of Hawaii.