Humanities Teacher Resources

Approach multiculturalism with this rich series of activities that will introduce your learners to the concept of culture by closely examining the behaviors, practices, and art of three distinct peoples—the Highland Maya of Guatemala,...

Students examine culture and how immigrants adapt to American culture while contributing elements of their various cultures to that of the United States.

New ReviewHistory is full of great empires rising to power—and falling into dust. But what does religion and a society's belief system have to do with a civilization's fate? A thorough explanation of the impact of world religions on their...

New ReviewSmall groups learn about a present-day nomadic culture in Mongolia and the threats to its existence by exploring a photo essay. The resource includes thoughtful discussion and writing prompts about cultural sustainability, the...

Young scholars read various arguments posed by John Dewey when it comes to population growth. In groups, they use magazine articles and the internet to find issues related to populations and complete experiments to identify the...

Students perform research on specific cultures. They write a short paragraph on each of the universals and explain how each universal relates to their home culture.

What defines a woman as empowered, and how does this definition compare to the ideas and actions of a group of Muslim women in Syria? After watching a series of video clips from a documentary film about a school for girls in Damascus,...

Using video clips of young adults from around the world describing their cultures and how they can be misunderstood, learners compare their own cultural point of view to that of others through discussion and writing.

Students explore the cities of Cairo, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Mecca and Tehran.  In this Middle East lesson plan, students complete a map, research one of the five the cities and prepare a presentation that includes details about the city. ...

Learners examine modern culture and compare it to other cultures around the world. They focus on items, such as computers and soda cans, that are prominent parts of their culture. They draw pictures of themselves and their parents in...

To launch a unit study of the concept of diversity in World Literature, class members compare Chinua Achebe's essay, "An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad's Heart of Darkness" and Richard Rodriguez's essay, "The Chinese in All of Us: A...

Learners determine their own perspective on women's empowerment then compare it to how it is seen in Syria. They watch a four documentary clips, discuss what they've seen, then answer two short essay questions. Excellent resource links...

Students study the impelled migration of the Lost Boys (and Girls) from their homeland in southern Sudan to refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya and the eventual resettlement of thousands in the United States. They examine culture clash...

What would the world be like if each person acted with greater cultural awareness and understanding? Learners consider the impact of cultural diffusion, as well as how global leaders can address some of today's pressing issues.

New ReviewProvided by the National Gallery of Art in Washington, this resource for teachers examines Islamic art, including calligraphy, arabesques, and geometric designs.  A recounting of the spread of the faith and the tumultuous political...

Promote positive self-esteem in young girls with this educational toolkit—a thorough document that lists a wide variety of activities, from writing an I am poem or learning to give compliments to a conflict resolution role-play...

New ReviewIs there any such thing as a culture without some degree of hybridization? Homi K. Bhabha maintains that all cultures, particularly post-colonial, experience cultural hybridity that reflect in an individual's personal identity. Learn...

Clear and well-organized presentations are hard to come by. Luckily, here you'll find excellent information of the location, diffusion, and cultural landscape of each of the world's seven major religions. A truly helpful resource for...

America was founded by dreamers, and the American dream still resonates in our country today. Track the American dream from its Puritan beginnings to its optimistic descendants with a instructional activity that focuses on speeches by...

Does identify come from within, or is it shaped by external forces? Explore the complex concept of identify with a two-unit module designed for 12th grade language arts. The first unit uses A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams...

Use Nathanial Hawthorne's immortal text on the influence of religion on the early American settlements, as well as its continued impact on American culture, with a unit that focuses on The Scarlet Letter. In addition to Hawthorne's...

Students study the language, heritage, traditions, and customs of other cultures by becoming member of simulated families in other parts of the world.

What can a Ganesh statue, hand ornament, and print block tell you about India? Introduce your learners to the geography, history, and culture of India by analyzing primary sources and using the well-designed worksheets provided in this...

Language arts learners don't need a lecture about poetry; they listen to poetry every day on the radio! Apply skills from literary analysis to famous songs and beautiful lyrics with a lesson about literary devices. As class...