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Word Play
Students examine the Japanese folktale, Monkeys Grasp for the Moon. In this multicultural literature lesson, students discuss the theme of the folktale. Students choose animal folktales from other Asian cultures for comparison.
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Monet Water Lilies
Fourth graders recognize works of art from various cultures and identify the artist and culture. They view the artistic style and write a response to questions about the style. Students create a still life painting using the techniques...
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The Life and Times of Gioacchino Rossini
Students discuss Gioacchino Rossini's life and musical culture. In this music lesson, students are introduced to "biofacts" about Rossini and listen to excerpts of his music. Students identify characteristics of Rossini's musical...
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Music Styles
Young scholars identify many genres of music and connect styles of music with various cultures. They watch "The Greatest TV Moments: Sesame Street Music A to Z" and list music styles: folk, jazz, rock, etc.
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Pysanky: Not Just a Pretty Egg
Students examine the art of Pysanky. Using the Internet, they identify the cultural similarities and differences between the United States and the Ukraine. Using Pysanky's art, they discover the symbolism he used in his artwork and...
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Essential to Autumn: Line, Shape, Color, Texture, Pattern, Rhythm, Emphasis, Movement, Balance, and Unity
Students explore the environment by learning about nature. For this art lesson, students go on a walk and find objects to help in creating a picture, or collage representing whatever season is being discussed. Students write similes...
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The 1980s Series - Fashion
Students explore the cultural and creative phenomenons of the 1980s. They transform old clothes, model them and reflect on the process. They create a set as a backdrop and present a Fashion Show.
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Types of Popular Music
Students listen to different types of music, such as bluegrass, rap and blues. They identify different styles of music and musical instruments. They discuss how the music reflects culture.
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"Sakura Sakura" and the Kumoijoshi Scale of Japan
Students listen to a recording of "Sakura" and determine where it is from. In this global sound lesson, students view pictures of cherry blossoms and connect its significance to Japanese culture. Students sing the score while...
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Musical Instruments - Percussion
Students research and analyze various percussion instruments from different countries and cultures in this Music lesson for the upper-elementary classroom. Emphasis is placed on internet research and hands-on drumming techniques from...
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The Hmong and the Storycloth: How traditions and cultures are transmitted through folklore and art
Fourth graders understand how families, communities, and countries preserve tradition through art and recognize that the Hmong of Southeast Asia use storycloth as a medium to pass down their tradition and history.
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The Great Migration
Students explore how migration to Harlem created a new life for African Americans. In this cross curricular lesson, students illustrate maps showing the migration, paint murals representing African American life in the South and...
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Life of a Navajo Weaver
Young scholars explore Native American weaving patterns and dance movements. In this Native Americans lesson, students view examples of weaving patterns on the Internet and compare the patterns to a Native American dance. Young scholars...
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Halloween
Discover the origins and traditions of Halloween with a crafty lesson plan! Second graders create bats, monsters, witches, and ghosts with masks and puppets. Next, they share their work with their classmates in a fun...
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Making Connections: I Know Why Caged Birds Sing
Students discuss equality and fairness by reading a Maya Angelo poem. In this U.S. history lesson, students read the poem I Know Why Caged Birds Sing, and discuss how the era it was written in affected the words. Students...
Akron Art Museum
Storytelling Resist
The illustrations of Ezra Jack Keats in The Snowy Day inspire young artists to examine shapes in illustrations and to use these shapes to create their own watercolor resist painting.
National Gallery of Canada
Being a Photojournalist
Tell a story with images. Learners view several photojournalistic photos before agreeing on a message to convey with their own photo stories. In small groups, they take and select photos to include in their final project.
Channel Islands Film
Cache: Lesson Plan 2 - Grades 4-6
Class members will dig this activity that has them trying their hand at recovering artifacts. Groups are assigned a section of a sandbox, carefully uncover the artifacts in their section, and then develop theories about who might...
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Identity of Women in Portraiture
Students look at portraits to learn history. Making connections is done with the identification of details found in the portraits. The gallery depicts the historical times of the Revolutionary War in Colonial America.
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Mango Walk
Pupils sing music representing the Caribbean culture in the calypso style. They discover the role that the event of African slavery and the history of Carribean culture played in generating calypso music.
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Taiko Drumming and Folktales - Activity 1
Students discuss how sound has been used throughout history and cultures, including present day in their own lives, through the study of Taiko Drums in this introductory lesson plan. Resource ideas are provided.
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Puppetmania: Using Puppets in the Classroom
Learners create puppets to teach concepts such as history and weather. In this Puppetmania lesson, students manipulate their puppets to show a range of emotions, facial expressions, and actions. Learners design puppets and learn about...
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Make A Pinata
Students work cooperatively to create pinatas using balloons, old newspapers, flour, water, tempera paints, string, scissors, and candy in this excellent lesson for the Elementary classroom. This can be ties into a unit of study on...
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How To Make a Rainstick
Students research the uses of rainsticks in ancient native cultures. The teacher discusses the ceremonies rainsticks were traditionally used in. The students then construct their own rainstick.