Japan Society
Our Family and Other Families: Using Totoro to Teach Family Structure
What do families around the world have in common? Explore this theme through the popular animated film My Neighbor Totoro by Hayao Miyazaki. Over the course of two days, pupils view the film, pausing to discuss their own families and the...
Curated OER
Understanding Ethnic Labels and Puerto Rican Identity
Students brainstorm a list of stereotypes associated with the Hispanic or Latin culture. In groups, they use the internet to research issues of importance to the Puerto Rican community. They focus on the cultures that speak Spanish and...
National First Ladies' Library
Fashion Trends in the 1960s: Hippies, Flower Children, and Design
Middle schoolers use the Internet to research and examine clothing styles of 1960s, draw pictures of various clothing and accessories popular in that decade, trace images on top of foil tray or pan to design a stamp, and make...
Curated OER
Bermuda Triangle
Young scholars explore what the Bermuda triangle is and the theories as to why it is so mysterious. In this mystery lesson students read and discuss the history and the mystery behind the Bermuda Triangle.
Curated OER
"Twilight" Music Provides Link Between Past And Present
Music appreciation lessons can use modern phenomena like "Twilight" to motivate students.
Curated OER
Through the Looking Glass
Students conduct Internet 'treasure hunts' to explore how everyday items, both in their antique and modern forms, possess historic and cultural significance.
Curated OER
Using Cross-Genre Comparisons to Find the Message in Hip-Hop
Students analyze two cross -genre songs written in the early 1980s for lyrical content and social commentary. They consider the artistic merit of hip hop music in today's culture.
Curated OER
ESL Holiday Lessons: National Jelly Bean Day
In this language skills worksheet, students read an article about National Jelly Bean Day. Students respond to 6 matching questions, 29 fill in the blank questions, 30 multiple choice questions, 12 word scramble questions, 30...
Curated OER
Making the Ordinary Pop
Students examine the attributes of pop art. In this visual arts lesson, students examine works by Andy Warhol and Claes Oldenburg prior to applying pop art techniques to their own pop art examples.
Curated OER
Fool Proof Printmaking
Students explore historical technology by participating in a printing activity. In this printing block lesson plan, students identify how mass papers were printed in the past by using blocks repeatedly. Students create their own printing...
Curated OER
Soul Food
Students identify foods that they associate with different cultural groups in which they are members and speculate possible connections between specific foods and the cultures in which they are popular. They also explore the importance...
Curated OER
40th Anniversary of Woodstock
Lessons can help students understand the significance of Woodstock, the 1960's, and the history of the times.
Curated OER
Cuisine Art
Students explore the history of the foods of different ethnic groups and the significance of these foods in perpetuating culture.
Curated OER
Virtual Travel Plan
Students navigate the web to prepare for an imaginary trip and record expenses involved. In this state culture and symbol lesson plan, students gather information to be used in a multimedia project.
Curated OER
Understanding and Appreciating Poetry: Afro-Americans and Their Poetry
Sixth graders are introduced to poems written by African-American authors. As a class, they read excerpts of poems from different time periods and discuss how and if anything has changed over time with discrimination and equal rights...
Curated OER
Student Mad Libs
Young scholars investigate the different parts of speech by participating in a fill in the blank activity. In this Mad Libs lesson, students define the different parts of speech and discuss how they are used appropriately in sentences....
Curated OER
Cinco de Mayo
Learners become familiar with the celebration of Cinco de Mayo and the reasons Mexico fought for independence. In this Cinco de Mayo lesson, students write a KWL about Cinco De Mayo. Learners explore celebration vocabulary in...
Curated OER
Taking a Closer Look (Critical Viewing)
Young scholars explore persuasive writing in advertisements. In this advertisements lesson, students evaluate tobacco advertisements for persuasion techniques. Young scholars then create a counter advertisement against smoking.
Curated OER
Those Amazing Animals
Students understand the roles of animals in entertainment and sports. In this animal welfare lesson, students recognize that some animals are used humanely and others are used cruelly. Students classify different animals into the lists...
Curated OER
Folk Music
Learners explore Folk Music in Iowa. For this folk music lesson, students discuss different types of folk music and how it relates to life in Iowa. They take the tune of a song and write their own lyrics to describe their life.
Curated OER
Pizza Portions
Students explore mathematics by participating in a pizza pie activity. In this nutrition lesson, students identify the caloric intake in a piece of pizza and estimate the average number of slices eaten by a person. Students utilize...
Curated OER
Symbolism in China's Material Goods
Students make a generalization about the process of 'looking' and 'grouping', hoping to show that we, as Americans, show preferences and shared choices. They study examples of American art through time and create a class chart...
Curated OER
Rap Music and Hip-Hop
Students explore rap and hip hop music. In this music and culture lesson, students experience the music of Will Smith in order to work on language and communication skills such as rhyming words, writing, and public speaking.
Curated OER
Eat Your Flowers
Students grow flowers in different soil mediums to determine the effect on flavor. In this investigative lesson plan students study flowers, plant them and taste them to see how they differ in different potting soils.