Curated OER
Masks Across Cultures
Students examine various masks from different cultures. In groups, they review vocabulary related to expressing emotions in art. They work together to create a mask using the techniques described to them and representing a season. ...
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Social Studies: Cultural Collage
Students define and discuss cultural aspects and family origins. By citing examples of traditions and customs from other countries, they develop an understanding of cultural influences on society. Finally, students create collages...
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History and culture through food
Students select a favorite family recipe and research the recipe and its ingredients using a variety of sources on the Internet. Each student then creates a recipe flyer for a class cookbook that includes their recipe and the historical...
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For the Record
Young scholars read a New York Times article in order to examine the importance of cultural artifacts. They create essays from the point of view of one cultural artifact to demonstrate the knowledge they gained by doing research.
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Cardboard Radial Weaving
Students explore cultural history by participating in an arts and crafts activity. In this weaving activity, students identify the many cultures that used weaving methods and local plant life to create baskets and other useful tools....
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The All-American Slurp
Explore Chinese culture and customs with your class and allow them time to connect and compare their own experiences with experiences of character a from the short story The All-American Slurp. They create a short presentation on some...
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Let's Get Along
Students examine the book Smoky Night. In this cultural lesson, students read the text and discuss why it's important to get along with others. Students complete a Venn diagram to compare and contrast themselves with a peer.
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Storytelling Traditions
Pupils demonstrate an evaluation of how the culture of a time period influences storytelling narratives by comparing Adeline's story to the plot summary of Cinderella and Anne Sexton's poem Cinderella. They write a poem which reworks a...
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Growing in Character
Students explore how to build their character by respecting and appreciating various cultures. In this character education lesson, students read the book Seedfolks and answer questions based on the character's cultural backgrounds....
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Family Quilts Keep Us Warm
Students explore different types of families and cultures. They create a paper quilt with geometric designs of similar colors to show unity and pictures of each of their families to show diversity.
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Pre-AP Strategies for Spanish Literature
Take a break from vocabulary development and have your Spanish scholars immerse themselves in Spanish culture. What are common Spanish proverbs? In short sessions over the course of a few weeks, the class will learn about different...
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Dia de los Muertos Sugar Skulls
Students research information about the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos), a major celebration in Mexican culture, and compare it to similar holidays in other cultures. They discover various folk arts and festive traditions associated...
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Patchwork Quilt
Students compare and constrast fiber arts from a variety of cultures and time periods. They draw a patchwork quilt using irregular geometric shapes and bright colors. Students display their quilts as part of an exhibit. They are told...
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China's Customs
Students discuss important customs and traditions in their cultures, examine Chinese customs and traditions, and work in groups to create skits about Chinese customs and culture.
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1920s Variety Show
To better understand the cultural achievements of the Harlem Renaissance and become familiar with its major figures, class members examine a painting by Aaron Douglas and a poem by Langston Hughes and compare how the artists develop...
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Lesson: Communication, What's Valued, and the Written Word
Upper graders compare their cell phones to a lacquer box from the Japanese Edo Period. They consider how each is a form of communication and how the very nature of each object communicates social norms, ideology, and beliefs. A really...
Mary Pope Osborne, Classroom Adventures Program
Mummies in the Morning Egyptian pyramids, hieroglyphics
Visit the Magic Treehouse and take your class on a trip through time with a reading of the children's book Mummies in the Morning. Using the story to spark an investigation into Egyptian culture, this literature unit engages...
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Abstract painting - Inspired by Textiles
Students compare and contrast various forms of artistic expression associated with specific groups of people, geographic regions, or time periods, specifically art of Andean cultures, and create art works using procedures borrowed from...
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The Hatfield and McCoy Feud
Learners explore West Virginia history with regard to Mountain and Appalachian Culture. They compare and contrast life now with life 100-150 years ago. They write and illustrate a short story about the life of children 100-150 years ago....
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Peace Corps Challenge Game- Food from Other Countries
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 create a menu of...
Curated OER
Myths, Folktales, & Fairy Tales
Introduce the concept of myths to your class. Using the link to "Myths Around the World," read a story aloud and have learners list characteristics of a myth. Readers then choose their own myths from the site and work in groups to answer...
Curated OER
Comparing Creation Stories
Students compare and contrast creation stories in different cultures. They write a creative story and design a visual aid showing what their new civilization would look like.
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Critical Consumerism: Videos and Teen Culture
Students analyze music videos as a study on teen culture. In this teen culture instructional activity, students view music videos and track a different aspect of the videos for male representation, female representation, racial...
Curated OER
Classroom Conservation of East Asian Culture
Students study East Asian culture. They examine the similarities and differences between East Asian and European history and culture. They produce project presentations to "teach" their classmates about very specific cultural traits...