Montana State University
One Mountain, Many Cultures
Americans may think of Mount Everest as a region dedicated to adventurous hikers, but many cultures have flourished there! Learners read informative books, watch videos, participate in classroom discussion, analyze folk tales, and...
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Soneka's Village
Students examine the culture of the Maasai pastoralist. They identify traditional aspects of their culture and describe how the roles of men and women vary in their society.
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Food and Culture: Exploring the Flavors of Your Community
Students brainstorm the types of food they eat at home, discussing and comparing with the class. Students brainstorm and make a chart of questions that came out of the activity and their discussions. Students interview someone who...
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Soneka's Village
Students read a letter about the characteristics of the Maasai culture. After identifying them, they discuss how to live a pastoralist way of life. In groups, they discuss the roles of men and women in the country and what it might be...
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Unit Plan Template
Use this U.S. History unit plan as a template for creating your own! Simply download the resource and edit the text fields with your own customized unit plan. This is a great jumping-off step, especially for newer teachers.
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On Sunday There Might Be Americans Lesson
Students examine the life of a rural Niger boy. They discover his relationship with foreigners and indigenous peoples. They read excerpts from a former Peace Corps volunteer.
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Traditional Uses of Wood
First graders explore properties of wood used to make cultural items and make a ring and stick game.
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Valley of the Butterflies
First graders explore why butterfly populations in Idaho's Lapwai Valley have decreased.
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Caloric Expenditure in Powwow Dancing
Sixth graders investigate the meaning of different types of Native American music and dance. They determine how this music and dance has contributed to modern music and dance. They problem solve to determine the average length of the...
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Adapted to Fire
Fourth graders explore forest species' adaptations to fire by participating in a scavenger hunt and mapping a burned forest. Students create maps and explore how indigenous species adapted to living with fire.
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Corn: An A--Maizing Plant
Third graders examine the history of corn. In this agriculture activity, 3rd graders discuss the history of corn and identify the corn belt on a map. Students dissect kernels of corn and discuss their observations.
Redefining Progress
Have and Have-Not
Is there a correlation between a country's wealth and the extent of its ecological footprint? What exactly constitutes an ecological footprint, and how does one country stack up against the rest? This is a unique lesson to incorporate...
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Lessons for Atlatl Users with Some Experience-Grade 6
Sixth graders experiment with an atlatl and dart. In this sixth grade data management mathematics lesson, 6th graders explore and determine the most suitable methods of displaying data collected from their experimentation with throwing...
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Critically Examining, Analyzing and Evaluating Picture Books on Aboriginal Canada
Students combat pervasive stereotypes. In this Critical Analysis lesson, students examine and evaluate the stereotypes of Aboriginal groups, as depicted in a picture book. Students will use primary and secondary sources to compose...
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Birds Around the Village
Students observe the physical characteristics of birds and identify birds found in their village. They describe characteristics, behaviors and habitats of local birds in this series of lessons.
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Weather/Climate
Students examine traditional Native American weather/climate knowledge. They keep a weather journal and research cloud cover.
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Early Humans
Eighth graders work together in groups to examine the earliest civilizations. After reading two stories, they compare and contrast the facts with those stories with other ones they have read. They discuss the different hypothesis on...
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Where There's Smoke
Students view photographs to help them see how people live in rural Nepal. In groups, they imagine what it would be like to grow up in this type of community with little food and identify the problems associated with the Nepalise homes....
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Have and Have-Not
Students describe the differences of people living in developed and underdeveloped countries. They also identify how each type of country uses their resources. They develop an ecological footprint of the countries discussed.
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Tree Anatomy
Students learn the basic anatomy of a tree through exploration of tree centers.