Lesson Plan
John F. Kennedy Center

Baila! Latin Dance in the Spanish Classroom

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
One, two, three. One, two, three. Invite your language learners to practice the steps for researching and presenting information. Each small group has the task of explaining one Latin dance in full detail.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather Dance

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners study weather and focus on specific dance concepts. They are introduced to different ty es of clouds and how they are formed. Next, they study wind and why it occurs.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dancing Hands, Abstract Drawings

For Teachers K - 8th
Students discover African musical rhythms by performing Ancestral Spirit Dances.  In this musical instructional activity, students research Willis "Bing" Davis and the abstract work he created.  Students listen to Yoruba drum...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Back in the Day

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students identify the genre of music called Hip Hop, analyze its elements, and formulate a definition of the Hip Hop culture.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Philadelphia Museum of Art

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students study paintings and use their knowledge of story elements to analyze the art. In this art analysis lesson, students review a novel for its elements. Students study the image At the Moulin Rouge: The Dance and discuss the story...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Sailing We Will Go!

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders investigate the journey that Magellan took around the world. Small groups conduct research on a ship that went on Magellan's voyage, write the story of their ship, and create a class dance that demonstrates the route taken...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is the Risk?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate the 1950's pollution tragedy in Minamata, Japan. The elements of dose, response, individual susceptibility, potency, and threshold of toxicology are explored in this instructional activity.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

For Teachers 5th
Students research the American Revolution through the story of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. In this American Revolution lesson, students research folktale and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Students view illustrations for the story....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese Tea and Teacups

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Upper graders use the potter's wheel to make Japanese style tea cups, which they will use in a Japanese style tea ceremony. They hone their sculpting techniques while exploring Japanese cultural and the history of tea. There are two...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Write a Short Story

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students compare two paintings, depicting urban life in America in the 1940's, answering a series of questions, then create a short story about the paintings' characters. They compare 'Nighthawks' and 'Nightlife.'
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art Critic for a Day!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Middle schoolers practice evaluating art by creating a research project and presentation. They use the Internet and library to discover a piece of art or artist whom they feel has an impact on the world of art. Next, they create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Foods and Languages of the World

For Teachers K
Students study world cultures with an emphasis on languages and cultures. In this world cultures lesson plan, students study the countries of Spain, China, Italy, and the United States. Students read the story Everybody Cooks Rice and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Blackfeet of Glacier National Park

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research an aspect of the Blackfeet tribe in Glacier National Park. They work together to create a presentation that is representative of their culture. They share their presentation with the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wycinanki and Polish Folktales

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students, with the use of the Internet among various other resources, research/locate Polish folktales and re-tell the Polish folktales in their own words. In addition, they examine the art of Wycinanki, Polish paper cutting.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Snakes

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners follow directions to make a snake out of patterns. They research a specific snake and present it to the class in a group. They listen to a presentation about the King Cobra snake prepared by the teacher.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Figurative Language Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders analyze and interpret figurative language. They listen to some examples of poetry which use figurative language. Then, they divide into groups and attempt to find more examples. Finally, 8th graders write what the poet is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Tadpole and the Frog

For Teachers 1st
First graders examine the life cycle of the frog, and research frogs of the Nez Perce reservation and their requirements for survival. They observe the development of frog eggs and record their observations in science journals.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Nation of Nations Lesson Plan: Charting African Ethnicities in America

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read a portion of the narrative, The Transatlantic Slave Trade, to explain the ethnic origins of enslaved Africans brought to the US. They create charts and bar graphs comparing ethnicities in the lowlands and tidewater...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Legends of the Fifth

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders discover the difference between myths, legends, and folk tales. They summarize legends. They work together to dramatize legends and then create their own legend using the writing process. Handouts and worksheets are included.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cultural Comparisons Interview

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Young scholars interview a family member and give an oral report. In this oral history lesson, students create interview questions relevant to an American historical period. Young scholars interview a family member and present an oral...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the cultural and historical significance of certain artists. They use the internet to perform research and prepare a report of analysis of artistic works looking for cultural influences. Students also tie in the...