National Gallery of Canada
Memories of the Past
Explore contemporary American Indian art. After viewing a set of images, class members discuss the design elements of techniques present, as well as how these artists represent history and culture. Learners examine the parfleche and...
Curated OER
Advanced Art – Cultural Place-setting Still life
Upper graders view a series of films that depict rituals or celebrations as they occur in different cultural settings. They conduct a cultural investigation about one culture, brainstorm and research objects that have cultural or...
Curated OER
Stories in Quilts
Have your class analyze the narrative art in quilts. They identify elements in this domestic art and the stories they tell. They define a story quilt, view an example, and analyze the work of Harriet Power. This is a great lesson to...
National Gallery of Canada
Who Am I?
Connect design elements and principles to identity a culture with a discussion and related art activity. After analyzing artwork in relation to design, class members talk about personal and cultural identity. Using items that represent...
Curated OER
Bill Robinson: Mr. Bojangles
Mr. Bojangles was born just after slavery was abolished and became one of the most beloved entertainers of his time. Explore key vocabulary, the life of an African-American entertainer, and the impact of the Harlem Renaissance on...
Curated OER
Cardboard Radial Weaving
Students explore cultural history by participating in an arts and crafts activity. In this weaving lesson, students identify the many cultures that used weaving methods and local plant life to create baskets and other useful tools....
Curated OER
Traveling Through Time, Wetland Style
Students create a timeline on the development of the Pajaro Valley Area. In this social science lesson, students discuss the changes that took place in the area over the past 300 years. They draw a pictures of how the area has changed...
Curated OER
Aesop's Fables (Grade 3)
Third graders develop a presentation based on Aesop's Fables. In this Aesop Fables and presentation activity, 3rd graders examine the characteristics of fables and how to interpret them. They choose one of Aesop's Fables to research....
Curated OER
Quilting the Past and Present
Young scholars construct a quilt using symbols of the past and present. In this communities lesson, students interview an older adult and discuss the history of their community. Young scholars create a quilt.
Curated OER
Community Celebrations
Sixth graders are introduced to cultural history and diversity that is present in the community in which they live by examining secular and sacred celebrations. Students create scrapbooks to chronicle their family's celebrations.
Curated OER
Turkish Delights from Berlin Philharmonic Europakonzert: From Instanbul
Students research Istanbul to determine its importance in the cultural history of Europe. They draw in response to music and create a production of a folktale.
Curated OER
People and Places -- Olvera Street and Fire Station #30
Students explore the architectural landmarks and cultural history of El Pueblo de Los Angeles historical monument and the Fire Station. A reading of the text, A Visit to Olvera Street prefaces the research on the landmarks.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Stories in Quilts (Lesson Plan)
Lesson plan that uses quilts as narrative art to tell stories through pictures. Quilts can also be used to learn about historical or cultural events.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Beyond the Written Document: Looking for Africa in African American Culture
Paulla A. Ebron, professor at Stanford University, takes a look at how objects, landscapes, orally transmitted stories, and songs along with written documents can be used to study cultural history.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: History in Quilts
In this lesson plan, students will consider "History in Quilts." The plan includes worksheets and other student materials that can be found under the resource tab.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Name Etymology
During this lesson, students will have the opportunity to research the etymology and history of their names. Students will begin to understand ways to make history, linguistic history, and cultural history a lot of fun.
Digital History
Digital History: Entering a New Century
As the U.S. approached the new century, it was an appropriate time to reflect on the accomplishments and failures of the 1900s both within the country and internationally.