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Curated OER
A Symbol of Protection
Young art critics consider symbolic protection as it has been used in various cultures around the globe. They view body art from the Marquesas Islands, looking for animals, letter, shapes, and patterns. They compare and contrast body art...
Curated OER
Painted Lodges
Students explore lodge construction as a representation of culture. In this cultural diversity and Native American history instructional activity, students listen to a narrative explaining the origin of Native American painted lodges....
Curated OER
See You Later, Alligator
Students explore the historical and social significance of animals as cultural symbols in various countries around the world, as well as the impact that humans have made on the population and natural habitats of these animals.
Cleveland Museum of Art
Japanese Folktales (Asian Odyssey)
The Cleveland Museum of Art presents this interdisciplinary model unit that asks class members to explore how the same themes are presented in the folktales and art of several cultures.
Curated OER
Cats and Superstition: Fun Trivia Quiz
Answers to this quiz are very well cited, so if your class is studying Halloween, symbols, superstition, world cultures, or cats, it could spark spirited discussion about comparative traditions.
Denver Art Museum
My Animal Symbol
Here is an art lesson that combines visual arts and language arts into one very nice package. In it, youngsters study a fascinating painting called Painting of Bear and Sun Dances. They begin to understand the importance of...
Curated OER
Korean Folk Paintings - The Symbolic Tiger
Learners read Korean folktale The Tiger and the Dried Persimmon, discuss story's symbolism, consider why tiger is important Korean symbol, and view variety of Korean folk paintings. Students then create their own tiger paintings,...
Curated OER
Shoes and the Backyard Landscape
Your shoes get a lot of mileage in familiar places. Represent the places you have traveled the most with an art project based on a print of Indian People Wear Shoes and Socks by Juane Quick-to-See Smith. Kids trace their shoes and...
Curated OER
Latino Folklore and Culture: Stories of Family, Traditions of Pride
Students define the terms fable and folktale. They write a fable to illustrate a Latino proverb. Students are explained that a folktale is a story passed down through the oral tradition of a particular culture. A fable is a type of...
Curated OER
Understanding Chinese Culture Through Reading
Young scholars examine the Chinese culture. They discuss the Chinese zodiac, identify their animal on the zodiac, listen to a Chinese folktale, and write an essay reflection on the Chinese zodiac or Chinese culture.
Curated OER
Understanding Cultural Diversity
First graders examine different types of art to help them explain the idea of cultural diversity. This is a unit focusing on works of art.
Curated OER
Teacher Lesson Plans: Africa
Students explore Africa. In this cultural studies lesson, students go on safari, create African masks, or have an African party after they have researched the people, geography, and culture of the continent.
Curated OER
Around the World
Students explore ways people from around the world are like them. They discuss how geography affects the way people live and work and how culture affects a person's day to day life. Students give a presentation over a chosen country to...
Curated OER
The Stories They Tell -- Graveyard Data Collection Worksheet
In this folk culture research worksheet, students use the form to record data about a graveyard that they visit to show that graveyards reflect how cultures change and differ from each other.
Curated OER
Power Totem
Learners investigate the important symbols to Native cultures by writing a poem. In this animal totem instructional activity, students discuss animal spirits and their relation to the Native American lifestyle. Learners write a...
MDE k-12
Lesson 5: The Journey Becomes Larger Than Life!
Many muralists throughout history have focused on using their art to represent aspects of their culture or community. After thoroughly researching several muralists, budding artists will create a larger than life mural that contains...
Curated OER
Aboriginal Dreamtime Symbols
Students create their own dreamtime symbols in the style of modern Aboriginal culture. They are told that aboriginal art is very important in native Australian culture. Students locate Australia on a world map. They find pictures of...
ReadWriteThink
The Chinese New Year Starts Today
As part of a celebration of Chinese New Year, class members research the Chinese zodiac and examine the description of the personality attributes associated with the animal of their birth year. Individuals then craft a persuasive essay...
Curated OER
Animals in Ancient Rome (Grades 1-5)
Students invent, illustrate, and describe hybrid exotic animals, their imaginary origins, and lifestyles. They explain the ways in which ancient Romans made use of various animals.
Curated OER
Lakota Signs & Symbols
Learners discuss and identify the signs, symbol, and sacred animals associated with traditional Lakota objects of the past. They then design and create a two-dimensional piece of art that incorporates one of these signs or symbols.
Curated OER
As the Kids Come and Go: Mapping a Classroom
Map the classroom with your kids to help them understand how maps work and how to read them. The lesson starts off with a story about animals living and moving around the globe, and then kids create maps of their classroom to show how...
Teaching Ideas
The Aztecs
Did you know the Aztecs had two different calendars? Or that Aztec men could have more than one wife? Find out more about this ancient civilization including how they lived, what they ate, and their cultures and beliefs with a set of 20...
Curated OER
Learning to Resist: Watercolor
Consider wax resist drawings as a way to bridge art and science. Learners view, discuss, and practice drawing insects or animals using waxy crayons. They pay attention to the creature's features as they create images with watercolor and...
Curated OER
WHAT IS A JAPANESE FAMILY CREST?
Students become familiar with family crests in general and Japanese family crests in particular. Students become familiar with the history of Japanese family crests.