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...
US Citizenship and Immigration Services
Thanksgiving 3—Traditions
Thanksgiving is a treasured national holiday, but it can look different from table to table. Through a reading passage, real-world images, and class discussion, scholars take a look into Thanksgiving's importance to the...
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Social Studies: Aztec Calendars and Culture
Sixth graders analyze the Aztec calendar and create their own examples of them. They determine the meaning of the symbols used in the calendars and record their ideas in journals. Students host a parent breakfast for them to observe...
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East Meets West: The Art of Simplicity
Fifth graders examine the influences of Japan on American life through this three lesson unit. Feudal Japan with its traditional arts and culture is contrasted with current developments of the country.
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Revolutionary Women of South Carolina
Young scholars examine multiple primary sources. In this revolutionary war lesson, students read case studies regarding women from South Carolina. Young scholars will compare the different roles women played during the Revolutionary War....
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Chinese New Year Lesson Plans
Celebrate with food, activities, and learn the traditions of the Chinese culture while enjoying the Chinese New Year.
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My Favorite Holiday
Students create a My Favorite Holiday Calendar Page. They recall the months of the year and identify the various components of a calendar. Students also apply their learning about holiday customs to consider their own favorite holiday...
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Great Basin Tribes- Use of Land for Sustenance
Students explore four Native American tribes from Nevada. In this Native American history lesson plan, students identify and generate important corresponding attributes of the Southern Paiute, Northern Paiute, Washoe, and Western...
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The Roman Calendar: The Fabric of Our Time
Fourth graders explore the Roman origins and evolution of our calendar.
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Me Oh Maya
Learners compare basketball to Mayan ring-ball. They write a newspaper article that may have been published during Mayan times.
Ancient Order of Hibernians
Who Was Saint Patrick?
Scholars discover who Saint Patrick was with help from a brief informational text followed by a series of challenge worksheets designed to boost reading comprehension and vocabulary. Class members complete a graphic organizer, take...
News Word
Hanukkah
How much does your class know about the Jewish Festival of Lights? Young learners practice Hanukkah vocabulary, including latkes, Judea, sufganiot, and gimel, in a series of word puzzles.
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Months of the Year
Students practice interviewing. In this months of the year activity, students interview at least five adults working in their school to gather data on when their birthdays occur. Students create a master calendar for the school.
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Different Ways We Celebrate
Students examine a variety of ways that families celebrate winter holidays. They complete a graphic organizer comparing Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa, and write a five-sentence paragraph about one of the holidays discussed. Students...
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Exploring the Spirit of Islam, Ramadan, and the Hajj
Ninth graders explore the different ways people celebrate their religions. For this Religion lesson, 9th graders examine the basics of Islam. Students create a handout on a specific topic about Islam.
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Korean Holiday Calendar
Students engage in research in order to find the origin of a Korean holiday. They compare American holidays to the ones of Korea in order to find the true meanings of holidays in both cultures.
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Anasazi/Mesoamerican/Andean: Time and Cultural Passages
Seventh graders role play the position of someone in one of six different civilization groups. They research the group's development, advancement and fall of their civilization. They create a presentation to share the information with...
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ADULT ESOL LESSON PLAN--Concepts of Time and Money
Students, after reviewing the vocabulary words on the board and being shown several examples, in pairs practice naming the months, days of the week and their abbreviations in order.
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Concepts of Time and Money
Students review a calendar and the days of the week along with their abbreviations. They practice identifying, writing and recognizing the days of the week and months of the year by playing the game of "concentration."
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African Clothing
Students correctly identify examples of everyday clothing and special occasion clothing worn in Africa. Students will classify clothing as that used for everyday or special occasion.
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Now You're Speaking My Language; Deciphering the Symbols of Early Civilizations
High schoolers explore early attempts at written language. In this early civilizations lesson plan, students investigate first attempts at written communication. Among the civilizations covered are Mayan, Greek, and Egyptian.
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Holidays
Students make a list of all of the national holidays and explain why we celebrate them. They create a holiday based on their culture, gender, or generation and then debate and defend the creation of their holiday in class. They create...
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Maya Lesson Plans
Mayan cities may have mysteriously disappeared, but the culture still thrives today. Maya lesson plans bring the culture alive.
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Around the World Calendar
Students explore a country and its culture through its national landmarks. They use technology tools to research and communicate information. To demonstrate research skills, they use the Internet as well as print materials.