Curated OER
Costume Exploration
What a great lesson, upper graders are sure to love. They explore costume design and the relationships between theatre, culture, and history. They research three time periods, write a response about two of them, then create a composit...
Curated OER
Masks Across Cultures
Young scholars examine various masks from different cultures. In groups, they review vocabulary related to expressing emotions in art. They work together to create a mask using the techniques described to them and representing a...
Curated OER
China's Customs
Students discuss important customs and traditions in their cultures, examine Chinese customs and traditions, and work in groups to create skits about Chinese customs and culture.
Curated OER
Immigration Unit
Third graders develop an appreciate for the various cultures that are present in their local community. Through reading and research, they explain how various culture came to live in their area. At the conclusion of the unit, 3rd...
Curated OER
Festive Season
Learners research various cultural and religious festivals celebrated and observed by Australians, describing common elements and identifying adaptations that have been made for life in Australia.
Curated OER
African Clothing
Students explore African clothing. In this African culture social studies activity, students brainstorm types of clothing they wear for different occasions. Students view photographs of Africans wearing Western clothing and "special...
Curated OER
Our Community Helpers
Students identify important aspects of community and culture that strengthen relationships. They discuss pictures of national symbols.
Curated OER
Ragtime: 1880-1920
Build an understanding of the social, economic, and cultural changes that were incited by the American Industrial Revolution. Learners will research the historical context of the Ragtime Era, and compose an oral presentation in the...
Curated OER
The Multicultural Person
Students begin the lesson by putting themselves into different groups based on different criteria. As a class, they brainstorm a list of characteristics in which they all share. To end the lesson, they discuss how it felt to be put in...
Curated OER
The History of Mardi Gras
Students gain knowledge about the history, traditions, and culture of Mardi Gras. They then apply the content to make related projects and complete assignments.
Curated OER
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.
Curated OER
"Kokoro (True Heart)" by Velina Hasu Houston
Students read and analyze a play that examines a cultural defense case. They analyze case studies, formulate an argument, write about the Japanese Festival of the Dead, and answer discussion questions about the play.
Curated OER
Learning By Looking: Pueblo Indian Ceremonial Dances
Pupils investigate the uses of ceremonial dance in the Pueblo Indian culture by viewing videos of native dances. They listen to folk tales that explain the dances and compare the traditions of the Pueblo culture to their own culture....
Curated OER
Favorite Sports and Athletes: an Introduction to Sports Media
Even young children watch sports and like team logos and products. It's never too early to think critically about what's onscreen. This exercise develops awareness that media communicate values (i.e. who participates in sports and who...
Curated OER
Art for the Common Good: Junkanoo!
Students explore characteristics of effective group work. In this multi-cultural social studies lesson, students work in teams to design and construct a headdress similar to what would be worn during the Bahamian festival of Junkanoo....
Curated OER
Christopher Columbus: The Man, the Myth, the Legend
Learn more about maps by examining Christopher Columbus's voyage to the New World. Kindergartners will learn about basic map skills and how to identify the compass rose, oceans, and land masses. They will also discover the purpose of...
Vermilionville
Mardi Gras Elementary
You don't have to visit Vermilionville to experience the Cajun traditions of Mardi Gras. After examining pictures and hearing stories about these colorful traditions, learners create their own Courir de Mardi Gras masks.
Curated OER
Class Distinctions in Art And Literature
Learners evaluate the validity of a society where the individual's place is based on such arbitrary norms as gender, family connections, economic status, or military prowess in this look at Asian culture.
Curated OER
You're Invited to a Ceili: Exploring Irish Dance
Learners recognize a Ceili as an Irish dance of celebration and investigate Ireland while studying the dance. In this Irish dance lesson, students search the geography of Ireland, read poetry, identify costumes, draw and perform a...
Curated OER
Explore Elizabeth I
Students explore the events of a coronation and how people dress for a special event. For this key events lesson, students view pictures of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth I. Students discuss special occasion and dress up....
Curated OER
The Superheroes of Public Land Management
Learners study public land management agencies and their missions. They research a management agency, design a superhero to represent the agency and describe the skills and training needed to manage public lands. They include the...
Curated OER
Japanese Noh Masks
Students examine Japanese theatre and create their own face masks which display certain emotions, props, costumes and perform in improvisational theatrical games.
Curated OER
"Movies That Rock": Moulin Rouge
Upper graders explore musical film and the Bohemian lifestyle common in Europe during the turn of the century through the musical Moulin Rouge. After listening to (or viewing) songs from the movie, they discuss the Bohemian era and how...
Curated OER
"Old 300"
Fourth graders combine art and history to assess the importance of the "Old 300." They explore a group of colonists that Stephen F. Austin brought to Texas as the first settlers and then create a time line of major events leading to the...