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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Bridges for Young Learners--Culture

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the concept of "culture." In this cross curriculum literacy and world history lesson, students listen to a letter written by a child from Namibia, then compare and contrast life in Africa with their own life. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What price Freedom! Civil War and Reconstruction

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders become familiar with the events of Reconstruction and the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. In this reconstruction lesson, 5th graders work in pairs where each student  creates a building with blocks and draws it. Their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Monster's World

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students will use texture to create imaginary monsters and learn about the African American inventor Jan Earnst Matzeliger.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Monster's World

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Study African American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger and create imaginary monsters using texture.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sole People

For Teachers K - 8th
Students create "sole people" using tempera paint, drawing paper, and shoe prints in this multi-level art lesson. The lesson can be combined with a brief history of the African-American inventor Jan Ernst Matzeliger, who created the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ray Charles

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners read the book Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis. For this biography instructional activity, students read about the life of Ray Charles. Learners answer pre-reading questions about senses, strengths, and weaknesses they have....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jazz Dance and Music

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders write a poem. In this jazz music lesson, 4th graders learn about the basics of jazz dance and practice basic movements. Students learn common terminology and listen to several recordings of jazz music. Students create a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Emotion Masks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students analyze and discuss masks of different cultures as an art form to evoke emotion. This instructional activity culminates in the creation of individual mask designs and self-directed assessment (included).
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Martin Luther King and Writing as a Tool for Social Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore writing as an agent for social change. In this Social Studies lesson, students examine the power of writing using Dr. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail.  Students will practice the technique of persuasive writing by...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Christmas Makes Me Think

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discover that Christmas is a time for giving and sharing. In this Christmas spirit lesson, 3rd graders read a book about a child who is excited about Christmas trees and presents, but comes to realize that Christmas is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fredrick Douglass...A Digital History

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders research the life of Fredrick Douglass. In this Fredrick Douglass lesson, 7th graders read about his life and discuss it. They write poetry describing his experience as a slave and create their own monument for Fredrick...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

POETRY LESSON ON LANGSTON HUGHES AND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders read the short biographical sketch and selected poems of Langston Hughes, 8th graders examine the hardships historically faced by Black Americans through class discussion, interpretation, and journaling.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fables and Trickster Tales Around the World

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students analyze fables and trickster tales from various cultural traditions. In this fable analysis lesson plan, students identify the elements of fables and trickster stories. Students read Aesop's fables and Ananse spider stories....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Black History Database/Timeline

For Teachers K - 12th
Young scholars research famous people and events in Black History then break the biographies and events down into specific information related to dates in history. They
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Migration

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students research the Great Migration and answer questions to discover where it took place, when it took place, who were migrating, and why in a 2 page paper. They use a map or atlas to plot out the routes and destinations of those...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Robert Smalls: Warrior and Peacemaker

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research the events that led to the Civil War and the Reconstruction. In this Civil War history lesson, students study images of Robert Smalls and research his role in the Civil War. Students review the South Carolina...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nelson Mandela, Symbol of Courage

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study Nelson Mandela. For this leadership lesson, 5th graders study the life of Nelson Mandela. Throughout their learning, they read biographies on Nelson Mandela, compare their community to those in South Africa, discuss...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Telling Stories About Ourselves

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students discover how visual images communicate meaning. They create costumes that tell personal stories and perform dances wearing the costumes.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Number Tick Tack Toe

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students participate in activities that apply Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences in order to improve literacy skills. The lesson is ideal for diverse learners because of the application of the theory.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The All About Me Poster

For Teachers K - 1st
Students discover the literary genre of biographies.  In this creative writing lesson, students write about their own life experiences and personal stories.  Students create a poster about their lives, a biographical collage. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Literature Overview of African Folktales

For Teachers K
Students play a game of tug-of-war, participate in a discussion about the story, discuss the phrase "bigger doesn't mean better." , and illustrate a scene from the story.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

They Put On Masks

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders examine Native American art. In this mask making lesson, 8th graders compare mask making traditions among different cultures. Students watch a demonstration of mask making and construct a mask of their own.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living and Working Now and Long Ago

For Teachers K - 1st
Students visit an online museum and storybook to examine what life was like for African Americans during and after the Civil War.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

They Put on Masks

For Teachers K - 9th
Students discover Native American culture by creating masks.  In this customs activity, students create their own masks in class from plaster and paint.  Students perform a skit in front of their school showcasing their mask making efforts.