Learners discuss how they know certain aspects about their families and customs. As a class, they discover that life changes over time and stories are only preserved if they are told. They read many different pieces of literature to...

Students are read passages from When I Was Puerto Rican and asked to respond to the passages in their journals. They decide on a topic for researching and they use this topic to develop their own memoirs.

Learners examine the spoken work poetry of Abiodun Oyewole. They discuss the West African Griot tradition, listen to spoken word poetry, write and perform a poem, and watch a video excerpt of a poetry workshop.

Students recognize historical and cultural influences in art and appreciate art as a vehicle for public expression of ideas. They develop group skills, working together to produce a single mural or several related murals.

Students create questions to ask the poet, Ishmael Reed about his poetry. After the poet speaks, students are broken into groups and are to analyze a poem and report back to the class on their findings.

Students decode certain passages from the book, Erased Faces. They connect pictures from a picture book previously seen to the chapters in Erased Faces.

Learners read passages from the Parable of the Sower. They discuss the topic of religion in the story. They write key points and discuss any concerns they have.

Students, in groups, read and analyze portions of Keith Gilyard's "Poemographies". They create original visual "poemographies" and participate in a written response activity.

Students investigate three works by the author James Baldwin. They work in groups to research the author and create a website based on the research.

Students write and share short pieces about how their gender identities were affected through childhood messages about what it meant to be a boy or a girl. This activity can be used to introduce a discussion on gender issues.

Fourth graders read the passage, "Florida's Fabulous Frontier Females" and write two narrative essays, one expository, using examples of differences in life in Florida during frontier times and today. They then complete one descriptive...

Students investigate Southwest Indian Reservations. In this Native American instructional activity, students research Southwest Indian tribes on the Internet and by reading the book, Arrow to the Sun.

Students listen to quality literature, examine the Chinese culture, and participate in an oral activity.

Learners complete several activities to learn about the German culture. In this German culture lesson, students read the 'Hansel and Gretel' story and create a paper gingerbread house. Learners complete a matching game for the story....

Students read Patricia Polacco's Mrs. Katz and Tush before comparing Jewish heritage with Black history using a Venn Diagram. They complete the diagram either as a whole group or in a small group setting. Next, they sample the Jewish...

Students read Florence Parry Heide and Judith Heide Gilliland's, Sami and the Time of Troubles before discussing it as a class. They brainstorm ideas for a letter to the main character, Sami. Next, they write a rough draft of a letter to...

Students identify similarities and differences between people. In this diversity lesson, students share things that they like about themselves and complete a page to make into a "This is Me" class booklet.

Students create "spooky word" sheets using white construction paper, orange and black paint, eyedroppers, and thin coffee straws. The instructional activity is ideal for a pre-Halloween activity. Finished artwork can be displayed...

Students discuss themes and issues of culture, identity and self-esteem. They construct responses to those themes. Students profile themselves and try to answer questions about themselves tied to the themes of this lesson plan.

Young scholars complete activities for physical music analysis. In this physical music lesson, students read the biography for Lelavision musical sculptures, complete a sound and motion activity, and a making music activity. Young...

Students create a collage from magazines, and the internet that is reflective of themselves and write a friendly letter via email to a pen pal. They take their letters through the writing process and write their final draft on Microsoft...

Students respond the story of Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes and discuss the ways in which she showed respect for herself and for others.

Students explore the Ottoman style of poetry. They view a video, Suleyman the Magnificent, and view maps of Europe, Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. They research the Ottoman Empire and keep a journal. They read various Ottoman...

Students locate Australia in relation to rest of world, read poem Pieces of the World by Mervyn James, explore kinds of journeys that Australians have made, and examine their effects - the emotions, the realities and the practicalities.