Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Splendide Californie French Artists’ Impressionsof the Golden State, 1786-1900

For Teachers 6th - 8th
There is a lot to learn from art. This teacher's guide provides you with extensive background information, activities, and a scripted commentary to accompany a slide show on French artists in California during the Gold Rush Period. The...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Japanese-American Internment: The Art of Gaman

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore Japanese-American internment. In this World War II lesson, students view a PowerPoint lecture that features the art of Gaman and determine what the art reveals about the experiences of the interned Japanese-Americans.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Arts of the Gilded Age

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the art forms of the Gilded Age. In this integrated arts lesson, students research the art, music, dance, and drama of the historical era and then create their own personal projects that exemplify the time period.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Women in Africa: Tradition and Change

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine a selection of traditional African artwork that portray women and explore postcolonial African literature created by women in order to gain insight into the lives of some black women in Sub-Sahara Africa.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weapons in school: Protection or danger?

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Young scholars write an editorial (staff opinion) or commentary (writer's opinion) if they/he or she believe the school rules are either too strict or too lenient when addressing weapons possession. Students research past situations in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Documenting History: Photographs as Social Commentaries

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine photographs that make social statements. They examine content, symbolism, and their personal reactions to works of art that make expressive statements about social issues.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Blowin' In The Wind

For Students 4th - 6th
In this song lessons worksheet, students listen to the song by Bob Dylan, "Blowin' in the Wind." They search for key phrases that use the words, "How many," and list each one with the noun that follows the phrase. Students listen to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Literature: Satire in the American Dream

For Teachers 11th
Eleventh graders examine cartoons for examples of satire, irony, and sarcasm. They write essays about cartoons, art work, or literature analyzing it for satirical elements. Finally, they create their own piece in one of the three areas...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Art and War

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students analyze art and war and the Futurist movement. In this art analysis lesson, students define manifesto and its role with artistic movement. Students explore art as a response to political and social issues through image based...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Art of El Anasui: Creating a Mural with Discarded/Recycled Objects

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners create murals that feature recycled objects. In this West African art lesson, students examine artwork by El Anatsui and his commentary on social issues. Learners then create murals in the style of El Anatsui using discarded...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Harlem Renaissance

For Teachers 11th - 12th
The work of Langston Hughes opens the door to research into the origin and legacy of the Harlem Renaissance and how the literature of the period can be viewed as a commentary on race relations in America. In addition, groups are assigned...
Unit Plan
Yale University

The Harlem Renaissance: Black American Traditions

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Aaron Douglas, Meta Warrick Fuller, Palmer Hayden, William Johnson, and James Lesesne Wells, the painters and sculptors of the Harlem Renaissance, are featured in a unit study of artists of the Harlem Renaissance.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Everyone Protected by the Bill of Rights?

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Who is protected by the Bill of Rights? Learners examine the Bill of Rights and conduct research regarding gay people in the military. They use their research findings to prepare for and participate in a debate regarding the military ban...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reinvigorate Your Vocabulary

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders participate in a variety of activities to examine the meanings and roots of word derivatives and the meanings of words. Using context clues, they determine the meanings of words omitted from a passage and complete a prefix...
Lesson Plan
Penguin Books

An Educator’s Guide to Chraisma by Jeanne Ryan

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Often, science fiction makes a lot of connections to real life. An educator's guide for the novel Charisma by Jeanne Ryan, has readers discuss many of the real-life issues that come in the text. A brief summary helps garner interest...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A New Deal for African Americans

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students consider how New Deal programs impacted African Americans. In this New Deal lesson, students collaborate to research Internet and print sources regarding selected New Deal programs and African Americans....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

So where CAN I dump the snow?

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students research the ordinance about dumping snow in their community. They interview city officials and the city web site. Students conduct research to find out what other cities like theirs have. They write an informative article about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poetry of Abraham Lincoln

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders analyze Abraham Lincoln's poems "The Bear Hunt" and "My Childhood's Home" for word choice and deeper inquiry into the vocabulary he uses to convey emotion. They identify rhyming words and patterns in these poems. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: The Novel as Historical Source

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine historical fiction as historical sources. In this historical fiction lesson, students analyze excerpts from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as well as Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

New York City: Passionate About Shakespeare

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Young scholars explore Shakespeare as part of American culture. In this Shakespearean culture lesson, students view video clips about modern theater.  Young scholars read excerpts from Shakespearean plays and other commentaries.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cartoons for the Classroom: Dark Voice

For Students 8th - 12th
In this current events worksheet, learners analyze a political cartoon by African-American Oliver Harrington and respond to 3 talking point questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The History of Rock and Roll: Part 6 - My Generation Social an Cultural Influence on Music Composition

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine influences on the creation and development of music.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Statement of Principles

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners examine how Neoclassical art conveyed moral and ethical ideas. They create their own works of art that serve as social commentaries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Talkin' About My Generation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research notable figures from their generation and write a research paper illustrating the various figures' impact and influence on their generation in terms of language, leisure and politics.