Curated OER
Multicultural Music: Israel
Do a grapevine to the left, lift your hands in the air, and sing out, "Hey!" These are the steps second graders will do when they sing and dance the Israeli folk song, "Achshav.” They will explore the concept of multicultural music and...
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Do the Tallywalker
Students study the basics of mapmaking, then make a tally walker, (geographic location device used in secret).
Curated OER
Cartoons and Protest
Students examine political cartoons from 1774 through today, determine their meanings through analysis and discussion, and create their own political cartoons focusing on historical issues studied in class.
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America Established Because of Protest
Students explore events and causes that led to American Revolution and examine popular pro-Patriot renderings and texts of these issues created both at that time and in later years. Students then prepare and deliver oral presentations...
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Concept Map
In this Louisiana musical landscape worksheet, students utilize a blank concept map in order to organize information they have learned about groups, communities, musicians, and music.
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Social Studies: Medieval and Contemporary Class Structures
Pupils discuss and compare contemporary class systems with those of the Middle Ages. They explore Websites on HyperStudio stack and review art and music of the Middle Ages. In groups, students design and draw castles reflecting manor life.
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African Art: The Personal and Useful Objects in Daily Life of Central and Southeastern Africa
Young scholars identify and recognize three dimensional objects that are utilitarian and used in the everyday life of the people of eastern and southern Africa. They examine the conception, planning, and skillful execution that went into...
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Lesson: Michael Patterson-Carver: Politics and Art
Michael Paterson-Carver creates art that expresses political concepts, allegory, and activism. Learners will examine several of his pieces and his perspective. Then they create an original piece that conveys a message.
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Lesson: Nimble Symbols
Comparative thinking is one way to build critical analysts. Budding artists discuss symbols and how they represent concepts, beliefs, or ideas. They compare the symbols found on an ancient Egyptian mummy case to those found in...
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America: The Land We Live In: Landmarks
Young scholars explore the concept of landmarks. In this landmark lesson, students brainstorm different landmarks around their community and nationally. Young scholars then identify the patterns in Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings or...
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Unity in Action
Elementary learners make a collage after learning about Kwanzaa. They discuss the concept of unity and make a collage of pictures that they feel exemplify unity.
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Byzantine Art: 5th century to 1453 AD
Art and architecture are great ways to help define historical periods and cultural norms. Take a critical look at the art of the Byzantine period as seen under Justinian rule. Iconography, vocabulary, religious, and political concepts...
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If…Then…Ideas for History
Have your class examine a very old piece of art as they consider history, chronology, geography, culture, and tradition. They discuss the concept of ritual as it is associated with religious practices and research the spread of...
John F. Kennedy Center
Musical Harlem: How Is Jazz Music Reflective of the Harlem Renaissance?
Bring jazz music and the Harlem Renaissance to light with a lesson that challenges scholars to research and create. Pupils delve deep into information materials to identify jazz terminology, compare types of jazz and jazz musicians,...
Teaching Tolerance
Identity Self-Portraits
What symbols represent you best? Individuals consider how they would draw peers using symbols about their identities with an interview and art activity. After conducting interviews and portraits, the art makes a great centerpiece for...
Curated OER
The Power of the Image: Understanding Symbols in Buddhist Art
Students discuss symbolism in art, examine various images of compassion in Buddhist tradition, analyzing components of the concept, and then produce their own images of compassion through art.
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Classroom Potlatch
Elementary schoolers study the history and purpose of potlatches. The listen to two stories about potlatches, then design a potlatch that they will host for their family members. They must come up with the gifts they would give, the...
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Hoe Down: An Integrated Unit on Social, Folk & Square Dancing
Fifth graders experience the movements required to perform social, folk and square dancing. They describe each dance movement. Students discuss the elements found in folk art, folk music, and fold dance.
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Escolas de Carnaval
Students create a carnival display displaying the different themes they have studied. In this carnival lesson plan, students display the work they have studied through the samba schools in Brazil. Students also incorporate music in their...
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The Real Spirit Within Expressionistic Portraits
Students study the life and art of George Rounalt as they examine his painting, "The Clown." They study the Nazi campaign against modern art such as the Degenerate Art exhibition of 1937. Finally, they create an original piece of art...
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Observational Drawing
Students create drawings using oil pastels that convey cultural, social and historical meaning. Drawings are evaluated on use of color planning, contour drawing, color blending, line and pattern.
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Higglytown Heroes Study Guide
Students view the program and participate in various activities. They observe and participate in activities designed to introduce them to such issues as problem solving and community roles. In addition, they complete various art ...
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Mini Coil Pots: Ceramics Lesson
Art is a wonderful way to teach historical or cultural concepts. Here, learners view a series of coil pots that have been created throughout history by a variety of civilizations. They then create and decorate a pot of their own that...
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Samoan Siapo Bark Cloth
Young scholars research designs of traditional Samoan Siapo bark cloth and identify the fabric's features. They reproduce traditional Samoan designs on a torn brown paper bag. Afterward, they solve the division and decoration of the area...