Art can enhance the understanding of history. That's the big idea in a lesson plan that has young scholars read Randall Jarrell's poem "The Death of the Ball Turret Gunner" and an excerpt from John Hersey's Hiroshima, which provide...

Eleventh graders listen to a brief history lesson about the 40's and 50's mid-West America and the Migrant workers that worked the fields. Next, learners will read a short story written by Tomas Rivera (both in Spanish and English)....

In this exercise, learners examine the difference between a theme, topic, and moral. After a class discussion on the definition of literary themes, the instructor reads The Cello of Mr. O by Jane Cutler. Next, individuals analyze the...

Students prepare for and respond to literature selections. This package includes twelve lessons from the American Literature, Regionalism and Realism: 1865-1910 series, each covering a different reading selection. Pre-reading and...

Students identify community helpers. In this philanthropy lesson plan, students read Strega Nona and identify different characters' responsibilities in the story. Students use character traits to describe the main characters and make a...

Learners use literature to examine how the structure of families in Mexico has changed over time. In groups, they examine how their life now relates to their ancestors and the Spanish conquest of the area. As a class, they are read...

Students review Mexico's location and language and learn to pronouns 10 new Spanish food words. Students listen as the book, Corn is Maize is read, touching and passing around an ear of Indian corn. Students discuss the contribution of...

Uncovering the function and forms of ethnic jokes, this presentation with enlighten your students as it explores the concept of "insiders vs. outsiders" and various examples of ethnic stereotypes in literature and society. The...

Learners read, write about, and cook with rice in this home economics lesson. They reflect on the experience eating rice at home or in other ethnic foods.

Learners explore the rich, varied, and full artistic culture of each of these three minority groups, Native Americans, Chicanos, and African Americans. They explore art through dance, music, literature, and many other different mediums....

Young scholars discover, through analysis of media and of primary source historical documents, how Jews achieved high levels of assimilation and acceptance under Islamic rule during the Golden Age of Spain, from the tenth to the twelfth...

Middle schoolers comprehend that Mexico is a country. They identify two types of regions in Mexico. Students comprehend that many people in Mexico speak Spanish. They use three Spainsh words. Studnents begin to relate simple words...

Students study the westward movement through examining stamps. In this westward movement lesson plan, students draw conclusions, determine cause and effect relationships and examine the westward movement of the United States by...

Students study the diverse population of Mexico and compare it to that of the United States. They sing traditional songs of Mexico including the national anthem and memorize simple Spanish vocabulary and express greetings, age, likes,...

Students are introduced to the foods and traditions of the Caribbean. In groups, they brainstorm their own definition of culture and review the physical and political geography of the Caribbean. They spend time sampling different foods...

Examine paper money from the American revolution! Historians study the paper bills and discuss the history of money. How has money changed over the times? Activities are included. 

Students research various Latin American countries and reflect on the different ethnic communities represented in that country and their contributions to the region. They make posters, perform skits and write letters about their research.

Students exchange folktales with a key-pal using dialog journal writing. They write out a folktale from their own cultural background and exchange it with students of another. They record their impressions of each other's folktales.

Learners examine the influences of the Hispanic groups from Mexico, Cuba and Puerto Rico. In groups, they research the history of Mexico and read excerpts from a book in Spanish to practice their vocabulary. To end the lesson, they...

Students compare modern-day books to manuscripts from the 13th century. In this comparative literature lesson, students observe various manuscripts and resources from given links. Websites and links are included along with extension...

First graders are introduced to the rope coiling form of art used by the gaucho culture of South America. They read "On the Pampas" by Maria Cristina Brusca, view the illustrations of the coiling technique and create original pieces.

Students complete a unit about the geography and culture of Mexico. They compare and contrast the weather of their own city and Mexico, read books about Mexico, count in Spanish, color in a flag of Mexico and the Mexican Coat of Arms,...

Seventh graders examine the controversial role of Christopher Columbus. In this Christopher Columbus lesson plan, 7th graders determine what Columbus was like and what his motivations were as they research print and Internet sources.