Art Institute of Chicago
African Myths and Stories
Young historians discover African stories associated with a royal altar tusk from the Kingdom of Benin in Nigeria, read myths illustrated on the tusk, and write a story about the life of an oba using figures depicted on the tusk.
Curated OER
Aesop's Fables
Regale your class with renditions of Aesop's fables from the engaging, and beautifully illustrated book by Jerry Pinkney. Guide discussion to practice prediction, compare and contrast various stories, explore the connections between the...
Curated OER
Lincoln is in the House! ("Name-Dropping" Poems and the Power of Connotation)
“What’s in a name?” Just about everything. Barack Obama, Vincent van Gogh, Justin Bieber. Famous names evoke a multitude of reactions and poets often use the names of famous people in their works precisely because names carry...
Curated OER
Symmetry and Symbols
Students identify symmetrical and congruent elements in folk art. In this art and geometry lesson, students examine pictures of Masonic Plaque in the Form of a Royal Arch Tracing Board for evidence of congruent and symmetrical elements....
Curated OER
What is moral courage?
Students look at "Anne Frank Trust" winners' profiles and discuss what it means to have moral courage. They choose someone they would nominate for the Anne Frank Awards for Moral Courage.
Curated OER
Tale of Hungbu and Nolbu
Engage in a lesson that is concerned with the teaching of family values for helping to understand Korean culture. The values of Koreans is explored using a literature study.
Curated OER
Using Southeast Asian Folktales to Teach Reading and Writing
Students use maps to locate the countries of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. In groups, they compare and contrast the three countries in regard to their culture, morals and values. They read various examples of folktales and write their...
Curated OER
Role Models - Defining Positive Role Models
Being able to identify what characteristics make a good role model is one way for students to better understand their own positive behaviors. The class brainstorms what characteristics make up a good role model, research a role model...
Asian Art Museum
Telling Tales with Kamishibai
Kamishibai (paper drama), is a Japanese form of storytelling that uses emakimono (paper picture scrolls), to relay a moral lesson. As part of a series of resources that examine Japanese art and artists, learners watch a video...
Curated OER
INTRODUCTORY LESSON for the beginning of each new year
Students study and express the five values of truth, love, peace, right conduct, and non-violence. The lesson focuses on the beginning of the year, introducing the values. Through games, singing, and reading--students become familiar...
Curated OER
Digital Values: Internet Safety
Students explore digital communication by participating in a critical thinking activity. In this Internet safety lesson, students discuss ways to protect their identity on the Internet as well as preserving friendships. Students complete...
Curated OER
The Physiological and Psychological Development of the Adolescent
Middle schoolers examine the life of a teenager from their own perspective and an adult's. In groups, they focus on the biological changes and how they are different in a girl and a boy. Individually, they write a paper about these...
Curated OER
A Picture's Worth 500-700 Words: Neoclassical Painting Analysis and Creative Write
Students survey Neoclassical art and create a narrative based on their analyses. Focused questions and relevant background information provided by the Getty Museum provides a great foundation for students to understand art techniques as...
Curated OER
The Spanish Belief in Justice and Values
Fifth graders study "justice" and "values" as illustrated through fables. The determine that some of the fables in the U.S. are relatively similar to those fables in other parts of the world. They write and illustrate their own fables.
Curated OER
Legends and Lore
Students begin the instructional activity by responding in their journals regarding questions about their favorite fairy tales. They listen to a folk tale and answer questions based on the folk tale genre and then brainstorm aphorisms...
Curated OER
What Would You Do?
Students explain how we all face tough decisions everyday. They show how they respond to those events reveals who they are and where they are in their character/moral development. Students predict how to deal with peer pressure and...
Curated OER
Teaching Creation Myths
Students examine various creation myths from around the world. They compare/contrast the myths, write their own creation stories, and present their myths to the class in the form of storytelling, role-playing, dance, or a puppet show.
Curated OER
Myth, Legend and Folklore
Students examine the role of myths and folklore in the Native American culture. They listen to examples of oral history and write their own. They share their story with the class.
Curated OER
The importance of values in marriage.
Tenth graders explore how trust and truth is important in marriage.
Curated OER
Foundations
Students investigate the history of literature in America by looking at the types of genres first read in the United States. They look at the foundations of how the original colonists had the intention of transmitting religious and moral...
Curated OER
Japanese Folktales: Animals and Demons
Students compare and contrast the stories from different cultures by studying the folktales of Japan and their use of animals and antagonist characters. Any activity in this lesson can be used as a separate lesson.
Curated OER
Fair Housing and Diversity
Students study the civil rights law of the fair housing act and reinforce learning by playing different intriguing games like Minority Monopoly, which teach diversity adn equality.
Curated OER
Character... My Foundation
Learners participate in a lesson examining the concept of character and how it is the foundation of lasting human relationships. They examine character traits that are considered positive and then define the differences between...
Curated OER
Giving Beyond Measure-The Diary of Anne Frank
Young scholars read and analyze the play "The Diary of Anne Frank" based on the book of the same name. They identify philanthropic concepts and values in the play and discuss the ways in which specific characters actions affect the...