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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soap Operas

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students examine American culture through research on various soap opera websites. They access a soap opera website, participate in a chat group, evaluate the contents of the website, and write a summary of a character and plot.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Canada and the United States: A Collage

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a visual presentation that describes the influence of American culture on Canadian culture, the Canadian response to that influence, and the benefits and drawbacks of that influence to Canadian culture.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Handshakes and Greetings in American Culture

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students explore the meaning of greeting friends, acquaintances, strangers and family and learn when shaking hands is appropriate.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Be An American

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Learners research the symbols of America, present their research to the class, write a paper about being an American and write their own Declaration of Independence.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bigger Than Life, But Not Necessarily Better

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students evaluate images of health in American society, then students examine where one develops his or her views about health.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Symbols of America: the American Flag

For Students 1st - 2nd
In this American symbols instructional activity, learners discuss 3 questions about the United States flag. Students then color the American flag.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Word Family Activities and American Symbols

For Students 2nd - 4th
In this word family and American symbols worksheet, students learn about word families and American symbols. They complete an activity in which they create real and nonsense words by combining sounds of the alphabet with 7 different word...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

American and Patriotic Symbols

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils study the concept of symbolism. Many students know what the different patriotic symbols are, but they do not know why these things symbolize patriotism. They identify classic American symbols, explain why they are symbols and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Art and Personal Adornment

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students explore the concept of personal adornment. They view and compile a list examples and compare personal adornment in American culture to that in African culture.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

VH1 Fan Club

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars connect the diversity of American culture to the music of Dave Matthews Band and then create lyrics that emphasize how diversity pertains to their own life.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Immigrant's Voice

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explain the concept of the "push-pull" effect. They distinguish between voluntary and involuntary immigrants and apply the concept of double consciousness to the immigrant's sense of national identity.
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Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: Local Legacies

For Students 9th - 10th
Experience America through its grassroots! Diverse populations lend cultural colorfulness to our country. Read about an International Food Fair in California, Annie Oakley Days in Ohio, and Wabanaki Basketry in Maine. Click on your...
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Graphic
Boston College

A Digital Archive of American Architecture

For Students 9th - 10th
Captivating photographic archive of American architecture. Find photographs of over 280 buildings that were constructed between the 17th and 20th centuries.
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Website
University of Virginia

University of Virginia Library: The Psychedelic '60S

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource is a comprehensive online exhibit featuring 1960's American culture. Topics include civil rights, psychedelic drugs, rock music, social protest and cultural change.
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Website
Scholastic

Scholastic: Meet Young Immigrants

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Interesting stories of immigration in the 21st century. Read the accounts of three young girls and their families as they start their lives over in America.
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Website
Other

Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund

For Students 9th - 10th
MALDEF offers many resources to the Mexican American community. Here anyone can learn about public policy, have access to laws regarding citizenship and equal access, and read news and events regarding the Mexican American community.
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Website
Other

Story Corps: Every Voice Matters

For Students 9th - 10th
StoryCorps is a national oral history project that records and preserves stories of people around the country. Select recordings are broadcast weekly on NPR, with an archive of stories available for playback at the StoryCorps online...
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Website
Other

First Gov: Visitantes Extranjeros

For Students 9th - 10th
A wealth of information for the foreign visitor to the United States. Particularly useful is the visa information and the list of Spanish-speaking U.S. embassies.
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Website
Other

Kingwood Library: American Cultural History: 1960 1969

For Students 9th - 10th
An historical record worth delving into to understand the true culture of the 60s. Covers art, architecture, literature, education, fashion, historic events, music, and other aspects of the era.
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Primary
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of American History: Albert H. Small Documents Gallery

For Students 9th - 10th
The Albert H. Small Documents Gallery presents exhibits of rare items valuable to American history.
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Website
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Global America

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Comprehensive teaching unit on globalization's influences on the political and social structure of America at the turn of the twenty-first century. Includes a look at how immigration has affected a changing America. Contains video and...
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Website
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Egalitarian America

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Comprehensive teaching unit on egalitarian America: Americans that demanded political, social, and economic equality in all walks of life. Learn how the civil rights movement and an expanding mass media helped to reshape a changing...
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: America's History in the Making: Postwar Tension and Triumph

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Comprehensive teaching unit on tensions of the Cold War era: conflicts between domestic prosperity and unfulfilled expectations, ideals of conformity and individualism. Contains video and text materials, web interactives, student...
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Website
Other

Cultural Orientation Training for Life in the u.s.

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Provides links to resources regarding refugee cultural orientation into the United States. Guidebooks, culture profiles, resettlement programs, refugee FAQs, and more.