Carolina K-12
Affrilachia
What makes a culture unique? Learners research life in the Appalachia region of the United States. Poetry, music, and oral history create Affrilachia, the term used to describe the lifestyle of the area. African-American mountain culture...
Curated OER
"Spelldown" by Becky Mushko
Learners read Spelldown, by Becky Mushko and consider how it portrays the Appalachian community. They define and discuss vocabulary presented in the story and write a comparison/contrast paper analyzing two of the story's characters. The...
Curated OER
Language Dialects and the Film "Nell"
Learners view the film "Nell" and analyze it for presentation of language pathologies and dialects. They consider the definition of dialect, research phonetic representation of dialects and observe their own communities for speech patterns.
Curated OER
Appalachia: Presidential Physical Fitness Test
Students participate in the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. In this personal fitness lesson, students warm up and complete the required push-ups, sit-ups, running, and stretching exercises.
Curated OER
Playing the Cardboard Dulcimer
Second graders create cardboard dulcimers. They discover that sound is produced by vibrating strings and analyze the pitch produced by changing the sizes and length of the strings of the instrument. They also discuss the history of the...
Curated OER
Hillbilly or Appalachian: Is There A Difference?
Pupils examine the Appalachian region and its people. They write a journal entry, discuss the definitions of hillbilly and Appalachian, analyze cartoons and jokes, explore various websites, and develop a presentation.
Curated OER
What's in a Picture Book?
Young scholars analyze Appalachian folktale picture books. They read and analyze various Appalachian picture books, answer discussion questions, and in small groups complete a handout, and write an essay analyzing the text and...
Curated OER
What About Films?
Students watch and analyze a film of an Appalachian folktale. They define trickster and anti-hero, view and discuss the film, complete a handout, compose an original film review, and debate each character's behavior.
Curated OER
Stain My Days Blue
Young scholars read several poems related to the life and culture of the Appalachia region. They are introduced to the poetic forms of simile, alliteration and onomatopoeia and respond to the poems through journal entries and poetry of...
Curated OER
The Songcatcher
Students read Sharyn McCrumb's and Maggie Greenwald's versions of "Songcatcher" and use them as a springboard to explore the heritage and traditions of Appalachian folk music. They review Internet sources, conduct research and write...
Curated OER
The Ballad of the Sad Café
Students view the film "The Ballad of the Sad Cafe" and analyze it for stereotypes of mountain and hillbilly communities. They identify and discuss Appalachian values represented in the film and write a report on their observations.
Curated OER
Mountain Humor: Folklore
Students complete a series of lesson plans that examine and define Appalachian humor. They complete surveys and examine Appalachian folk tales, picture books, film and jokes for shared characteristics.
Other
Matewan Online: The Hatfield and Mc Coy Feud
Part history, part folklore, what is the real story of the Hatfields and McCoys? Site provides the story of the American Romeo and Juliet and an excellent study of American folk culture. Go to other areas of this site for more history of...
Library of Congress
Loc: Tending the Commons
Sound recordings, photographs, manuscripts, and interactive maps describe a way of life in the mountains of West Virginia. The culture of the folks in the Big Coal River Valley as well as the environment of the Valley are explored.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Predict and Clarify With the Old Woman & Her Pig
This lesson engages students in reading comprehension strategies related to Margaret Read McDonald's book, The Old Woman & Her Pig. Students will participate in making predictions, clarifiying understanding, and retelling the story.
Other
Mountain Home Place: Appalachian Mountains of Ky
Take an easy to follow tour of a typical home in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. Use this site to learn about the house construction, school, church, barn, crops, and more.
Other
Applit: Resources for Appalachia Literature
Resources for readers and teachers of Appalachian literature for children and young adults that includes lesson plans, texts, bibliographies, and so on.
Reading Is Fundamental
Rif: Booklists: The Pirate of Kindergarten
This site features a description of George Ella Lyon's children's book entitled The Pirate of Kindergarten. A lesson plan and related activities are included for this book about a little girl who faces vision problems and must overcome...
![Project Muse: Jesse Stuart: An Extraordinary Life [Review] Article](https://content.lessonplanet.com/knovation/original/108402-3f6e32d80231c461f7690727dc015f70.jpg?1661556410 "Project Muse: Jesse Stuart: An Extraordinary Life [Review] Article")
Johns Hopkins University
Project Muse: Jesse Stuart: An Extraordinary Life [Review]
This site shares biographical information about Jesse Stuart, an award-winning poet and author. This biographical review excerpt is taken from the journal entitled Appalachian Heritage from the Winter 2011 issue.
Other
Teaching Tennessee History: Lesson Plans for the Classroom Volume Iv [Pdf]
This collection of lesson plans allows learners to explore Appachian history and culture in Tennessee.
Other
Carol Polsgrove on Writers' Lives: George Ella Lyon on Books for the Young
This site shares an interview with George Ella Lyon, author and Kentucky Poet Laureate. Lyon provides advice on selecting books for children and young adults. She also shares her personal experiences with having her own books banned...
Curated OER
National Park Service: Cades Cove
Cades Cove is an excellent historic sample of a small town nestled in the mountains. It contains homes, churches and a grist mill that have been preserved. Student can read about the culture of the region and what is being done to...
Other
Appalachian History: Stories, Quotes, & Anecdotes: Jesse Hilton Stuart
This site provides information about the award-winning author named Jesse Hilton Stuart. An excerpt of the short story "I've Prayed for Straight Hair---or Hair of a Different Color" from the short story collection Men of the Mountains is...
Other
Digital Library of Appalachia
A collection of digital images and audio files telling the history of this region.