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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African-American Folktales

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Learners are introduced to the characteristics of folktales and their purpose. As a class, they listen to a folktale, answer questions about the characters and share which part they enjoyed the best. In groups, they compare and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Power to the Little People

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the classic story theme of good versus evil as relayed in folk tales.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

African Folktales Lesson

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore what a folktale consists of as it relates to oral tradition. In this folktale lesson, students are told the African folktale, Why the Sun is Lives in the Sky and make personal inferences about what the folktale is...
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Organizer
Curated OER

Changing Roles in Africa: Traditional vs. Modern

For Students 6th - 8th
In this African culture worksheet, learners read a selection about the role of tradition on modern Africa and then respond to 7 short answer questions. Students also complete a Venn diagram.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Folk Traditions and Folk Beliefs

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders work together to brainstorm an idea to focus on the similiarties and differences between various cultures. Individually, they interview family members using questions they created based on their topic. They use their...
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Storytelling

For Teachers 2nd
Students explore the origins of folktales, fairytales, myths, legends, fables, and folktales in the ten lessons of this unit. A storytelling festival is held to feature the results of the variety of activities presented in the unit.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Off Times of Slaves on the Sea Islands

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the aspect of slave life on the Sea Islands. They explore the Gullah language, folk tales, music and games during the "off" times of slaves. Students read and interpret Gullah folk tales. They recognize music in the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Great Gullah Story Telling Packet

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the Creole language known as Gullah which is a form of speech comprised of a number of unrelated languages. They determine how slaves used this to communicate so that slave masters would not be able to understand...
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Lesson Plan
August House

Anansi and the Pot of Beans

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd Standards
Anansi is a tricky character, but can he realize he's wrong and write an apology letter? Learners use Anansi and the Pot of Beans to practice writing, art, and figurative language. A series of activities are engaging for both advanced...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teacher Lesson Plans: Africa

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learners explore Africa. In this cultural studies instructional activity, students go on safari, create African masks, or have an African party after they have researched the people, geography, and culture of the continent.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mini Masks: Ceramics

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Masks have been used for many reasons throughout human history. They are also great subjects for art projects! Included here are instructions, background information, and all the supplies needed to create mini masks in your class. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Talking Goat Lesson

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students analyze the meanings and patterns of a folk tale. They respond in their reading journals to the following prompts: How do you feel about the way "The Talking Goat" ended? Why? Which did you like better: your group's predicted...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Halloween Art Lessons: Explore the Mystery of Masks

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Halloween art projects take a mysterious turn as students discover the mystery and magic behind mask traditions around the world
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Comprehension Questions for Stitching Stars

For Students 5th - 8th
In this comprehension questions for Stitching Stars worksheet, learners answer 30 comprehension questions after reading the book about quilts made by slaves in the 17-19th centuries.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

India: Where Remarkable Differences Are Ordinary

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students research India and Indian culture. In this Indian research lesson plan, students research and report on the lives of Indian children. The report will be in the form of a mock interview between a journalist and an Indian child....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Theatre: Oral Traditions

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars investigate cultural traditions. In this multi-cultural lesson, students discuss various cultures and research their traditions.
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Website
Can Teach

Can Teach: African Folk Tales

For Students Pre-K - 1st Standards
Eight African folk tales, like "Why the Cheetah's Cheeks Are Stained" to "The Curse of the Chameleon", are at this site. All eight are traditional Zulu stories. The site provides resources for teachers such as lesson plans and games.
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Lesson Plan
Peace Corps

Peace Corps: A Togolese Tale: The Big Fire

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Through this lesson learners will come to appreciate how folk tales express the culture in which they were derived through the writing.
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Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Museum of Natural History: African Voices

For Students 6th - 8th
The African culture is vibrant and filled with amazing accomplishments in the area of art, religion, economics, and education. Read comments from Africans on their rich culture and history while viewing dynamic pictures. Included are...
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Graphic
Curated OER

Clip Art by Phillip Martin: African Folk Tales

For Students 3rd - 8th
A clipart illustration by Phillip Martin titled "African Folk Tales."
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Lesson Plan
Lin and Don Donn

Lin and Don Donn: Africa Lesson Plans

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A large collection of lesson plan links, including links to video clips, stories and folk tales, games, PowerPoints, and clip art.
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Website
Sacred Text Archive

Internet Sacred Text Archive: Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria Index

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
There are forty "Folk Stories From Southern Nigeria" listed for your reading pleasure. Stories range from "The Tortoise with a Pretty Daughter" to "Why the Sun and the Moon live in the Sky".
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Unit Plan
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Community and the Folk, Making of African American Identity: V. 3

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A story that examines African American community in a rural setting. Zora Neale Hurston's (1891-1960) brief tale "Spunk" is provided within this resources and documents the expressions of southern black "folk."
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Website
Other

Mad River Theater Works: The Ballad of John Henry [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Scroll down this study guide to find the lyrics to the Ballad of John Henry, which was collected from individuals in the West Virginia mountains in the 1920's. Discusses the different versions of the song and the history behind it.

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