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Watching the Weather
Students examine the weather. They discover the conflict between man and nature caused by the changes in weather and the impact it has upon their lives. Students explore weather folklore. They write a report on the weather. ...
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Citizenship
Pupils reflect on characteristics of good citizens, examine democratic symbolism, create an award and choose an individual to receive the award as part of this instructional activity on citizenship. Lesson ties together social studies,...
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Tradition through storytelling and music
Students discover how storytelling can shape a person's tradition.Students examine different methods of storytelling such as music, biographies, and African folktales. They then demonstrate their knowledge of storytelling by writing...
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Westward Expansion
Students examine how the events that took place during the time of the Westward Expansion affected the pioneers and Native Americans through the seven lessons of this unit. Enhancements in transportation over time are also a part of the...
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A Fish Story
Young scholars closely examine and analyze an American tall tale. They find the key features of a tall tale and compose a tall tale of their own. Student groups write, edit and present their tales to the class.
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America's Mighty Rivers
Young scholars examine the cultural importance of America's rivers. Using the Mississippi and Hudson Rivers, they examine a story that takes place on each river. They are introduced to the concepts of preservation and stewardship.
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Africa's Climatic Regions
Learners are introduced to the different climates and vegetation of Africa, and compare them to similar climatic regions found in the United States.
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Christmas Around the World (Grade 2)
Student groups create slides on one of the cultures listed. They view videos that show United States families celebrating Christmas based on their native countries' traditions and a video which tells the story of La Bafana, the old woman...
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Pictograph Robe Stories
Fourth graders explore the diversity and commonality of human interdependence. Also, the global cooperation of the people of the United States and the world through a multicultural and historical perspective. They describe the...
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Too Many Tamales
Students investigate Mexican holiday celebrations and compare them to American Christmas holidays. They conduct a Mexican Christmas Scavenger Hunt. The instructional activity uses a streaming video in order to engage students in the main...
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Word Play
Students examine the Japanese folktale, Monkeys Grasp for the Moon. In this multicultural literature lesson, students discuss the theme of the folktale. Students choose animal folktales from other Asian cultures for comparison.
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Born on a Mountaintop? Davy Crockett, Tall Tales, and History
Students name tall tale characters and locations, which are based on actual people and places, and describe how they are used in an exaggerated way. Students name created characters and events from tall tales. Students write a tall tale.
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One Grain of Rice
Pupils complete a Know / Want to Know / Learned chart about India. They locate India on a map and read facts about India. They access the Internet and view a slide show about India. They read "One Grain of Rice" in the Scott Foresman...
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Fables and Trickster Tales Around the World
Students analyze fables and trickster tales from various cultural traditions. In this fable analysis lesson, students identify the elements of fables and trickster stories. Students read Aesop's fables and Ananse spider stories. Students...
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Fungal History
Students identify different types of fungi. They discuss how mushrooms are used in American culture and research an issue about a type of fungi. They share their information with the class.
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Off Times of Slaves on the Sea Islands
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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Legends and Myths: Trickster Tales
Middle schoolers work in groups to research the characteristics of various myths and legends. They read tales, illustrate them, record oral storytelling efforts and write an original folktale. Students then invite parents to a dramatic...
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Living History - Civil War
Eighth graders, after researching antebellum North Carolina and the role of North Carolina in the Civil War, write, edit, publish, and produce their own plays.
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Choose Your Path
Middle schoolers identify the plot and theme of cartoons. In groups, they discuss and compare the written and movie versions of popular fairy tales. Individually, they write their own fairy tale and share them with the class. They...
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Now and Then
Students record transformations and their effects within and across cultures. Students study the life of specific people in a former time period and then in the present time period. This teacher focused on the Winnebago tribe, using her...
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Stretching It
Students recognize the use of exaggeration and understand how it may enhance the story, painting, conversation or event. Students transfer their understanding of exaggeration as it is used in many places, ie., daily life, paintings,...
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Living Things Depend upon Each Other
Students research animals. They identify the animals' struggle for survival, and internalize the importance of preserving an ecosystem with animal life.They collect information and write a report on their findings. Additional cross...
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The Art of the Puerto Rican People
Students study Taino Art and identify their crafts and stone carvings. They read the life of Campeche as presented and discuss with their teacher the economic and political situation of Puerto Rico in the eighteenth century and how...
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Myth Connections
Ninth graders present tales and myths in the oral tradition. They discuss the African method of telling a story where each member of the group tells a part of the story. They make up a composite hero and write a story that describes...