Curated OER
American Federal Style
Explore American Federal design as it pertains to furniture, architecture, and influences on modern style. By the end of this lesson, learners should be able to recognize Federal design, its place in history, and how it has influenced...
Curated OER
Ancient Artifacts
Young scholars research the earliest Americans. In this ancient civilizations activity, students investigate the Mayas, Aztecs, and Incas. Young scholars examine artifacts used in the cultures and then determine what the artifacts were...
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Indian Mathematical Achievements
Students explore how Indian culture and religion prompted Indian advancements in math and science. In this Indian culture lesson, students read "India's Work in Math" and conduct research regarding Indian mathematicians.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Kennewick Man: Science and Sacred Rights
"Have respect for the dead!" Scholars investigate how science and religion often clash. As they look into the laws of science and the laws of religion, the legal ramifications at the federal level of both play into an argument they...
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Native American Music: Call-and-Response
Students are introduced to call-and-response form of Native American song and dance. They identify and describe a call-and-response form as used in "0 Hal'Lwe."
Male students will perform "0 Hal'Lwe" in call-and-response style with drum...
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Hold On to Your Hats
Elementary schoolers study the symbolism and influences found in advertising. First, they learn about the history and cultural significance of the Summer Official's Hat that was a symbol of status in ancient China. Then, they access...
Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary
What Ben Read
Just what did Ben Franklin read? By juxtaposing Ben Franklin’s reading material as a young man with an analysis of his developed ideas, learners gain the opportunity to see how the influences of his youthful reading played out. Roman,...
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Mayan Math
Fifth graders investigate the Maya's as mathematicians. In this Mayan math lessons, 5th graders work with the ancient Mayan numbering system by comparing it to the American Number System. They tell the differences and similarities...
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North Korea's Power Play
Students research a number of websites to see how North Korea's leaders have shaped the country. They investigate Korea's ancient history and culture.
Curated OER
Putting Back the Pieces
Seventh graders become museum conservators and undertake the hypothetical restoration of an ancient American work of art. Groups design a plan for reconstructing the work of art, outlining the steps they need to take and the materials...
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Money Pit
Sixth graders make a list of aspects of our culture found on a penny, and then observe another object based on another culture. In this culture lesson plan, 6th graders take their new object and research that culture.
Curated OER
Breaking the Chains, Rising Out of Circumstances
Young scholars research slavery in ancient Rome and compare and contrast it to slavery in the United States. In this slavery lesson, students investigate the differences of slavery in different parts of the country, write a paper to...
Curated OER
Unity Versus Diversity
Young scholars explore the 50 State Quarters program and how it represents diversity and unity of the United States. In pairs, they examine quarter designs to gain information about the culture of each state. Students create charts to...
Curated OER
The Anasazi
Sixth graders investigate and determine the origins of the ancient Anasazi who inhabited present-day Utah and the Four-Corners-Region, after receiving direct instruction and carrying out activities in cooperative group settings. They...
Curated OER
The Great Seal
Students study patriotic symbols of America. In this American history lesson plan, students construct a KWL chart on United States symbols and examine visuals of the Great Seal and bald eagle. Students create another symbol for America.
Curated OER
A Road Map for the Roman Empire, Ca. 250 CE
Students consider how empires are created and sustained, examine Peutinger Table as a whole and in detail as tool of empire for Rome, c. 250 CE, create ancient time-distance travel chart that synthesizes series of strip maps, and...
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Ancient Greece
Sixth graders identify ancient Greek influences in the modern world. In this ancient Greece lesson, student research the government, religion, economy, inventions and contributions of Greece. Students participate in a debate about life...
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African-American Art and the Political Dissent during the Harlem Renaissance
Pupils are introduced to the culture of African American art. Using the internet, they research the events surrounding the Harlem Renaissance and discover how it produced a wide variety of art and literature. To end the lesson, by...
Curated OER
Cultural Representation of Skeletons and Bones
Eighth graders study cultures and beliefs about the final life cycle. In this culture lesson students complete several activities on the origins of Halloween.
Curated OER
Art and Culture
Young scholars compare and contrast the ways in which human figures are portrayed in rock art made by ancient Native American artists and in the drawings and paintings of historic European and American artists. They use images to...
Curated OER
Rock Speaks
Students create primitive forms and caricatures to represent meaningful figures and/or events in their own lives, present their own works to the class, and attempt to interpret the relevant meaning from other students' work.
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Ancient Ones, the Study of the Anasazi
Learners explore relationships between man and nature. They examine the culture of the Anasazi and the importance of the natural resources around them. Students examine reasons for Anasazi people to leave this area.
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Ancient and Modern Diets
Young scholars investigate the ancient Egyptian diet and compare it to the contemporary American diet.
Curated OER
Visual Arts, Literary Arts, and Performing Arts: Their Connection and Place in America's Minority Culture
Students explore the rich, varied, and full artistic culture of each of these three minority groups, Native Americans, Chicanos, and African Americans. They explore art through dance, music, literature, and many other different mediums....