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Exploring Folk Traditions and Folk Beliefs
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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From Corn To Tortillas
Students investigate the food known as the tortilla. They research the growth cycle of the corn plant and how tortillas are made from it. The importance of the tortilla according to the Hispanic culture is explained to the students. The...
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America the Bountiful
Fifth graders explore the impact exploration and colonization of North America had on human history. In this American colonies lesson, 5th graders compare differences between colonial areas. Students investigate the global impact of...
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Our Friends in the East
Students explore Chinese New Year. In this Chinese culture lesson, students visit websites to research the traditions and culture of China as they relate to Chinese New Year.
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Ancient Origins: The Role of Archaeology in Reconstructing the Past
Students read information about the ancient origins of art and archaeology with a focus on the Malian culture. In this art origins instructional activity, students read background information for the topic and compare ancient and...
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An Introduction to Shamanism
Students investigate Inuit customs. In this cultural traditions lesson, students read about religious customs of the Inuit including Shamanism. Students discuss the role of Shaman and create Inuktitut-English dictionaries with terms...
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Confucius
Students investigate the person of Confucius and his impact upon the Chinese culture. They conduct research using a variety of resources. They use the outline provided in the lesson to participate in class discussion. Key ideas are...
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Culture in Art
Students explore how cultural aspects of their lives are depicted in society. They view a video on Frida Kahlo and identify the cultural elements that she referenced in her work.
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Human Evolution
Students investigate hominid evolution to learn the difference between a relative and an ancestor. They study the emergence of bipedalism and the related physical adaptations and cultural ramifications, and chart patterns of hominid...
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Pre-European Cultures of the Upper Mississippi River Valley
Fifth graders locate the Mississippi River Valley on a map. In groups, they use the internet to research the prehistoric periods of this area. They also examine artifacts and pictures and place them into chronological order. They...
Ocean Explorer
Looking for Clues
Upper graders become "shipwreck detectives" by studying the debris field from a shipwreck in the Aegean Sea which took place in the 700s. A website is accessed that gives specific information about the debris field, and pairs of...
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Intermediate Guided Reading Lesson Plan for: Corn is Maize The Gift of the Indians
A lovely guided reading lesson awaits you and your students. They read the book,Corn is Maize: The Gift of the Indians, by Aliki, summarize the important events of the story, and describe how corn has helped develop culture in America.
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ARTIFACT to ART to GLYPHS
Students study the development of early Latin American civilizations in unit one. The second part of the unit is based on early image-making attempts from the Cro-Magnon to the Peruvian Incas. Students create their own weavings using a...
US Mint
The Growth of a Nation
Young historians explore the identity of the early United States in this four-part lesson series. Working in groups of three, students research the political, economic, and cultural atmosphere of each member of the...
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Scientific and Cultural Advancements of Early China
Seventh graders explore early Chinese civilization. As pupils study Chinese history, they examine its scientific accomplishments. In partners, 7th graders create an advertisement presentation for an advancement of ancient China.
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Artifacts 1: What Can We Learn From Artifacts?
Sixth graders are introduced to artifacts and explore an online archaeological site to connect clues about how people once lived. In this deductive reasoning lesson, 6th graders participate in the stratigraphy game on Kids Dig...
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Metalling in Around the World
Third graders explore the important leaders in different cultures by researching coinage. Through this process, they also recognize the cultural universality on coinage and currency.
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Native Americans
Students, in groups, research various Native American tribes. They wirte a report about the tribe which includes information about their food and ceremonies, among other things. They create a diorama and a poster that shows how they...
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Houses and the People They Shelter
Students examine different homes and shelters across cultures and time periods. In this Houses and the People They Shelter lesson, students draw conclusions about society and culture according to the features of their dwellings. Students...
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Landscape Confection: Pre-visit Activity
Upper graders explore the concepts of landscape art, man, nature and their inter-relationship. This is a critical thinking and analysis activity intended to prepare the class for an up coming trip to a local art museum. They analyze,...
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Intellectual/Social/Cultural Movements: 1870s - 1914 (5)
In this online interactive American history worksheet, students answer 12 matching questions regarding late 1870's-1914 America. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
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Global Awareness
Students read about how scientists are arriving at current theories of human origin and migration through mitochondrial DNA analysis. They then piece together a map showing the data from mitochondrial DNA analysis to plot the migration...
Agriculture in the Classroom
A Rafter of Turkeys
How did that turkey get from the early Aztec culture to your table? Learn about the history of wild and domesticated turkeys in North America, as well as their inclusion in Thanksgiving traditions, with a two-part agricultural science...
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Byzantine Art: 5th century to 1453 AD
Art and architecture are great ways to help define historical periods and cultural norms. Take a critical look at the art of the Byzantine period as seen under Justinian rule. Iconography, vocabulary, religious, and political concepts...