Curated OER
The Kanaka Village at Fort Vancouver: Crossroads of the Columbia River
High schoolers study the interaction between Native American and European cultures in the Pacific Northwest in the 1800s. They focus their study on the Hudson's Bay Company and Fort Vancouver.
Curated OER
Coming to America
Students read one book together about the immigrant experience. Teacher asks students to identify some of the themes around immigration contained in the book (example: prejudice).
Curated OER
Multicultural Fairy Tales
Third graders explore the elements of a story using fairy tales from all over the world. They compare and contrast story elements, key ideas and concepts found in a variety of texts from around the world.
Curated OER
Poetry
Fourth graders participate in reading and listening to poetry. They are exposed to a variety of poems and examine and identify basic elements of poetry. They write their own poems and recite a poem with enthusiasm, expression, and props.
Curated OER
Native American Poetry
Fourth graders locate the poetry section of the LMC. They produce a hand written transparency based on the poem Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Students illustrate a poem from their poetry section. It is a mystery to them what...
Curated OER
The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush: Native American Life
Students read," The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush" by Tomie dePaola and discuss the way legends are passed down orally. They then create their own legend and illustrate it on a simulated "Buffalo Skin" made from brown paper.
Curated OER
Colors Crackle, Colors Roar
First graders engage in a reading of poems in colorful language. They become with the interrelation of using Spanish and English words interchangeably in a text. The lesson also builds multicultural appreciation for young students.
Curated OER
A Thoreau Look at Our Environment
Sixth graders write journal entries o school site at least once during each season, including sketched and written observations of present environment. They can use sample topographical maps and student's own maps. Students can use...
Curated OER
Teaching Voluntary Reading
Students participate in a variety of activities to increase their fluency and read for pleasure. They read books of their choice, participate in author talks and book talks, write book reviews, and select favorite books for a class...
Curated OER
Science Happens in a Social Context
Students discuss how the same data is viewed differently between historians and scientists. Using the data, they compare and contrast the vocabulary used and the focus of attention. They analyze the conditions that help spread diseases...
Curated OER
Modern day Folktales: Recasting Folktales in the 21st Century
Students write their own modern day folktale and compare it with "Cathal O'Cruachan and the Cowherd." In addition, they illustrate a character from the original Irish folktale and how the same character would appear today. Students read...
Curated OER
Elders As Resources
High schoolers engage in a lesson that uses discussion groups for communication. The focus of the lesson is upon the respect for authority that should be given to older adults. Students engage in class discussion about the information...
Curated OER
Science: The Shape of Clouds
Students observe cloud formations during a trip outdoors prior to reading Tomie dePaola's , "The Cloud Book." Using cotton, they make models of the four main cloud shapes and mount them on blue construction paper. As an ongoing project,...
Curated OER
Staying Healthy Year Round
Students are read a variety of books and observe the weather in the different seasons. In groups, they compare and contrast the type of activities people are doing. They also discuss how they adapt to the changes in seasons by the...
Curated OER
Egyptian Expedition
Students identify and analyze ancient Egypt and interpret how to develop bibliographical references. They research topics using multiple resources and various forms of media of media. Finally, students practice and deliver an oral...
Curated OER
What's on Your Plate?
Students travel the world. In this global studies instructional activity, students research selected countries and investigate their cultural traditions.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Invitation to World Literature
Multimedia course focuses on thirteen literary classics from many different times and many different cultures. Each lesson centers on a half-hour video offering multiple perspectives on a particular work. Read excerpts from each work and...
Brown University
Brown University: Diversity Kit: Resource for Social Change in Education [Pdf]
Downloadable PDF publication that provides a review of current research on human development, cultural identity and diversity, and language and literacy development. Nicely balances research and theoretical background with helpful...
Yale University
Examining African American Culture Through the Use of Children's Literature
This curriculum unit is designed for third grade students to address the issue of diversity during many different core areas via the use of African-American children's literature. The unit incorporates a variety of children's books, both...
British Library
British Library: Discovering Literature: Romantics & Victorians Childhood
These articles research how childhood was depicted in the literature of the 18th and 19th century, and how perceptions of childhood were different from those of today.
Indiana University
Iu: Literature as Lessons on the Diversity of Culture
Very scholarly article that looks at the role literature helps teach us about the diversity of our culture. The author looks at various aspects of literature and then gives teacher resources and a helpful bibliography.
Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech: At Home With Multicultural Adolescent Literature
List of "Must read," multicultural literature for the adolescent reader. The books are categorized by the culture that they represent and by reading level. An excellent resource for teachers and students alike.
Washington State University
Washington State University: American Literature
A comprehensive site devoted to American literature compiled by a professor of English at Washington State University. Includes an alphabetical index of American authors, with links to biographical information, works online, critical...
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: Invitation to World Literature: Pamuk: My Name Is Red
Lesson from a multimedia course on literary world classics considers My Name Is Red, by Nobel laureate Orhan Pamluk. Lesson centers on a half-hour video offering multiple perspectives on the work. Read an excerpt from the novel and find...