Curated OER
Ybor City Historic District
Learners analyze the role cigar making played in Ybor City. They examine how cigars are made and the different societies who helped immigrants keep their identify. They compare and contrast their own community to Ybor City.
Curated OER
Gotta Be Me
Students create model societies. In this social identity instructional activity, students conduct research so that they can plan and present model societies to their classmates. The societies must include information regarding how their...
Teaching Tolerance
Changing Demographics: What Can We Do to Promote Respect?
America has always been seen as a melting pot to the world. Scholars research the concept of blending cultures in the United States and how it is changing over time. The final lesson of a four-part series analyzes the changing...
Curated OER
Religion, Culture, and Diversity
Students study world religions. In this diversity activity, students interview their grandparents and other older adults about their religious beliefs and traditions. Students research world religions and discuss the diversity of...
Curated OER
Race, Language and Separation
Sixth graders discuss the idea of separation in today's society. In groups, they examine the laws used in the past with a focus on "separate, but equal". They review the Brown v. Board of Education case and determine if it caused or...
Curated OER
Revolution! Freedom for All?
Twelfth graders examine the causes of freedom by revolutionary patriots. In this Civics and Economics lesson, 12th graders analyze primary sources. Students work cooperatively to write a freedom declaration for their group.
Curated OER
Traditional Values vs. Modern Culture in the Asian Community
Students examine Chinese culture and values. They research the teachings of Confucius, create posters, write short stories, and analyze the history of and present state of gang culture through research, discussion, and writing.
Curated OER
Spanish & Chicano English
Young scholars examine the history of Spanish in what is now the United States. They examine the current language status of the Hispanic population. Students are able to characterize Spanglish and Chicano English. They examine some...
Curated OER
Starting a Revolution
Learners examine state quarters with images that refer to the Industrial Revolution. They discuss whether or not it is appropriate to commemorate that event. They research the Slater Mill and decide if it should be commemorated.
Curated OER
The Clothing of the Buddha
Students discuss the idea of cultural diffusion by examining how the sculptural portrayal of the Buddha's clothing evolved in Japanese and Chinese art. This lesson concludes with a group project and presentation.
Other
Minnesota Historical Society: Becoming Minnesotan: Recent Immigration
The oral histories of five immigrant communities new to Minnesota-Asian Indian, Khmer, Hmong, Somali, and Tibetan-remind us that there is no single answer to questions about what it means to be an American. With associated maps,...
Department of Defense
Do Dea: Ap Us History: Unit 10: Understanding American History
This extensive learning module looks at how themes of American history can create a better understanding of the big picture of the nation's history.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Primary Source Set: Immigration Americanization, 1880 1930
This collection uses primary sources to explore immigration to the US and immigrant Americanization between 1880 and 1930.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America: Guyanese Americans
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Guyanese Americans. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America: Garifuna Americans
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Garifuna Americans. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America: Virgin Islander Americans
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Virgin Islander Americans. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America: Chaldean Americans
Provides an overview of the traditional culture and lifestyle of Chaldean Americans. (Note: Content is not the most current.)
Tramline
My America Field Trip
Have fun learning about what it means to be "American." At this site discover all the privileges you have being an American citizen. There is also a complete list of teacher resource links.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Maya Lin
This video segment from New York Voices features Chinese American architect Maya Lin.
Curated OER
Strangers in the Land of Strangers: Defining "American" in Times of Conflict
An interesting website that uses primary source documents to trace the "American" identity from the Revolution through the Civil Rights era. Clicking on the images will explain their role in the development of an American identity.
Other
Exploring Diversity: Rural Roads, City Streets: Italians in Pennsylvania [Pdf]
A great lesson plan that offers primary source materials to understand Italian immigration to Pennsylvania in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Countries and Their Cultures
Countries and Their Cultures: Multicultural America
Provides overviews of the traditional culture and lifestyle of ethnic Americans from countries all over the world. Groups are organized alphabetically. The content is not the most current, but is helpful for understanding the historical...