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Curated OER

Up From the Streets: Hip Hop as a Recognized Art

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students discuss the historical roots of Hip-Hop to the present as an example of an art form that arose from the street into popular culture. Emphasis is placed on in-class discussion and written reflections in this introductory lesson...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Renaissance Feast & Fancy

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders investigate the recreation, music, clothing, and food of the Renaissance period. In small groups, they research a topic, and plan activities, music, food, and costumes to be used in a Renaissance Feast.
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Traditions and Transformations

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the Jewish culture from a variety of perspectives.  In this ethics activity, 9th graders interview guest speakers on the subject of Jewish culture.  Students create group poems and murals around themes of...
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An Ancient Greek and Roman Festival

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders label a map of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations and do a written report on one element of these two cultures. They participate in discussions of food, farming, daily life and government (among others). Students use the...
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Incorporating Japanese Music into the Music Classroom

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders experience the music and arts of Japan as they explore the language and culture of the country in this instructional activity. A variety of musical elements from the culture are demonstrated.
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Curated OER

A Day in the Life of a Leprechaun

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate creative writing by reading Leprechaun stories. In this Irish culture instructional activity, students listen as their teacher describes what a leprechaun is and where the idea for the creature came from. Students...
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Dave Matthews Band - Lesson 3

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students discuss the impact of cultural diversity in the world around us, how it shapes conflict and unity, and relate the music of Dave Matthews Band to these societal issues and their own experiences. The compare Dave Matthews music to...
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Curated OER

Do You Really Know What Wealth Is?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine what it means to have wealth-a concept that turns out to be philosophical as well as economic-and examine the importance of music. They examine the concepts of wealth in Mali and in the United States and consider the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ireland: the Emerald Isle

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders complete a unit of study that examines several perspectives of Ireland. They explore how climate shapes Irish culture, reference historical and political maps, compute exchange values for Irish money, complete worksheets,...
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The Warrior Role in Greek Society

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to the various gods and goddesses in ancient Greek mythology. In groups, they use print and electronic resources to research the ways Greek culture has influenced the modern world. To end the lesson, they...
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Birth and Early Childhood

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders read and compare creation stories of different cultures around the world. They identify and define the concept of the cycle of life and collect and analyze birth and childhood folk beliefs and stories in their families...
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Curated OER

Chinese Lion Dance

For Teachers Pre-K - 6th
Students celebrate the Chinese New Year and listen to the story behind the Chinese Lion Dance.  For this Chinese New Year lesson, students research the geography and culture of China.  Students create puppets, dance the Lion...
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Curated OER

Globe Trotting Cinderella

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore the fairy tale genre of literature. In this Cinderella lesson, students read fairy tales and discuss their attributes and cultural background. Students examine and write their own fractured fairy tales.
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Curated OER

Low Brass: Tibet, Switzerland and Haiti

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners identify sounds played on instruments from around the world. In this music lesson, students listen to music played on various low brass instruments from Tibet, Switzerland and Haiti to determine the differences in pitch...
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Curated OER

Painted Dreams

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the importance of art in Haitian culture by analyzing the cause and effect within the story, "Allie's Basketball Dream." They examine all the aspects of the story and characters including their goals, dreams,...
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Holocaust

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders explore the geography of Eastern and Western Europe. They compare and constrast the culture of Jewish people from Eastern and Western Europe. They analyze deportation and confinement in concentration camps, using personal...
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Carnival Celebrations: Masks and Vejigantes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore Carnival. In this Puerto Rico Carnival lesson, students discover the history of the cultural celebration as well as the significance of the elaborate masks worn for the festivities. Students create their own Carnival masks.
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Scops, Rappers and You: Historians with Style!

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students examine the epic poem Beowulf. In this analyzing poetry lesson, student compare listen to the Will Smith song "Wild, Wild West" and read Beowulf. Students analyze the song and the poem. Students then research an influential...
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Eckstine, Stayhorn, and the Dorseys: Masters of Swing

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students explore the history of swing music. In this music history lesson, students research the Dorsey Brothers, Billy Eckstine, and William Strayhorn to learn about swing music. Students define swing, develop a timeline of events in...
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Curated OER

Skip Counting to Music

For Teachers K - 2nd Standards
Your youngest mathematicians skip count by 2's, 5's, and 10's as they sing along to a Hap Palmer song that helps them remember the patterns. Students practice in whole group and then individually with the worksheet provided, using the...
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Curated OER

The Power of the Image: Understanding Symbols in Buddhist Art

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students discuss symbolism in art, examine various images of compassion in Buddhist tradition, analyzing components of the concept, and then produce their own images of compassion through art.
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America (My Country 'Tis of Thee)

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Pupils perform a song using correct rhythms, accurate pitches, and dynamic phrasing. They perform an accompaniment to "America" on Orff instruments.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SPEECHES TO INTRODUCE

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Pupils create multimedia speeches of introduction which focus on women and Hispanics. They introduce their famous person and, using a video camera, video tape their speeches. 
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Curated OER

VH1's When Disco Ruled the World

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students choose a minority culture or an event and research the musical influences of that culture or event on American popular music. They discuss how minority cultures and events in American society influenced the Disco era.