Pace University
The Iroquois
During the early 1500s, parts of modern-day New York were inhabited by Eastern Woodland Native Americans. To learn about the daily life, value, and traditions of these tribes, fourth graders research the Iroquois. Groups select projects...
Curated OER
Celebrate Saint Partick's Day in The Langauage Arts Classroom
Ideas and activities to engage learners in the history and culture of St. Patrick's Day.
Channel Islands Film
Dark Water: Lesson Plan 3 - Grades 6-12
After watching the documentary Dark Water about a traditional Chumash ceremony and reading a Chumash origin story, viewers are asked to create a coat of arms and to craft an essay that details a family tradition or their own origin story.
Idaho Coalition
The Hunger Games: Gender Empowerment
The odds are in your favor that your pupils will love this instructional activity that uses The Hunger Games to launch a study of gender empowerment, as well as the influence of social constructs of gender. Groups discuss how Katniss...
American Documentary
Confucianism in a Changing Society
The Last Train Home, a 2009 documentary about China's migrant factory workers, provides viewers with an opportunity to explore how China's emergence as a global manufacturing force is challenging Chinese traditional values like filial...
British Council
Hanukkah
How much do your students know about Hanukkah? Teach them about the sights, sounds, and traditions of the Jewish holiday with a language arts activity about Hanukkah.
Smithsonian Institution
Braiding Rhythms: The Role of Bell Patterns in West African and Afro-Caribbean Music
Africans transported to the Caribbean as part of the transatlantic slave trade brought with them a rich tradition of music and dance. Four lessons teach young musicians the rumba clave rhythm, cascara rhythm, and the 6/8 bell patterns...
Curated OER
LESSON PLANS
Second graders encounter how the native and Spanish cultures influenced art on Colonial New Mexico. They experience some of the games, art and tools of colonial New Mexico. Students strive to increase new vocabulary. They also access how...
Curated OER
WOMEN'S AND MEN'S ROLES IN DIFFERENT CULTURES
Students examine careers that are not traditional to their gender.
Curated OER
Compare and Contrast the French Cinderella with Other Cultural Versions
Students first compare and contrast the traditional French Cinderella with Cinderella stories from around the world as well as the opera synopsis. Students write their own Cinderella stories, personalizing them with aspects from their...
Curated OER
Judaism Graphic Organizer
In this Jewish traditions activity, students complete the provided graphic organizer by adding details about Jewish history, beliefs, practices, and holidays.
Curated OER
The Roots of the Afro-American Culture: The Artistic Approach
Students study the geographical structure of the continent of Africa. They discuss how and why there are so many tribes and kingdoms of Africa and dsicuss customs and traditions to determine how they come about in any ethnic group.
Curated OER
Teaching African Literature in English
Students do a research project on one of the European countries and develop the points in detail. They determine the sophistication of African tradition and culture that have been degraded by the media and write an essay from the facts...
Curated OER
African Art and Community
Learners explore art in traditional African communities, discover how art is used to maintain important social relationships, and draw or write about objects that reflect their own communities.
Facing History and Ourselves
How Do Rules and Traditions Shape Communities?
Sixth graders explore the concepts of laws and customs in a community, examining the reasoning behind rules. Then then collaborate to write their own classroom code of conduct.
Curated OER
The Harlem Renaissance: Black American Traditions
Students examine the time period of the Harlem Renaissance. As a class, they are introduced to five artists and discuss their art and techniques. Using the internet, they also research the philosophers of the time period and how...
Curated OER
What is an Ahupua'a?
Students research ahupua'a ecosystems. For this ahupua'a lesson, students explore how land is subdivided in Hawaii and the effect on the ecosystem. Resources are provided.
Curated OER
African American Poetry: Family and Traditions
Young scholars are introduced to the elements of African-American poetry. As a class, they are read different types of poems to discover there are different styles of poems and practice rhyming words. They share information on their...
Curated OER
Christmas Around the World
Students explore Christmas celebrations in different countries. They create presentations giving information about Christmas celebrations in different countries. They compare and contrast traditional Christmas celebrations around the world.
Curated OER
1st Grade - Act. 09: Freedom Quilt
First graders create sections of classroom quilt that be tied together.
Curated OER
Chinese Inventions
Learners identify inventions as coming from China. In this Chinese inventions lesson, students are given a list of common items such as cast iron, a wheelbarrow, and the decimal system, then conduct research to identify where they were...
Curated OER
The Power of the Image: Understanding Symbols in Buddhist Art
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.
Incredible Art Department
Story Tellers - "Passing on the Traditions"
It's important for young people to learn about their ancestry and the role of storytelling as a means of passing along traditions, information, and lessons. Based on what they already learned about Native American oral tradition,...
Curated OER
Weaving Traditions - Activity 1
Students practice the techniques of weaving and braiding in this introductory lesson on family traditions and visual art. The lesson includes a video and other resource links.