• The Meaning Behind the Mask

    Created October 5, 2010
    The Meaning Behind the Mask

    Students explore the cultural significance of masks, discuss the use of masks in stories, and then investigate the role masks play in ceremonies and on special occasions in various African cultures.

  • Fables and Trickster Tales Around the World

    Created October 1, 2010
    Fables and Trickster Tales Around the World

    The following lesson introduces children to folk tales through a literary approach that emphasizes genre categories and definitions. In this unit, students will become familiar with fables and trickster tales from different cultural traditions and will see how stories change when transferred orally between generations and cultures.

  • Unicorns, Dragons, and Other Magical Creatures

    Created October 1, 2010
    Unicorns, Dragons, and Other Magical Creatures

    This lesson will explore images of magical creatures from around the world. After discussing the special attributes of such creatures, students will view images of specific mythological creatures from two cultures and listen to stories about them.

  • Family and Friendship in Quilts

    Created September 30, 2010
    Family and Friendship in Quilts: Friends will be friends quilt

    The lessons in this unit are designed to help your students recognize how people of different cultures and time periods have used cloth-based art forms to pass down their traditions and history.

  • Stars and Stripes Forever: Flag Facts for Flag Day

    Created September 29, 2010
    Stars and Stripes Forever: American Flag

    Students will learn what a symbol is, and how this particular symbol—the American flag—is an important part of our everyday lives.

  • Lions, Dragons, and Nian: Animals of the Chinese New Year

    Created September 28, 2010
    Lions, Dragons, and Nian: Animals of the Chinese New Year: Dragon02

    In this lesson, the students study the differences between eastern and western dragons and discover why the eastern dragons are associated with the Chinese New Year. They learn about the dragon dancers and lion dancers in the New Years parade and discover that firecrackers are set off to drive off evil spirits, particularly one called Nian.

  • History in Quilts

    History in Quilts: Lone Star Quilt

    The lessons in this unit are designed to help your students recognize how people of different cultures and time periods have used cloth-based art forms (quilts) to pass down their traditions and history.

  • Stories in Quilts

    Created September 27, 2010
    Stories in Quilts: Story Quilt

    Quilts can be works of art as well as stories through pictures. They also tell a story about their creators and about the historical and cultural context of their creation through the choices made in design, material, and content.

  • Davy Crockett, Tall Tales, and History

    Created September 25, 2010
    Davy Crockett: Portrait

    Using the life of Davy Crockett as a model, students learn the characteristics of tall tales and how these stories reflect their historical moment. The lesson culminates with students writing a tall tale of their own.

  • Not "Indians," Many Tribes: Native American Diversity

    Created September 24, 2010
    Not Indians: wigwam

    Students study the interaction between environment and culture as they learn about three vastly different Native groups in a game-like activity that uses vintage photographs, traditional stories, photos of artifacts, and recipes.

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