Providing students with the opportunity to study different cultures increases their global understanding and helps foster tolerance of cultural differences. In this lesson, grade 3-5 students read folk tales from Japan, Wales, and Africa and depict the stories visually for purposes of retelling. Students also research the countries and share a…

Presents the rationale for and content of a sixth-grade unit on Africa, focusing on the concepts of race and of variation in cultural patterns. A bibliography of instructional resources is appended. (SJL)

Highlights materials relating to the U.S. frontier during the 19th century by citing journal articles and documents related to this topic. Indicates the means for obtaining these works which deal with rural schooling, historical demography, Native Americans, music, revivalism, and Black cowboys. (KO)

Discusses six techniques that will help teachers evaluate their multicultural views and practices: building multicultural programs; showing appreciation for differences; avoiding stereotypes; acknowledging differences in children; discovering classroom diversity; and avoiding pseudomulticulturalism. (LB)

Describes the activities associated with lesson plan development in an elementary social studies methods class. Recommends developing lessons about "international day" as designated by the United Nations. Includes a listing of International Days and Weeks. (CFR)

Presents an excerpt from a play that can be used to help students learn about Black history. The play focuses on an African-American town, Boley, Oklahoma, that outsmarted the most feared bank robbers of the 1930s. It emphasizes Black triumphs. (SM)

This seasonal idea/activity book for grades 1-6 features interesting facts on the origins of traditions and customs of spring and summer festivals from around the world. There are numerous hands-on art activities, a map of each country or continent of the activity's origin, and a brief explanation of each tradition. Areas and countries of the…

This interdisciplinary resource presents 140 recipes from 22 countries and regions around the world. Research questions connect culture and food to history. Cooking safety tips are given. Brief discussions about the role of food in culture precede recipes from: (1) Africa; (2) Australia; (3) Canada; (4) China; (5) Commonwealth of Independent…

This participant observation study describes how one beginning, bi-lingual, Puerto Rican, elementary art teacher instructs a class of Puerto Rican, inner-city children. The study concentrates on the types and frequency of teaching behaviors that occur for a beginning teacher; cultural perspectives that affect instruction, content selection, and…

Brief information is given on four June events celebrated by Puerto Ricans: Father's Day, the Feast of Saint John the Baptist (Puerto Rico's Partron Saint), the birthday of Francisco Oller Cestero (painter), and commemoration (on Father's Day) of Jean Baptiste Pointe Du Sable (first non-native American to settle in what is now known as Chicago).…

Part of a series of monthly booklets designed as a teacher resource for teaching about Puerto Rican and U.S. culture, the booklet provides brief information on two December events: winter and Christmas. Brief information is provided on winter, Hanukkah, Christmas traditions in Connecticut and in Puerto Rico, and Christmas symbols (the tree,…

Written in Spanish, this booklet contains brief information on 10 July events celebrated by Puerto Ricans: United States Declaration of Independence; the birthdays of P.T. Barnum, Elias Howe, John Quincy Adams, Luis Munoz Rivera, and Simon Bolivar; Marisol Malaret (first puerto Rican to be "Miss Universe"); Puerto Rican Constitution; Las…

Written in Spanish, this booklet contains information on three events occurring in the month of October: the discovery of America (October 12), the organization of the United Nations (October 24), and Halloween (October 31). Christopher Columbus' journey to America is discussed through a short story; an epic poem ("Velas Epicas"); and…

Written in Spanish, this booklet contains information on three events occurring in the month of November: Armistice Day (November 11), the discovery of Puerto Rico (November 19), and Thanksgiving (last Thursday in November). Following a brief discussion of "Dia del Armisticio" (Armistice Day), first celebrated on November 11, 1919, the…

Describes the author's experience in telling children's stories from a wide variety of cultures and to diverse audiences. The pitfalls of telling stories outside one's own culture and how to avoid them are covered. Anecdotes of the author's success in helping children build bridges to other cultures are included. (KRN)