1208 history-culture-world results | sort by:

Felix Mendelssohn - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): art history (106), composers (16), music theory (48)
In the Classroom
Select one of Mendelssohn's compositions, such as The Hebrides Overture or A Midsummer Night's Dream. Play the piece in class and guide students in analyzing its mood, structure, and Romantic-era elements. Use resources from the guide to provide historical and cultural context. Mendelssohn played a significant role in reviving the works of Johann Sebastian Bach. Assign students to compare and contrast a piece by Mendelssohn with one by Bach, exploring themes, style, and instrumentation. Encourage students to use the guide's materials to research Mendelssohn's admiration for Bach. Using the letters and manuscripts linked in the guide as inspiration, have students write a fictional letter to or from Mendelssohn. Encourage students to compose a short piece of music inspired by Mendelssohn's Romantic style. They can write lyrics, create a melody, or use digital tools like Audacity, reviewed here. Students can then share their compositions and explain how Mendelssohn influenced their work.The Empire of Mali- The Twang of a Bow - Extra History
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): africa (166)
In the Classroom
Have students explore Mali's contributions to art, music, and storytelling, researching griots, traditional instruments, or historical sites like Timbuktu. They can present their findings through skits, posters, or mini-documentaries using moovly reviewed here or Animoto reviewed here. Students can participate in a Mali trade simulation, where they role-play merchants, kings, and traders exchanging goods (gold, salt, textiles) and negotiating taxes, highlighting the importance of trade in Mali's success. Students can illustrate a comic strip using Free Comic Strip Maker reviewed here or Write Comics reviewed here retelling key events from Sundiata's journey, emphasizing major turning points like his exile, rise to power, and victory over Soumaoro Kante.Dance: Sundiata- Mali's Lion King - YPS Arts Department
Grades
6 to 8tag(s): africa (166), african american (119), dance (33)
In the Classroom
Have your students mimic movements inspired by animals (like lions or birds) and warriors to connect with the themes of Sundiata's journey. Students can create a short poem or spoken-word piece about Sundiata's journey and perform it alongside interpretive dance movements. Students can research and compare traditional West African dance styles (such as Mandinka dance) with other global storytelling dances. They can present their findings through a short report or poster using Canva Edu reviewed here.Mali Lesson Plans - Virginia Department of Education
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): africa (166), creative writing (125), journals (16)
In the Classroom
Students can create a travel journal to record responses to lessons on paper or using Imagine Forest, reviewed here or Sway, reviewed here. Have students participate in a suitcase packing activity to prepare for an imaginary journey to Mali by choosing items they may need on the trip. Create a list of items they may pack and have them discuss their choices. Students can illustrate key moments from the Epic of Sundiata using a storyboard format. They can either draw by hand or use digital tools such as Google Drawings, reviewed here to represent important events, such as Sundiata's early struggles, his rise to power, and the establishment of the Mali Empire. Have students participate in a trade simulation to understand the economic power of the Mali Empire. They can role-play as merchants trading gold, salt, and other goods along the trans-Saharan trade routes.Lion King vs. Sundiata, Lion King of Mali - Engaging Everything
Grades
5 to 9This site includes advertising.
tag(s): africa (166), comics and cartoons (55), vocabulary (241)
In the Classroom
Have students make the comic on a device using ToonyTool reviewed here or Write Comics reviewed here. Students can compare Sundiata and The Lion King using a Venn diagram on paper or using Venn Diagram Creator reviewed here, analyzing historical elements versus fictional adaptations. Before introducing Sundiata, have students match The Lion King characters (Mufasa, Simba, Scar, etc.) with their Sundiata counterparts based on descriptions. Then, reveal the actual connections and discuss.Early American Civilizations: Myths, Pyramids, and Kings - Texas Education Agency
Grades
4 to 6tag(s): grammar (138), pyramids (24), south america (77), spelling (98), writing (327)
In the Classroom
Using materials like sugar cubes, marshmallows, or LEGO bricks, students work in teams to construct a model pyramid while discussing its purpose and significance in early civilizations. Students can also use CoSpaces reviewed here or Tinkercad reviewed here to create digital 3D models. Create a Venn diagram on paper or using Venn Diagram Creator reviewed here to compare the leadership of early American civilizations (ex., kings, priests) to modern government systems. Students can craft their own myths inspired by elements of early American civilizations. They can illustrate their stories and share them with the class. Consider using Imagine Forest reviewed here or Google Slides reviewed here to make books to share with the class and families online.Mayas - Aztecs - Incas - Wendy Conklin
Grades
4 to 8tag(s): architecture (84), religions (107), south america (77)
In the Classroom
Transform your classroom into a bustling market! Assign students roles as Maya, Aztec, or Inca merchants selling goods like cacao, maize, textiles, or gold. Have them barter and trade based on their civilization's economy. Students can analyze Maya glyphs or Inca quipu (knotted cords used for record-keeping). They can try writing their names in glyphs or creating a simple quipu with yarn. Students can research and retell a myth from one of the three civilizations. They can write a short script, perform, or illustrate a comic strip using Free Comic Strip Maker reviewed here. Students could also record a podcast episode using Buzzsprout reviewed here. Students can build Maya pyramids (with sugar cubes), Aztec chinampas (floating gardens using sponges & water trays), or Inca terraces (stacked cardboard "mountains") to explore their engineering feats.Early American Civilizations- Maya, Aztec, and Inca - Core Knowledge
Grades
4 to 6tag(s): critical thinking (135), literacy (123), maps (223), south america (77), vocabulary (241)
In the Classroom
Make a Mystery Box by placing pictures or replicas of Maya, Aztec, and Inca artifacts (ex., a quipu, a pyramid, a codex) in a box. Have students pull an item, describe it, and infer its use before reading about it in the text. Students create a visual comparison such as a Venn diagram, poster, or digital infographic using Venn Diagram Creator reviewed here or Canva Edu, reviewed here showing similarities and differences between the Maya, Aztec, and Inca. They can list areas like government, religion, architecture, and daily life. Students can write a first-person journal entry as a Maya scribe, an Aztec warrior, or an Incan messenger, describing a day in their life while incorporating factual details from the reader.Ghosts of Machu Picchu - PBS NOVA
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): archeology (29), south america (77), STEM (304), timelines (58)
In the Classroom
Have students explore the website's visuals, articles, and videos to "virtually visit" Machu Picchu. Then, in small groups, students can create a travel brochure or digital slideshow highlighting key features, historical significance, and unanswered mysteries. These projects can be completed online using Canva Edu reviewed here or Google Slides reviewed here. After learning about Machu Picchu's sophisticated stone construction and drainage system, students can design and test their own miniature stone wall models using clay, Legos, or sugar cubes, mimicking Incan building techniques. Students can compare Machu Picchu's engineering, society, and daily life to another ancient civilization (ex., Mesopotamia, Egypt, Rome) and present their findings through a Venn diagram on paper or online using Venn Diagram Creator reviewed here.Inca Civilization - Twinkl Educational Publishing
Grades
3 to 10tag(s): cultures (200), religions (107), south america (77)
In the Classroom
Assign students different roles in Inca society (ex., farmer, noble, priest, artisan, emperor, chasqui messenger), have students research their roles, and then participate in a classroom simulation where they interact based on their social status. After reviewing the resources on Inca architecture, students can work in teams to design and build a model of an Inca terrace farm, bridge, or city using clay, cardboard, or recycled materials. They can also create a digital model using CoSpaces reviewed here or Tinkercad reviewed here. Encourage students to explain how their design reflects the Incas' use of geography and engineering skills. Using the quipu worksheets, students learn how the Incas recorded numbers using knots. Students then create their own quipu messages using string and assign numerical or symbolic meanings.Mayan Crystal - Gen-Z Media
Grades
3 to 7tag(s): mayans (32), mexico (46), mysteries (24), myths and legends (41)
In the Classroom
Have students research a Mayan myth or legend and turn it into a short comic strip. They can illustrate their own interpretation of the story or retell a scene from Mayan Crystal in comic form. The comic strip could also be made online using ToonyTool reviewed here or Canva Comic Strip Templates reviewed here. Since Mayan Crystal features immersive soundscapes, challenge your students to create their own sound effects for a short scene using everyday objects. They can record sounds or perform them live in small groups. Ask students to write a new ending or an extra scene for Mayan Crystal. How would they change the story if a key event had played out differently? Assign students different characters from the podcast and have them act out a key scene or participate in a mock interview as their character.African American Activists of the 20th Century - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): african american (119), black history (134), civil rights (215), martin luther king (46)
In the Classroom
Have students select an activist from the website, research their life and achievements, and create an interactive digital timeline using tools like Canva, reviewed here or Class Tools, reviewed here. Have students choose an activist and prepare a short presentation or monologue in character, sharing their achievements and struggles. Turn the classroom into a "living museum," with students acting as historical figures. Using the website images as inspiration, students can create hand-drawn or collaged posters highlighting an activist's achievements, including key facts, quotes, and visuals. Ask students to select an activist, research their contributions, and create a short podcast episode using Acast, reviewed here or Podbean, reviewed here) explaining their importance.How This Film Erased Asian-Americans From Their Own Story - PBS Origins
Grades
9 to 12This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Students can watch the movie that is referenced in the YouTube video. Students can research other videos that feature the white savior complex. Finally, students use Google Drawings reviewed here to compare and contrast the true story of Chol Soo Lee's arrest to the one portrayed in the movie.Kokoro: The Story of Sacramento's Lost Japantown - Google Arts and Culture
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): japan (57), japanese (49), photography (132)
In the Classroom
Students can use Timeline Infographic Templates reviewed here to highlight important events in Japantown. Students can use Kiddle reviewed here to learn more about the Japanese notables that are featured on the site. Finally, students can use Google Drawings reviewed here to create a cause-and-effect diagram to highlight why Japantown became forgotten.Indomitable: The Tommy Kono Story - Google Arts and Culture
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): cultures (200), japanese (49), religions (107), sports (83)
In the Classroom
Students can use MyLens reviewed here to highlight important events in Tommy Kono's life. Students can compare Tommy Kono to another famous weightlifter using ClassTools Interactive Venn Diagrams reviewed here. Students can use Kiddle reviewed here to research more about Buddhism.We are not a Stereotype - Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center
Grades
9 to 12In the Classroom
Students can review the videos and post questions and comments on Padlet reviewed here. Students can use Google Keep reviewed here for notetaking. Students can find other videos on the same topics and compare and contrast them using Google Drawings reviewed here.Celebrating Asian American Experiences in the Classroom - NYC Public Schools
Grades
5 to 12In the Classroom
Students can review the resources and post questions and comments on Padlet reviewed here. Students can research using Kiddle reviewed here to highlight important/notable Asian Americans featured in the resources. Finally, students can conduct a virtual interview with an Asian American. Record the interviews using Adobe Podcast reviewed here.A Different Asian American Timeline - A Different Asian American Timeline
Grades
9 to 12tag(s): timelines (58)
In the Classroom
Students can use MyLens reviewed here to highlight important events during an assigned period. Students can use Figma reviewed here to compare and contrast time periods. Students can use Padlet reviewed here to post facts that they learned during each period.Jewish American Heritage Month - Library of Congress
Grades
4 to 12In the Classroom
Students can explore primary sources from the Library of Congress or the National Archives on Jewish American contributions. In pairs, they can analyze an artifact (ex., a historical photo, letter, or newspaper article) and present their findings. Assign students a prominent Jewish American figure (Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Albert Einstein, Emma Lazarus). They can research their impact using resources from the site and create a short podcast using Spotify for Podcasters, reviewed here or video using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here. Students can also interview other students, as if they were that historical figure. Students can explore Jewish contributions to literature, science, politics, and civil rights and create digital slides with Visme, reviewed here or Genially, reviewed here highlighting key figures, inventions, or cultural traditions.Rise and Fall of the Mali Empire - BioGreat TV
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.