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Asian Americans - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): asia (124), civil rights (216), identity (33), immigrants (41), immigration (77), japan (60), japanese (52), politics (119), racism (81), railroads (15)
In the Classroom
After watching a video on Asian American identity, students can create a digital or paper collage representing identity, heritage, and belonging using images, symbols, and quotes from the documentary. Digital collages can be made using PhotoCollage reviewed here or Photo Joiner reviewed here. Inspired by the personal narratives in the collection, have students interview a family member or community elder about their immigration story or cultural heritage and create a short podcast episode using Buzzsprout reviewed here or Podbean reviewed here. Students can work in groups to create an interactive timeline of key historical events from the collection with Timeline reviewed here or Timelinely, reviewed here, adding images, descriptions, and reflections on how these events shaped Asian American experiences.Standing Together - SmithsonianAPA
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artists (87), asia (124), cultures (206), japan (60), japanese (52), multimedia (54), poetry (196), virtual field trips (132)
In the Classroom
Have students explore APAC's digital exhibitions, such as We Are Here or A Day in the Queer Life of Asian Pacific America. Students can reflect on how artists express identity and create artwork representing their cultural heritage or personal identity. Using the "We Are Not a Stereotype" video series, students can watch a selected video and discuss how stereotypes impact Asian Pacific American communities. They can then create an awareness poster or infographic using Canva Infographic Creator reviewed here debunking a common stereotype. Ask students to research key moments in Asian Pacific American history using APAC's resources and create a visual timeline digitally using a resource such as Time Graphics Timeline Maker reviewed here that highlights significant events, figures, and contributions. Select a book from APAC's Learning Together recommendations to share with students or assign small groups different books, and have them present key themes, historical context, and connections to their own experiences or current events.AAPI History Hub - The Asian American Foundation
Grades
K to 12tag(s): asia (124), biographies (95), courts (23), cultures (206), diversity (42), famous people (21), japan (60), japanese (52), scientists (69), women (152)
In the Classroom
Students can work in groups to create a physical or digital timeline using Timelinely reviewed here or Timeline Infographic Templates reviewed here highlighting significant AAPI events, movements, and contributions. Assign students an AAPI figure or event to research and present via a short podcast using Buzzsprout reviewed here or video using Adobe Express Video Maker reviewed here. Print or display images and short bios of key AAPI historical figures from the site. Have students walk around, take notes, and discuss whose contributions they find most inspiring. Alternatively, create a digital gallery walk using the gallery walk template available in Padlet, reviewed here.Ancient Ghana, Mali, and Songhay: Cluster Web Activity - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): africa (170), cultures (206), politics (119), worksheets (71)
In the Classroom
Divide students into groups representing different West African empires. Give each group specific trade goods (gold, salt, ivory, etc.) and have them negotiate and "trade" with each other, simulating the trans-Saharan trade routes. Students can create annotated maps showing the locations of Ghana, Mali, and Songhay, major trade routes, and key cities like Timbuktu and Gao. Have them use MapHub reviewed here or ePubEditor reviewed here and add visuals and summaries to their maps. Assign students to research and compare the leadership styles of Sundiata Keita, Mansa Musa, and Sunni Ali. They can present their findings through a podcast-style discussion using Adobe Podcast, reviewed here or Buzzsprout reviewed here.Arteater - Arteater
Grades
K to 12In the Classroom
Create animated images for students to include with any presentation. Have younger students use a three-frame loop to demonstrate the stages of plant growth or steps in a math problem, while older students can use the six- or nine-frame loop to include more details. Include animated images in presentations made with Sway reviewed here or in digital books made using Book Creator reviewed here. Ask tech-savvy students to create video explainers to use the more advanced templates using Free Screen Recorder Online reviewed here, then include the videos on your class website or LMS for students to access anytime.Culturally Mindful Connection Assessment - Yourway Learning
Grades
K to 12tag(s): african american (119), artificial intelligence (186), cross cultural understanding (176), multilingual (78), student-centered (8), Teacher Utilities (203)
In the Classroom
Although this tool provides feedback to support Black students in the classroom, it is also valuable to generate specific ideas for implementing an action plan to support and include students of all cultures within the school community. Extend this tool's ideas using the request changes feature to ask for more specific information. For example, if the suggestion includes establishing structured peer support networks, ask for specific ideas and examples on how to do this for your grade level. Share the ideas with your administrators and grade-level peers as you consider ways to implement your plans. Consider using an organizational tool such as Milanote reviewed here to collaborate, save, and share your ideas and resources.Culturally Responsive Teaching - Yourway Learning
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (186), cross cultural understanding (176), racism (81), Teacher Utilities (203), teaching strategies (52)
In the Classroom
Use this AI generator to find inclusive teaching ideas for any lesson in just seconds. Ask for ideas to incorporate a student's culture into activities or integrate cultural learning activities across all subject areas. For example, when learning about European countries, find activities to include with science, math, and writing assignments. Make a new student feel at home by integrating ideas from their culture into reading and writing projects. Develop critical thinking skills by incorporating inquiry thinking and suggested activities into your current lessons. As a final project, ask student groups to create digital books using Book Creator reviewed here using images and descriptions that reflect a multicultural understanding of their learning activities.Student Feedback - Yourway Learning
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (186), assessment (146), feedback (13), writing (327)
In the Classroom
Use this tool to gather quick feedback for student writing activities and share it with students as part of their editing and revision process. Share a link to this tool on your class website or newsletter for students to use as a helpful tool to improve their writing before submitting their final draft. Use the feedback provided to guide your writing instruction; for example, if many students need to improve their work by adding specific examples, use this information to develop additional lessons to teach this skill. Use Google Docs or Microsoft Word for students to track and share writing revisions. For example, ask students to begin writing projects in Google Docs. After sharing their work, use Student Feedback to analyze the work based on your criteria, then share the feedback portion with the student. Ask the student to highlight areas that need improvement, then use that information as a starting point to revise the text below the original text. When finished, ask the student to write a short reflective piece on methods to improve their writing. This method lets you view each writing process step as a reflective activity.SEL Lesson Planner - Yourway Learning
Grades
K to 12tag(s): artificial intelligence (186), social and emotional learning (107), Teacher Utilities (203)
In the Classroom
Save this lesson generator for many different classroom uses. Create lessons to build social-emotional learning skills that address the needs of your students or incorporate SEL thinking processes into lessons that require students to understand different perspectives, such as the civil rights movement or the environmental impacts of pollution. Take time to develop the prompt for the final box to include specific information for the type of lesson to create, teaching frameworks to include, technology to incorporate, and consideration of thinking routines. For example, use a prompt such as "the civil rights movement of the 1960s, include five station rotation activities; one should be technology-based" to generate a SEL lesson. Consider adding Thinking Routines, reviewed here that encourages students to use perspective to consider others' thoughts, experiences, and feelings.Edge Features:
Premium version (not free) includes additional features or storage
Products can be shared by URL
Includes teacher tools for registering and/or monitoring students
The Empire of Mali- The Twang of a Bow - Extra History
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): africa (170)
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.Mali Lesson Plans - Virginia Department of Education
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): africa (170), 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.Ghosts of Machu Picchu - PBS NOVA
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): archeology (30), 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 (206), religions (108), 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.African American Activists of the 20th Century - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): african american (119), black history (134), civil rights (216), 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.Honoring Memorial Day In The Classroom - Congressional Medal of Honor Society
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): holidays (193), memorial day (18)
In the Classroom
Show one of the short videos featuring a Medal of Honor recipient (like Florent Groberg or William Swenson) from the Memorial Day resource page. Have students identify traits such as courage, sacrifice, or integrity shown in the story and discuss how those values connect to Memorial Day. Use the "Honoring Memorial Day" lesson plan to have students write letters to veterans or active-duty service members. Provide sentence starters or prompts from the site to help guide reflection and expression of appreciation. After learning about a recipient, have students design a poster that represents a core value they demonstrated (ex., bravery, loyalty). Encourage the use of symbols, quotes, and imagery. These can be displayed in a Memorial Day gallery walk.Memorial Day in the Classroom: Resources for Teachers - Edutopia
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): memorial day (18), multimedia (54), virtual field trips (132), world war 1 (79)
In the Classroom
Watch a short History Channel video about Memorial Day (linked in the article). Then have students complete a quick-write on what they learned and how the holiday connects to their lives. Provide students with a set of facts from Time's article "7 Things You Didn't Know About Memorial Day." Have students highlight surprising or meaningful facts and create a mini "Did You Know?" classroom wall display. You can also create a virtual wall using Padlet, reviewed here for students to share what they found most meaningful. After learning about the purpose of Memorial Day, students can design a poster that honors the military. It may include symbols (like poppies or flags), quotes, and a short message of gratitude. This activity can also be done as a slideshow presentation using Google Slides reviewed here.Memorial Day 2025: Facts, Meaning & Traditions - History.com
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): civil war (140), flags (20), holidays (193), memorial day (18)
In the Classroom
After reading or summarizing the article, have students create a T-chart comparing the original purpose of Memorial Day (Decoration Day) with how it is celebrated today. Assign students to create a timeline using Time Graphics Timeline Maker reviewed here or Timeline reviewed here of key events mentioned in the article, such as the end of the Civil War, the first Decoration Day, and the 1971 federal holiday designation. Students can use the article to write or illustrate a simple brochure or one-pager to teach younger grades about the history and importance of Memorial Day. They can use Canva Infographic Creator reviewed here to create it digitally.Memorial Day Lesson Plans and Activities - Education World
Grades
K to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): critical thinking (135), memorial day (18)
In the Classroom
Have students create miniature parade floats inside shoeboxes (dioramas) to honor different U.S. wars or military branches. Assign students to write short essays or thank-you notes to veterans, then post them on a classroom "Wall of Peace." Have students use real data to create bar graphs showing the number of casualties in major U.S. wars. The graphs can be created digitally using ClassTools reviewed here.CTRL-F's Fact-Checking Tools -- Video 2: Looking up Claims and Website Owners - CTRL-F's Fact-Checking Tools -- Video 2: Looking up Claims and W
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): digital citizenship (89), digital literacy (9)
In the Classroom
Students can use the tips and tricks to evaluate websites. They can use Padlet, reviewed here to share the websites and evaluation. Students can use Adobe Podcast reviewed here to create public service announcements about the dangers of fake websites. Students can use Figma, reviewed here to compare and contrast websites.How This Film Erased Asian-Americans From Their Own Story - PBS Origins
Grades
9 to 12This site includes advertising.