458 history-culture-americas results | sort by:
African American Activists of the 20th Century - Library of Congress
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): 20th century (171), african american (131), black history (132), civil rights (224), martin luther king (42)
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.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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Kokoro: The Story of Sacramento's Lost Japantown - Google Arts and Culture
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): japan (62), japanese (54), photography (136)
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.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Indomitable: The Tommy Kono Story - Google Arts and Culture
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): cultures (298), japanese (54), religions (120), sports (90)
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.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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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.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ancient Classic Maya Music - MexicoLore
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): mayans (31), mexico (68), musical instruments (63)
In the Classroom
Students can research and identify different Maya musical instruments (drums, whistles, ocarinas, rattles). They can listen to recordings of similar instruments and discuss their sounds and possible uses. Students can make simple versions of Maya-style instruments using household materials (clay whistles, bottle maracas). Students can also explore how traditional Maya music has influenced modern music in Mexico and Central America. They can also research contemporary Maya communities still using ancient instruments and present their findings through a short slideshow using Google Slides reviewed here, a video using Vmaker, reviewed here, or a poster. Working in small groups, students can create a short musical performance inspired by Maya music. They can use simple percussion instruments, vocals, or even body percussion to replicate rhythmic patterns that might have been used in Maya ceremonies.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Writings of Ancient Maya - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
4 to 8This site includes advertising.
In the Classroom
Provide students with a chart of Mayan glyphs and their meanings. Then, give them a short "coded" message using real Mayan glyphs and challenge them to decode it. Doing this introduces them to the complexity of the Mayan writing system in a fun, interactive way. Hide "glyphs" around the classroom or school and have students work in teams to "excavate" and analyze their findings. They must hypothesize what the symbols might mean based on context clues and prior knowledge, like real archaeologists decoding ancient texts. In small groups or individually, students can create a mini "Maya codex" by folding paper in accordion style and illustrating a short story using glyphs and pictures. They can write a key to explain their symbols, like archaeologists do when deciphering ancient texts!Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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What Life Was Like As An Incan - Nutty Productions
Grades
5 to 8tag(s): south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can write a story about what they learned in the video by creating a simple blog post using Telegra.ph reviewed here. This site does not require any registration. Students can also ToonyTool, reviewed here to create single-frame cartoons about the video.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Andean Music, the Music of the Incas - Discover Peru
Grades
5 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): musical instruments (63), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can recreate the musical instruments used by the Incan civilization. Students can find Incan music to listen to and compare and contrast with another civilization using Figma reviewed here. Students can record the music on Acast reviewed here to deconstruct the instruments and match them to the sounds in the songs.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Native Knowledge 360: The Meaning of Innovation - Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
Grades
5 to 8tag(s): inquiry (38), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can use History in Motion reviewed here to create their own Inca timeline. Students can compare and contrast the innovation of the Incan civilizations to other civilizations using Google Drawings reviewed here. Finally, students can use Padlet reviewed here to post facts that they learned.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Teachers- Holocaust Museum Houston - Holocaust Museum Houston
Grades
K to 12tag(s): critical thinking (193), ebooks (49), empathy (72), holocaust (42), immigrants (50), immigration (86), jews (65), professional development (302), religions (120)
In the Classroom
Using the museum's digital artifact collection, students can select an item (for example, a diary, identification card, or photograph) and analyze its significance. Then they can write a short reflection or narrative from the perspective of the artifact's owner. Students can examine examples of Nazi propaganda versus resistance writings (e.g., underground newspapers, speeches, or poems). They then create their counter-propaganda messages promoting human rights and resilience. Students research a current human rights issue and compare it to lessons learned from the Holocaust. They then design a "Take Action" campaign, including posters, social media posts, or letters advocating for change. Posters and social media templates can be found on Canva Edu, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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9 Jewish American Heritage Month Activities for Children - Britt Hawthorne
Grades
K to 8tag(s): blogs (82), crafts (104), cross cultural understanding (175), cultures (298), identity (44), immigrants (50), immigration (86), jews (65), religions (120)
In the Classroom
Contact local community centers or synagogues in nearby cities to ask about planned events or programs for Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). Have students read books and watch movies that highlight Jewish American experiences. They can present their thoughts through a podcast using Adobe Podcast reviewed here or a slide presentation using Google Slides, reviewed here. Introduce students to Tikkun Olam (the Jewish concept of repairing the world). As a class, brainstorm and complete a community service project, such as writing letters to elders, organizing a classroom donation drive, or creating kindness posters for the school.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Jews & the Arts:10 Innovators - PBS
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): artists (106), composers (22), cultures (298), famous people (40), immigrants (50), jews (65), religions (120)
In the Classroom
Students can create posters or digital slides using Canva Edu, reviewed here showcasing an artist's biography, artwork, and impact. Display the projects around the classroom, and have students walk around the room in small groups to learn from each other. Students select one artist from the list, research their life and work, and present their findings to the class. They can use multimedia, such as images of the artist's work or short video clips with Vmaker, reviewed here to make their presentation more engaging. After learning about one of the artists, students can create their own piece of artwork, whether it's visual, musical, or a poem, inspired by the themes or styles of the artist they researched. They can present their work to the class and explain the influences they drew upon.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Inca Empire for Kids: Myths, Legends, and Stories - Mr. Donn
Grades
3 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): myths and legends (44)
In the Classroom
Students can use Figma reviewed here to compare and contrast myths from the Inca civilization to others. Students can use Padlet reviewed here to display what they learned about the Incan civilization after reading one of the myths. Finally, students can use Free Screen Recorder Online reviewed here to re-create a myth and share it on their screen or by recording themselves.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Inca Science, Innovation, and Technology - History's Histories
Grades
5 to 9tag(s): architecture (82), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can use Padlet reviewed here to post information that they learned. Students can use Google My Maps reviewed here to visit the location. Finally, students can use Book Creator reviewed here to create a book about the Incan civilization.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Ghosts of Machu Picchu 2 - PBS Nova
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): climate (99), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can research more about the ice mummies and how the climate affected their melting. Students can use MyLens reviewed here to document key moments/important milestones in the history of ice mummies. Finally, students can use Google My Maps reviewed here to virtually visit the location.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Peru's Machu Picchu - Ministry of Culture
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): cultures (298), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can go on the virtual tour to view the museum and use Padlet reviewed here to describe the art that was seen. Students can use WordClouds reviewed here to create a word cloud of features that they notice in the artwork.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Machu Picchu: Unveiling the Mystery of the Inca - Carol P. Merriman
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): cultures (298), south america (79)
In the Classroom
Students can complete the ready-to-go lessons that are included in the unit. Students can demonstrate what they have learned by creating a short explainer video using Adobe Express Video Maker reviewed here. Students can visit the area using Google My Maps reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Inca Exhibition - Google Arts & Culture
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): art history (110)
In the Classroom
Students can use Figma reviewed here to compare and contrast Incan art to other civilizations' art. Students can virtually visit other museums that host Incan art. Finally, research the famous people who are featured in the artwork. Students can create a project showing what they have learned using a tool such as Telegra.ph reviewed here, which allows you to create quick blog posts (with no log-in necessary).Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Who Are American Jews? - Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): cultures (298), diversity (57), identity (44), immigrants (50), immigration (86), jews (65), perspective (33)
In the Classroom
After reading the Facing History & Ourselves section on Jewish identity, students can create a word cloud using Aha Slides, reviewed here using words that describe their own identities. Have them compare their results with the key aspects of Jewish American identity. Students can analyze movies, TV shows, or literature that feature Jewish characters or themes. They can discuss how Jewish identity is represented, compare portrayals to real-life perspectives from the website, and present their findings in a class discussion or written analysis. After reading the Jews of Color Initiative report, students compare the experiences of Jews of Color with broader Jewish American experiences. They can create a Venn diagram on paper or using Venn Diagram Creator, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Jewish Americans - The Jewish American Project
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): cultures (298), immigrants (50), immigration (86), jews (65)
In the Classroom
Have students create a collaborative digital using Timeline, reviewed here or Timeline Graphics Timeline Maker, reviewed here or a physical timeline tracing key events from The Jewish Americans PBS series. They can add images, quotes, and reflections to make historical moments more meaningful. Students can research and present a personal or family immigration story (or a historical immigrant's journey) through a short video using Adobe Express Video Maker, reviewed here, podcast with Buzzsprout reviewed here, or written narrative. If clips from The Jewish Americans series are available, students can watch, take notes, and respond to guiding questions. They can discuss themes like identity, discrimination, and resilience in small groups or write a reflective journal entry.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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