Folklife Resources for Educators
Materials Related to Material cultureThere are 24 titles in this list.
Cerámica y Cultura: The Story of Spanish and Mexican Mayólica
by Museum of International Folk Art http://www.moifa.org/eventsedu/education/teachersguide.pdf
A teacher resource guide for grades K-12, created in 2003, which details the history and cultural background of Spanish and Mexican mayólica ceramic pottery. It was developed in conjunction with a traveling exhibition of the same name, which opened at the Museum of International Folk Art in 2002. The guide presents materials for educators to use in introducing students to forms and functions of mayólica ceramic pieces as a way to show how to study culture through the examination of objects and as a point of departure for developing their own creative expression. It includes background information on mayólica for incorporation into classroom lesson plans, questions for discussion, and student activities related to calligraphy, design-making, ceramic tiles, and other projects. (50 p. PDF)
| Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Cultural relations; Spain--Social life and customs; Crafts; Pottery; Folk art; Ethnic arts; Material culture; Mexico--Social life and customs; Decorative arts
Geographic locations: Spain; Mexico; General |
Sponsoring Organization: Museum of International Folk Art PO Box 2087 Santa Fe NM 87504-2087
(505) 476-1200 http://www.moifa.org/
Crossroads of the Heart: Creativity and Tradition in Mississippi
by Mississippi Arts Commission http://www.arts.state.ms.us/crossroads/main.html
Educational website that profiles community-based Mississippi traditional artists and musicians. It includes a teacher's guide with background on the traditions described, a glossary of terms, student activities, and a resource guide for additional materials and websites. The site is organized into five sections: "Mississippi Music" (blues, gospel, fiddling, and sacred harp singing); "Handmade Objects" (Choctaw basketry, wood carving, pottery, and pine needle basketry); "Maritime Traditions" (boatbuilding, netmaking, Vietnamese fishing and boatbuilding, and model boatbuilding); "Mississippi Quilting" (quilter Hystercine Rankin, Crossroads Quilters, and quilter Elaine Carter); and "Mississippi Narrative" (storytelling, church oratory, and fiction). Each artistic form highlighted includes streaming audio of interviews and musical performances or photos documenting the traditional form. For upper elementary and middle school.
| Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Performing Arts; Music; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Audio recordings; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Decorative arts; Crafts; Choctaw Indians; Wood-carving; Basket making; Fiddle tunes; Mississippi--Social life and customs; Folk art; Oral tradition; Quiltmakers; Music; Blues (Music); Maritime culture; Material culture; Ethnic arts; Ethnic folklore; Quilting; African Americans; Vietnamese Americans; Gospel music; Shape-note singing; Boatbuilding; Fishing nets; Fishing; Storytelling; Needlework
Geographic locations: Mississippi |
Sponsoring Organization: Mississippi Arts Commission 501 North West Street, Suite 1101A Jackson MS 39201
(601) 359-6030 http://www.arts.state.ms.us/
Cultural Exchange: Jewish and Muslim Connections
by The Jewish Museum - New York http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/core/uploaded/pdfs/cultural_exchange.pdf
Curriculum guide designed to introduce middle and high school students to the dynamic cultural exchange that occurred between Jews and Muslims in medieval Spain. It also explores adaptations by Jews of motifs influenced by Muslim cultures in Turkey, Syria, Persia, Morocco, and Tunisia during the 19th and 20th centuries. Although the guide was created to prepare students for visiting the Jewish and Muslim Connections exhibit at the Jewish Museum, it can be used as a stand-alone resource. The materials focus on three subject areas: Cultural Folklore, Places of Worship, and Traditional Texts, each presented with historical background, suggested activities, and discussion questions. Individual themes and activities can be integrated into social studies, history, creative writing, geography, arts, and humanities curricula in the classroom. (28 p. PDF)
| Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Art and Culture; Geography; History and Social Studies; Language Arts |
| Resource Type: Activities; Lesson plans |
Language: English |
Subjects: Art; Islam; Cultural relations; Decoration and ornament; Jews; Muslims; Architecture; Material culture; Middle East--Social life and customs; Spain--Social life and customs; History; Asia--Social life and customs; Religious life and customs; Sacred space; Intercultural communication
Geographic locations: Turkey; Tunisia; Syria; Spain; Morocco; Iran; Africa, North |
Sponsoring Organization: Jewish Museum - New York 1109 5th Avenue at 92nd Street New York NY 10128
(212) 423-3225 http://www.thejewishmuseum.org/
Culturally-Based Curriculum Resources
by Alaska Native Knowledge Network http://ankn.uaf.edu/Resources/course/view.php?id=2
Culturally responsive curriculum resources for the study of Alaska native knowledge systems and ways of learning. Database includes units, lesson plans, activities, and background material for use in the K-12 classroom, geared primarily for use in the curriculum fields of math and science. The materials are created within a culturally aligned curriculum framework reflecting indigenous knowledge systems, and incorporate oral tradition, learned skills, traditional practice, folk medicine, and native ecological perspectives which make them valuable for application in social science and humanities curricula.
| Grade Level: K-2; 3-5; 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Science; Performing Arts; Music; Math; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Land use; Traditional medicine; Environmental sciences; Alaska--Social life and customs; Plants; Human ecology; Material culture; Indians of North America; Maritime culture; Oral tradition; Weather; Fishing; Animals
Geographic locations: Alaska |
Sponsoring Organization: Alaska Native Knowledge Network University of Alaska Fairbanks, PO Box 756730 Fairbanks AK 99775-6730
(907) 474-1902 http://ankn.uaf.edu/
Everyone Has Interesting Stuff: Teaching with Objects in the Classroom - Middle School
by Tenement Museum http://www.tenement.org/documents/lessonplans/web5_lessonplan_TeachingObjectsMiddleSchool.pdf
Lesson plan and activities for middle school grades to demonstrate how studying physical objects can help students learn about people, places, and the past. Appropriate for use with history and social studies curricula.
| Grade Level: 6-8 |
Curriculum: History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Material culture; Inquiry-based learning; History
Geographic locations: [No specific location] |
Sponsoring Organization: Lower East Side Tenement Museum 91 Orchard Street New York NY 10002
(212) 431-0233 http://www.tenement.org
Everyone Has Interesting Stuff: Teaching with Objects in the Classroom - Elementary School
by Tenement Museum http://www.tenement.org/documents/lessonplans/web5_lessonplan_TeachingObjectsElementary.pdf
Lesson plan and activities for elementary grades to discover how studying physical objects can reveal stories about the people who used them. Appropriate for use with history and social studies curricula.
| Grade Level: K-2; 3-5 |
Curriculum: History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: History; Material culture; Inquiry-based learning
Geographic locations: [No specific location] |
Sponsoring Organization: Lower East Side Tenement Museum 91 Orchard Street New York NY 10002
(212) 431-0233 http://www.tenement.org/
Everyone Has Interesting Stuff: Teaching with Objects in the Classroom - High School
by Tenement Museum http://www.tenement.org/documents/lessonplans/web5_lessonplan_TeachingObjectsHighSchool.pdf
Lesson plan and activities for high school students to demonstrate how studying physical objects can reveal stories about people's lives. Appropriate for use with history and social studies curricula.
| Grade Level: 9-12 |
Curriculum: Art and Culture; History and Social Studies |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Material culture; Inquiry-based learning; History
Geographic locations: [No specific location] |
Sponsoring Organization: Lower East Side Tenement Museum 91 Orchard Street New York NY 10002
(212) 431-0233 http://www.tenement.org/
Explore Culture Online
by Arizona State Museum http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/explore.shtml
Online educational activities, podcasts, videos, exhibitions, oral histories, databases, bibliographies, and multimedia resources created for the Arizona State Museum about their exhibits, collections, and programs related to the material culture of Southwest Native Americans. Includes cultural and archaeological topics such as masks, pottery, textiles, painting, and weaving from Northern Mexico, New Mexico, and Arizona. Can be used in the classroom.
| Grade Level: All ages; K-2; 3-5; 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Performing Arts; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Video recordings; Podcasts; Audio recordings; Activities |
Language: English; Spanish |
Subjects: Arizona--Social life and customs; Indians of North America; Painting; Tohono O'odham Indians; Hopi Indians; Archaeology; Pottery; Games; Weaving; Textile fabrics; Material culture; Masks; Navajo Indians; Mexico--Social life and customs; Crafts; New Mexico--Social life and customs
Geographic locations: New Mexico; Mexico; Arizona |
Sponsoring Organization: Arizona State Museum The University of Arizona Tucson AZ 85721-0026
(520) 621-6302 http://www.statemuseum.arizona.edu/
Folklife and Folk Art Education Resource Guide
by Fife Folklore Archives http://library.usu.edu/Folklo/edresources/index.html
Guide created in 1997 with lesson plans and activities related to teaching a general folklife and folk art curriculum for the upper elementary school grades. It also provides background on the diverse ethnic, occupational, and regional traditions of the state of Utah. Included in the guide are sample cultural surveys for fourth and fifth graders to use in doing fieldwork plus activities such as hosting a folklife fair. Some of the many traditional arts areas explored are cowboy poetry, children's folklore, occupational folklore, foodways, celebrations, and verbal folklore genres.
| Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8 |
Curriculum: Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Crafts; Folklore; Material culture; Utah--Social life and customs; Children--Folklore; Cowboys--Poetry; Oral tradition; Fieldwork (Educational method); Folk art; Folklore--Fieldwork; Occupations--Folklore; Foodways; Celebration
Geographic locations: Utah; General |
Sponsoring Organization: Fife Folklore Archives Utah State University Libraries Logan UT 84322-3000
(435) 797-2869 http://library.usu.edu/Folklo/index.html
God Given: Cultural Treasures of Armenia - Teacher's Guide
by Susan Eleutario http://www.ndstudies.org/media/prairie_artists_norik_astvatsaturov_god_given_cultural_treasures_of_armenia
Teacher's guide for "God Given : Cultural Treasures of Armenia," a documentary featuring the metal repoussé artistry and life experiences of Norik Astvatsaturov, formerly of Azerbaijan and currently living in North Dakota. The curriculum materials provide an opportunity for students to examine issues related to the geography, history, and culture of Armenia, as well as ethnic conflict, the plight of refugees, and the experience of being an immigrant in the United States. The video is approximately 10 minutes long and is available on the website. Lesson plans in the teacher's guide (16 p. PDF) have benchmarks and standards for grades 9-12 for the Visual Arts, Language Arts, and Social Studies.
| Grade Level: 9-12 |
Curriculum: Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture; Geography |
| Resource Type: Video recordings; Lesson plans |
Language: English |
Subjects: Immigrants; Ethnic groups; Emigration and immigration; Refugees; Decoration and ornament; North Dakota--Social life and customs; Armenia--Social life and customs; Material culture; Armenian Americans; Art; Artisans; Decorative arts; Metal-work; History; Geography
Geographic locations: North Dakota; Armenia |
Sponsoring Organization: North Dakota Council on the Arts 1600 E. Century Avenue, #6 Bismarck ND 58503-0649
(701) 328-7590 http://www.nd.gov/arts/
Iowa Folklife: Our People, Communities, and Traditions
by Iowa Arts Council http://www.uni.edu/iowaonline/folklife/intro/index.htm
Learning guide for middle and high school students plus elders in senior centers based on field documentation of Iowa traditional culture, communities, and groups done in preparation for the Festival of American Folklife and the Festival of Iowa Folklife, both held in 1996. The guide includes lesson plans with objectives, background, conceptual and hands-on activities, and handouts, arranged by subject matter: Social Studies, Language Arts, Music, and Art. Accompanying the lesson plans are activities with guidance on developing a community research archive, collecting field recordings, and creating exhibitions, festivals, and publications based on fieldwork done by students. On the site are two streamed videos for classroom viewing, streamed audio of a CD exemplifying a variety of Iowa traditional musical styles, and "Inherit Iowa," a senior citizen activity guide.
| Grade Level: All ages; 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Music; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Video recordings; Lesson plans; Audio recordings; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: European Americans; Scandinavian Americans; Crafts; Iowa--Social life and customs; Ethnic folklore; Festivals; Folklore--Fieldwork; Inquiry-based learning; Folk artists; Music; Foodways; Community life; Fieldwork (Educational method); Immigrants; Folk music; Holidays; German Americans; Czech Americans; Hmong Americans; African Americans; Mexican Americans; Occupations--Folklore; Material culture; Fishing; Maritime culture; Quilting; Decorative arts
Geographic locations: Iowa |
Sponsoring Organization: Folk & Traditional Arts Program Iowa Arts Council Des Moines IA 50319-0290
(515) 242-6195 http://www.iowaartscouncil.org/programs/folk-and-traditional-arts/resources.shtml
Other Organizations:
Iowa Arts Council 600 E. Locust Street Des Moines IA 50319-0290
(515) 281-6412 http://www.iowaartscouncil.org/
Learn NC
by UNC School of Education http://www.learnnc.org/
K-12 teaching and learning resources from the School of Education at the University of North Carolina. Includes lesson plans and learning materials (text and multimedia) on all curriculum areas for use by students independently or as part of classroom instruction. Resources can be browsed by grade level, subject area, and curriculum objective. Lesson plans include folklore, traditional culture, and many other topics. All lesson plans are aligned to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
| Grade Level: K-2; 3-5; 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Sports and Recreation; Science; Performing Arts; Music; Math; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Video recordings; Lesson plans; Audio recordings; Activities; Primary sources |
Language: English |
Subjects: Traditional medicine; Oral history; Music; Material culture; History; Foodways; Folklore; Folk art; Fieldwork (Educational method); Ethnic groups; Ethnic arts; Dance; Culture; Cultural geography; North Carolina--Social life and customs
Geographic locations: North Carolina; General |
Sponsoring Organization: LEARN North Carolina The University of North Carolina, School of Education Chapel Hill NC 27599-7216
(919) 962-8888 http://soe.unc.edu/
Louisiana Voices : An Educator's Guide to Exploring our Communities and Traditions
by Paddy Bowman, Sylvia Bienvenu, Maida Owens http://www.louisianavoices.org/edu_get_start.html
Comprehensive resource guide for K-12 educators on the folklife of Louisiana. Although written for Louisiana, lessons and activities are adaptable to any region. The guide contains forty two lessons and many activities in nine units, correlated to Louisiana Content Standards, particularly those in English Language Arts and Social Studies. Units include: 1) Defining Terms; 2) Classroom Applications of Fieldwork; 3) Discovering the Obvious; 4) The State of Our Lives; 5) Oral Traditions; 6) Louisiana's Musical Landscape; 7) Material Culture; 8) The Worlds of Work and Play; and 9) The Seasonal Round and the Cycle of Life. It includes over 1000 pages, some in PDF-format, and links to many essays, slide shows, video and audio clips, and other web resources.
| Grade Level: K-2; 3-5; 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Science; Music; Math; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English; French; Spanish |
Subjects: Interviewing; Play; Performance; Celebration; Seasons; Family--Folklore; Games; Place-based education; Inquiry-based learning; Folklore--Fieldwork; Folklore; Music; Foodways; Louisiana--Social life and customs; Oral tradition; Storytelling; Material culture; Occupations--Folklore; Rites of passage; Holidays; Crafts; Decorative arts
Geographic locations: Louisiana; General |
Sponsoring Organization: Louisiana Voices Louisiana Division of the Arts Baton Rouge LA 70804
(225) 342-8180 http://www.crt.state.la.us/arts/
Lucreaty Clark, White Oak Basket Maker
by State Library and Archives of Florida http://www.floridamemory.com/OnlineClassroom/lucreaty/
Lesson plans, photographs, and audio interviews with Lucreaty Clark, basket maker, about the history and practice of making white oak baskets. Correlated to Florida State Standards, the lesson plans were created for grades 6-8 in a Social Studies or Language Arts curriculum. The primary source materials in this educational unit belong to the State Library and Archives of Florida's Florida Folklife Collection, available on the Florida Memory Web site.
| Grade Level: 6-8 |
Curriculum: Language Arts; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Primary sources; Lesson plans; Audio recordings |
Language: English |
Subjects: Artisans; Women; Florida--Social life and customs; Material culture; African Americans; Basket making; Crafts
Geographic locations: Florida |
Sponsoring Organization: State Library and Archives of Florida 500 S. Bronough Street Tallahassee FL 32399-0250
(850) 245-6700 http://dlis.dos.state.fl.us/index.cfm
Other Organizations:
Florida Memory Project State Library and Archives of Florida Tallahassee FL 32399-0250
(850) 245-6700 http://www.floridamemory.com/
Masters of the Building Arts Activity Guide
by Betty Belanus, Marjorie Hunt http://www.folklife.si.edu/resources/pdf/BuildingArtsGuide.pdf
Adapted from a family activity guide to accompany the 2001 Smithsonian Folklife Festival program focused on the building arts and the artistry and skill of craftspersons. This guide offers activity suggestions for persons of all ages related to making stone walls, stained glass windows, and architectural terra cotta, and to working with ornamental ironwork, adobe, stone carving and masonry, and timber framing. (41 p. PDF)
| Grade Level: All ages |
Curriculum: Art and Culture; History and Social Studies |
| Resource Type: Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Artisans; Occupations--Folklore; Building trades; Material culture
Geographic locations: General |
Sponsoring Organization: Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Suite 2001 MRC 520 Washington DC 20024
(202) 633-6440 http://www.folklife.si.edu/
A Native Place
by National Museum of the American Indian http://www.nmai.si.edu/education/files/NMAI-TGDweb.pdf
Teaching Guide for grades 4-8 that celebrates the establishment of the Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall in Washington, DC and the cultures and achievements of American Indian peoples. Included in this guide are three lesson plans with activities: "A Place of Pride," "A Welcoming Spirit," and "The Peoples' Knowledge." Curriculum materials focus on issues of Native history, museums, cultural representation, worldview, beliefs, philosophy, and material culture. They also encourage an understanding of, and respect for the strength, richness, and diversity of Native cultures. The Teaching Guide meets national curriculum standards for Language Arts, U.S. History, Social Studies, Geography, Science Literacy, and Fine Arts/Visual Arts. (5 p. PDF)
| Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8 |
Curriculum: Geography; Science; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Culture; History; Museums--Curatorship; Material culture; Indians of North America
Geographic locations: United States |
Sponsoring Organization: National Museum of the American Indian Fourth Street & Independence Avenue, SW Washington DC 20560
(202) 633-6996 http://www.nmai.si.edu/
Other Organizations:
Scholastic, Inc.
(800) 724-6527 http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/home.jsp
Nebraska By Heart
by Nebraska Folklife Network http://www.nebraskafolklife.org/
A multidisciplinary instructional unit developed in 2007 for grades 6-8 designed to explore folk and traditional arts and folklife, generally and as they exist in Nebraska. The unit includes four lesson plans: 1) An Exploration of Folklife and Folk Arts; 2) Folk Arts and Folklife in Nebraska Culture; 3) Understanding the Folk Process; and 4) Reflecting on Folk Arts, Folklife, and Culture.
| Grade Level: 6-8 |
Curriculum: Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Nebraska--Social life and customs; Oral tradition; Material culture; Folk art; Folklore; Crafts
Geographic locations: Nebraska; General |
Sponsoring Organization: Nebraska Folklife Network 5620 Hunts Drive Lincoln Nebraska 68512
(404) 420-5442 http://www.nefolklife.org/
Oral Traditions
by Echo: Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations http://www.echospace.org/articles/127/sections/193
Curriculum resources for the study of Tlingit oral traditions for grades 5-8. The materials focus on the interconnections of story and dance in the Tlingit culture of Southeastern Alaska and include a video that features Tlingit oral tradition. Topics covered include how oral tradition tells us who we are, where we came from, and how it serves to communicate important cultural values. It also focuses on how the Tlingit people use art, song, dance, and storytelling to express their identity. Curriculum suggestions conform to National Standards for English Language Arts.
| Grade Level: 6-8 |
Curriculum: Performing Arts; Music; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Geography; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Video recordings; Lesson plans |
Language: English |
Subjects: Celebration; Tales; Dance; Music; Intercultural communication; Storytelling; Oral tradition; Alaska--Social life and customs; Tlingit Indians; Clothing and dress; Material culture; Indians of North America
Geographic locations: Alaska |
Sponsoring Organization: Echo: Education through Cultural and Historical Organizations
http://www.echospace.org/
Show-Me Traditions: An Educators Guide to Teaching Folk Arts and Folklife in Missouri Schools
by Eleutario, Susan http://maa.missouri.edu/mfap/articles/showme_new.pdf
Educational guide with eight lesson plans and accompanying activities for fourth and fifth grade students that introduces concepts of folk arts and folklife in general and Missouri traditional art forms and artists in specific. The guide is organized as follows: Section I: Defining Folk Arts and Folklife; Section II: Discovering Folk Arts in Everyday Life; and Section III: Folk Artists in Missouri. Background information is provided on Missouri traditional arts and artists from the fields of Bluegrass music, Colombian-American dance and costume, Ozark riverways and boats, Irish-American music and dance, cowboy and spoken word poetry, German-American bobbin lace making, Missouri fiddling and old-time dance, and African-American storytelling. Site includes links to audio and video recordings plus additional background resources. Missouri curriculum connections are noted for Communication Arts, Social Studies, Fine Arts, Music, and Physical Education. (56 p. PDF)
| Grade Level: 3-5 |
Curriculum: Sports and Recreation; Music; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Audio recordings; Activities; Video recordings; Primary sources |
Language: English |
Subjects: Fiddle tunes; Cowboys--Poetry; German Americans; Boats and boating; Fiddlers; Clothing and dress; Bluegrass music; Lace and lace making; Poetry; Ozark Mountains Region--Social life and customs; Storytelling; Folk music; Folk artists; Missouri--Social life and customs; Folklore; Folk art; Family--Folklore; Folk songs; Material culture; Celebration; Festivals; Dance; Legends; Oral tradition; Foodways; Community life; Place names; Colombian Americans; African Americans; Irish Americans; Interviewing; Names, Personal
Geographic locations: Ozark Mountains Region; Missouri |
Sponsoring Organization: Missouri Folk Arts Program 21 Parker Hall Columbia MO 65211-2330
(573) 882-6296 http://maa.missouri.edu/mfap/
Silk Road Encounters Education Kit
by Silk Road Project http://www.silkroadproject.org/Education/Resources/SilkRoadEncounters/tabid/339/Default.aspx
Teacher's guide (48 p. PDF) and sourcebook (48 p. PDF) that explore the diverse yet interrelated topics of trade, art, music, religion, history, and geography along the Silk Road to supplement classroom materials for students from elementary through high school. The teacher's guide has six lesson plans: 1) The Silk Roads Big Map; 2) Creating a Three-Dimensional Timeline; 3) Trading in the Silk Road Cities; 4) Belief Systems of the Silk Road; 5) Musical Innovation along the Silk Roads; and 6) Treasures of the Silk Roads.) Activities tiered for different educational levels accompany the lessons. A sourcebook provides background information for the lessons on the geography, history, belief systems, arts, music, and the travel of ideas and techniques along the Silk Road.
Sponsoring Organization: Silk Road Project 20 Westminster Street Providence RI 02903
(401) 427-6980 http://www.silkroadproject.org/tabid/36/default.aspx
The Spirit of Islam: Experiencing Islam Through Calligraphy
by Virtual Museum of Canada http://www.moa.ubc.ca/spiritofislam/resources/education_overview.html
Curriculum materials that introduce students to Islam and how it is perceived and stereotyped by exploring its philosophical and ethical background, its calligraphy, and the Muslim presence in Canada. The site includes six lesson plans with activities that allow students to gain an understanding of Islam and the role calligraphy plays in it. It also offers the outlines of a project designed to help students learn how to overcome cultural stereotypes. Included are links to a virtual exhibit about calligraphy, special spaces for prayer and Islamic learning, and significant objects in Islamic life.
| Grade Level: 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities; Primary sources |
Language: English |
Subjects: Cultural relations; Architecture; Sacred space; Muslims; Ethnicity; Cultural pluralism; Canada--Social life and customs; Calligraphy; Islam; Material culture; Intercultural communication
Geographic locations: Canada |
Sponsoring Organization: Virtual Museum of Canada 15 Eddy Street, 15-4-A Gatineau, Quebec, Canada K1A OM5
(819) 994-1200 http://www.museevirtuel-virtualmuseum.ca/index-eng.jsp
A Teacher's Guide to Kentucky Folklife
by Kentucky Historical Society http://www.history.ky.gov/pdf/Education/Folklife_Guide_Feb04.pdf
Teacher's guide to Kentucky folklife written in 2004 with lesson plans, student activities, and background essays. The guide has individual units on folklore in general and Kentucky folklife in the following areas: fieldwork, interviewing, folk art, foodways, occupational folklife, traditional music, and recreational folklife. The lessons can be used separately or together and are intended for use in the upper elementary and middle school classroom. (87 p. PDF)
| Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8 |
Curriculum: Music; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Folk music; Folk art; Occupations--Folklore; Kentucky--Social life and customs; Games; Music; Folklore--Fieldwork; Folklore; Interviewing; Material culture; Foodways; Crafts
Geographic locations: Kentucky; General |
Sponsoring Organization: Kentucky Historical Society 100 W. Broadway Frankfort KY 40601
(502) 564-1792 http://history.ky.gov/
Other Organizations:
Kentucky Arts Council 500 Mero Street, 21st Floor, CPT Frankfort KY 40601
(502) 564-3757 http://artscouncil.ky.gov/
Teaching Folklife: Educational Materials for Students and Teachers
by Hayden Roberts http://www.arts.state.tn.us/images/folklife/Teaching%20Folklife.pdf
This educational resource contains lesson plans designed to introduce teachers and students to a basic understanding of traditional culture in Tennessee. It is most useful for students in the 4th through 7th grades. The guide includes five lesson plans: I) Introduction to Traditional Culture; II) Storytelling and Oral History; III) Folk Arts and Crafts; IV) Traditional Music; and V) Foodways. The resource includes a glossary of folklife terms and readings brought together from a wide variety of sources on the topic of Tennessee traditional arts. Materials in the guide can be used in the classroom for teaching Language Arts, Music, Visual Arts, Social Studies, and Math.(179 p. PDF)
| Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8 |
Curriculum: Music; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture; Math |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans; Activities |
Language: English |
Subjects: Legends; Tales; Material culture; Tennessee--Social life and customs; Folklore; Oral history; Storytelling; Crafts; Folk art; Folk music; Music; Foodways; Fieldwork (Educational method); Oral tradition; Country music; Indians of North America; Blues (Music); Gospel music; Musical instruments; Dance
Geographic locations: Tennessee |
Sponsoring Organization: Tennessee Arts Commission Folklife Program 401 Charlotte Avenue Nashville TN 37243-0780
(615) 741-1701 http://www.tn.gov/arts/folklife.htm
Other Organizations:
Tennesee Arts Commission
http://www.arts.state.tn.us
Wisconsin Folks
by Wisconsin Arts Board http://arts.state.wi.us/static/folkdir/index.htm
Website for students, educators, and the general public featuring traditional artists, art forms, and cultures of Wisconsin. Includes background on regional and ethnic traditional crafts, foodways, music, and dance. Information on the site has content for 4th, 8th, and 12th grade themes in Social Studies, the Visual Arts, Music, Dance, English, Information and Technology Literacy, and Business, correlated to Wisconsin Model Academic Standards and Benchmarks. Also includes contact information for engaging Wisconsin traditional artists and performers for public and classroom presentations.
| Grade Level: 3-5; 6-8; 9-12 |
Curriculum: Music; Language Arts; History and Social Studies; Art and Culture |
| Resource Type: Lesson plans |
Language: English |
Subjects: Crafts; Foodways; Music; Dance; Wisconsin--Social life and customs; Ethnic folklore; Ethnic arts; Folk art; Geography; Material culture; Folk artists; Decorative arts
Geographic locations: Wisconsin |
Sponsoring Organization: Wisconsin Arts Board 101 E. Wilson Street Madison WI 53702
(608) 266-0190 http://artsboard.wisconsin.gov/static/
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