Celebrate the rich tapestry of New Year traditions with the Wing Luke Museum's "New Years All Round" curriculum--a vibrant resource designed to bring multicultural learning into K-3 classrooms. This engaging program offers downloadable activity packets that delve into New Year celebrations from various Asian and Pacific Islander communities, including Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Lao, Hmong, and Khmer cultures. Each packet features first-person stories, oral histories, folk tales, recipes, crafts, and dance activities, providing students with a hands-on exploration of cultural heritage.

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The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) Education Resources website offers a wealth of materials for teaching about Japanese American history, culture, and civil rights. Educators can access lesson plans, digital exhibits, primary sources, and interactive activities that explore topics such as immigration, incarceration during World War II, and contributions to American society. These resources help students engage with history through storytelling, critical thinking, and discussions on civil liberties, making them valuable for social studies, history, and civics classrooms. If your district blocks YouTube, then the videos may not be viewable.

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Discover a rich collection of historical photographs and illustrations showcasing influential African American activists throughout history. Each image is clickable, allowing you to explore detailed descriptions, historical context, and related resources to understand better these prominent figures and their contributions to social justice. This resource is an excellent visual tool for educators teaching African American history and the Civil Rights movement.

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As Memorial Day approaches, educators have a unique opportunity to dive into the holiday's rich history and significance with their students. "Memorial Day in the Classroom: Resources for Teachers" offers a comprehensive collection of resources to facilitate meaningful discussions and activities surrounding this important day. The article provides a diverse array of materials suitable for various grade levels, aiming to deepen students' understanding of Memorial Day. The article features multimedia resources like the History Channel's brief video on the holiday's origins and Time's "7 Things You Didn't Know About Memorial Day," which can serve as engaging conversation starters. For interactive learning, virtual tours of institutions such as the National Museum of the Marine Corps and the National World War I Museum offer immersive experiences. Additionally, the article links to structured lesson plans from reputable sources like the National Education Association and TeachingHistory.org, catering to elementary through high school students.
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Kokoro: The Story of Sacramento's Lost Japantown is based on a 2017 exhibition at the California Museum. The collection of photos explores a now-vanished and mostly forgotten neighborhood, which was once the fourth-largest Japantown in the nation. Some of the photographs featured allow you to zoom in and explore. The photographs start in the 1900s with Early Japan and span to forced removal between 1942-1945, post-war Japantown from 1945-1959, and redevelopment from 1955-1965. The site ends with Japanese notables.

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Discover an interactive digital lesson that explores how the Inka Empire engineered a 25,000-mile road network across challenging Andean terrain without the use of wheels or metal tools. The lesson incorporates maps, videos, historical illustrations, and inquiry-based activities to examine Inka innovations in transportation, agriculture, and water management. It also highlights how Indigenous communities continue to use and preserve these technologies today.

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The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian website features "Children of the Sun," a creation story from the Inca tradition. This illustrated, child-friendly resource shares how the Inca believed the first people were sent by the sun god to bring order and knowledge to the world. Presented as part of the "Inka Road" exhibit, the story emphasizes cultural values such as leadership, unity, and connection to nature.

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The "Ruth Bader Ginsburg for Kids" video provides an engaging and accessible overview of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's life, highlighting her perseverance, dedication to education, and advocacy for gender equality. Teachers can use the video in the classroom to introduce students to important themes such as resilience, breaking barriers, and social justice. The video's storytelling approach makes it ideal for sparking discussions about historical gender discrimination, the role of the Supreme Court, and how individuals can create change. Incorporate the video into lessons on influential women in history, civic engagement, or career exploration. As a follow-up activity, students can reflect on challenges they have faced, research other trailblazers, or discuss ways to promote fairness and equality in their communities. If your district blocks YouTube, then the video may not be viewable.
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The Holocaust Museum Houston's Educators page provides a comprehensive collection of resources tailored for teachers at both elementary and secondary levels. It offers specialized lesson plans, classroom activities, and professional development opportunities to enhance Holocaust education. These materials are designed to support educators in delivering accurate and engaging content about the Holocaust, fostering critical thinking and empathy among students. Additionally, the museum provides contact information and avenues for further assistance, ensuring educators can access the support they need. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

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Peru's Machu Picchu site offers a virtual tour of Museo de Sitio and a link to Machu Picchu viewed through the eyes of Fernando Astete. The site can be translated into Spanish and French.

tag(s): cultures (226), south america (77)

The Google Arts & Culture "Inca Exhibition" offers an interactive and visually rich exploration of the Inca civilization, ideal for upper elementary through high school students. Through curated images, artifacts, and concise text, the exhibition covers key aspects of Inca life, including architecture, engineering, religion, and societal structure. Students can virtually explore items like Inca textiles, tools, and ruins, making it a powerful tool for visual and inquiry-based learning.

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Share this site with your students that offers a clear overview of the Kingdom of Kush, highlighting its emergence as a significant civilization in the Nile River Valley. It discusses Kush's expansion over regions of present-day Sudan and its period of ruling Egypt for over a century. The resource is suitable for middle-grade students, offering an accessible introduction to the history and influence of Kush in ancient Africa.
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The "Who Are American Jews?" section on the Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) website offers educators valuable resources to explore the multifaceted nature of Jewish identity in the United States. It includes materials such as Facing History & Ourselves' insights into Jewish identity, Pew Research Center's "10 Key Findings About Jewish Americans," and the "Perspectives and Lived Experiences of Jews of Color" report by the Jews of Color Initiative. These resources provide a comprehensive understanding of the diversity within the American Jewish community, making them ideal for classroom discussions on cultural identity and diversity.

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The Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM) Toolkit, provided by the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, offers educators a variety of downloadable resources to celebrate and raise awareness of JAHM each May. The toolkit includes social media posts, posters, a resource guide, and logos. Additionally, companion resources are available for the poster series featuring notable Jewish Americans. Educators seeking professional development opportunities and further teaching materials can find them through the toolkit. For specific needs, the JAHM team is available year-round to assist schools and organizations in finding appropriate resources.

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The NYU American Jewish History research guide provides a curated collection of primary sources, including historical documents, newspapers, photographs, and archival materials related to Jewish American history. This resource is ideal for teachers looking to incorporate authentic historical evidence into their lessons, helping students analyze Jewish immigration, cultural contributions, and civil rights efforts. With links to digital archives and research databases, this guide supports inquiry-based learning and critical thinking in middle and high school social studies, history, and civics classes.

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The PBS Jewish Americans website provides educational resources exploring Jewish history, culture, and contributions in the United States. It includes lesson plans, discussion guides, and primary source materials that help teachers integrate Jewish American experiences into their curriculum. The site covers topics such as immigration, civil rights, and notable Jewish figures, making it a valuable tool for fostering historical understanding and cultural appreciation in the classroom.

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The Getty Museum's Art & Language Arts curriculum offers free, high-quality resources that integrate visual art with reading, writing, listening, and speaking activities. Designed especially for elementary classrooms, the lessons encourage students to closely observe artworks, build descriptive language skills, and express themselves creatively. With ready-to-use plans, discussion prompts, and interdisciplinary project ideas, this site helps teachers make strong connections between literacy and the visual arts while fostering critical thinking and imagination. All materials are easy to access and align well with English Language Arts and Visual Arts standards.

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The Getty Museum's Art & Architecture curriculum offers a rich collection of free resources designed to help teachers introduce students to key concepts in art history, architecture, and design. Through hands-on lessons, students explore how artists and architects use elements like form, function, and materials to shape the world around us. The site provides detailed lesson plans, discussion prompts, and activities that connect visual arts with history, math, and science standards. These resources encourage critical thinking, creativity, and deeper appreciation of art and built environments.

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The Library of Congress's "Dwight D. Eisenhower Research Guide" offers educators a comprehensive introduction to the life, leadership, and legacy of the 34th U.S. President. This site provides curated primary sources--including photographs, speeches, and letters--organized into categories like military career, presidency, and personal life. Teachers can use this guide to support lessons on World War II, Cold War diplomacy, or mid-20th-century U.S. history, making it a valuable resource for helping students analyze historical documents and better understand Eisenhower's impact on American and global event.

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The Smithsonian Institution website is a valuable resource for educators, offering access to a vast collection of digital exhibitions, lesson plans, and interactive learning tools. Teachers can explore history, science, art, and culture topics through virtual tours, online activities, and curated educational materials from Smithsonian museums, research centers, and libraries. The site includes resources for all grade levels, including printable worksheets, videos, and inquiry-based lesson plans designed to engage students in critical thinking and discovery. It is an excellent tool for supplementing classroom instruction with high-quality, museum-based learning experiences. The videos are hosted on YouTube. If your district blocks YouTube, then they may not be viewable.

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