This book examines the cultural universal of religion and spirituality from a multicultural perspective and a time dimension. The text is written for juveniles and includes many color photographs. Chapters include: (1) "The Need to Believe"; (2) "The Americas"; (3) "Africa"; (4) "Europe and the Middle East"; (5) "Asia"; and (6) "Australia and the…

A rich artistic tradition developed in Mexico hundreds of years prior to the arrival of the Spanish. The indigenous people of Mexico created beautiful works of art that reflected their religious beliefs. Then the Spanish Conquest and colonization during the 1500s introduced Spanish beliefs and traditions to the region. This curriculum unit…

Marcus and Narcissa Whitman, from a settled area of upstate New York, arrived in Old Oregon Country (what is now eastern Washington) in 1836 to make a new home for themselves and their companions. This was also the land of the Cayuse Indians. This teacher's guide to the Whitman Mission Museum (Washington) is designed to develop an understanding of…

This book presents an ethnographic study of a school and community in East Africa. It focuses on the role school plays in the development of the children's identity and relationships to their parents and community, and in the development of the region. At issue here are the competing influences of Western modernity and the cultural traditions of…

These 12 lesson plans for third graders feature key questions that examine various social and cultural aspects of life in Israel and Jordan. For example, in Lesson No. 2, the key question is: What is it like to live in a kibbutz?; in Lesson No. 10, the key question is: What are the messages that Arab tales teach children? Each lesson provides…

This curriculum project focuses on ancient civilizations, especially the various cultures that have inhabited the territory that is now Jerusalem, Israel. The project gives objectives for students to aim for and outlines the following 4-part procedure: (1) Background and Preparation; (2) Archaeology; (3) Group Research Project; and (4) Jerusalem…

This book, the third volume in the NCTE High School Literature Series, explores the joys of reading and teaching the stories and poems of noted Mexican American author Sandra Cisneros. Already a fixture in many high school English classes, her works resonate with the challenges and promises of living in a multicultural society, and they appeal to…

Anne Frank's "The Diary of a Young Girl" is the most widely read text about the Holocaust, yet it represents only one example of the tragic consequences of the Nazi policy to eliminate the Jews of Europe during World War II. This casebook enriches Anne Frank's remarkable personal account with a variety of historical documents that…

This collection of lesson plans focuses on the geography and culture of several Asian countries and is intended to be used with students in grades 6-12. Lessons in the collection are: (1) "Keeping the Faith: Comparison of Major Religious Cultures in India, Indonesia, and Vietnam" (Glenda Sullivan); (2) "Namaste, Menyapa, Chao, Bon…

Teachers' beliefs related to teaching practices, knowledge, and social relations in and beyond the classroom were studied in urban schools serving African American children primarily. Two hundred forty-four teachers from six schools completed surveys about their beliefs. Of these teachers, 94% taught grades kindergarten through five, and 10%…

This activity book contains over 130 art ideas from around the world, combining the fun and creativity of art with the mysteries of history, the lure of geography, and the diversity of the cultures of the world. These projects allow children to explore the world through art with a process, not a product, approach to artistic outcome; the process…

This teaching packet serves as a unit by itself or as part of preparation unit for a visit to the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery to see the exhibition "Puja: Expressions of Hindu Devotion." Focusing on Hindu religious objects found in an art museum, the packet suggests connections between art and world studies themes. In addition, these…

Between the 1820s and 1950s, the ideology affecting education reform can be described in terms of morality (Protestantism), nationhood (republicanism), and productivity (capitalism). This paper traces the metamorphosis of the triad of values as it is reflected in the violence and teacher images portrayed in three novels: (1) "The Hoosier…

While leaders in India have been slower than other non-Western nations to encourage the sales of Western fast food products, signs of these foods are present in larger cities like Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. This unit of study is a series of lessons designed to introduce junior high school or high school students to various aspects of the…

Activities on behalf of Roma/Gypsies have always been an important part of the Council of Europe's minority protection policy. The topics discussed are how more training opportunities can be provided for young Roma people and other ways to support and promote their participation in society. This report on the long-term training course that the…