A lesson involving tape recorders and group discussions dealing with the implications of noise for the individual and society.'' (Author/SP)

This poetry workshop has students read Monica Gunning's poem about her childhood in Jamaica, create lists of what they want to know more about, search for and share the information, then find poems from other parts of the world. The Gunning poem and lists of resources are included. (SM)

This article offers guidelines for teachers on using African folktales to celebrate Black History Month, to explore the structure and content of folktales, to encourage receptivity to multicultural experiences, and to spark creativity in students. Discussion guidelines, suggestions for student-created folktale productions, and a resource list are…

Puppets provide simple, effective ways to connect social studies and language arts, promote cooperation, and teach about other cultures. The article describes how to make puppets and presents two elementary-level puppet activities. One teaches cultural values using puppets as storytellers; the other explains how to create a puppet play. (SM)

English-language learners, according to research, learn best through instruction that draws upon their strength in their first language. It is unlikely that any teacher would have knowledge of even a fraction of the languages that are spoken by students in American classrooms, particularly since some large school districts report as many as a…

Presents two elementary level activities designed to make math more meaningful with the help of technology. One activity involves learning about banking using computer spreadsheets and stock programs; the other uses computers and calculators to help students integrate mathematics into the study of world cultures. (SM)

Presents CyberHunt 3, an interactive, multicultural activity for the holiday season. Students visit a variety of web sites for facts and activities related to Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa. A CyberHunt reproducible has students write their answers to nine questions based on information they find at the different web sites. (SM)

Tips for teaching students about Native Americans include reading poems that lead to the study of certain tribes, studying the present day as well as the past, having Native Americans visit the classroom, reading culturally sensitive books on Native Americans, and acknowledging differences between tribes. (SM)

The article presents an illustrated page of poems for teachers to clip and post in recognition of Black History Month; three cross-curricular activities related to the poems; two reproducible activity pages on poetry and Black history; and a special author study to be shared with students. (SM)

Presents four elementary school crafts that celebrate the cultural heritage of people worldwide. Crafts are a universal means of cultural expression that provide opportunities to explore multicultural understanding. The article describes how to make Russian dolls, Hmong story cloths, Guatemalan hand puppets, and Haitian steel drum cutouts. (SM)

One way to give students a firsthand feel for other cultures is to turn them into sleuths who investigate authentic artifacts from various cultures. This article explains how one teacher borrows artifacts from a local museum, then creates a mystery to solve that provides hands-on learning. Suggests ideas to use instead of artifacts. (SM)

Describes how a Texas junior high teacher and her students developed their own database on influential Black Americans in observance of Black History Month. This database helps students appreciate Black history and strengthen critical thinking skills. A step-by-step plan for creating and using such a database is provided. (SM)

Multicultural books can make cultural awareness and appreciation an integral part of the classroom. This article examines various books that convey positive recognition of peoples' differences and similarities and that teach history, geography, nature, culture, problem solving, art, creativity, and race relations. (SM)

This K-3 social studies activity combines art and language arts with social studies skills and attitudes. Teachers use the old Japanese tradition of story cards to check students' comprehension, give them practice in oral communication, and develop their visual/spatial intelligence, all while teaching them about another culture. (SM)