AFRICA & AFRICAN AMERICANS
African Americans of the 20th Century
The materials in this Kit provide hours of fun learning about Black Americans primarily of the 20th century. Twenty-seven African-Americans who have made contributions in a variety of disciplines have been recreated on rubber stamps to make postcards, gifts or the Bingo and Lotto games, which are included in the Kit. Their lives and accomplishments can be studied using the study prints, books, historical time-line and biographical sketches.
Grades K-5. Price: $15 a week. 8-10 hours of activities.
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African Arts
Explore the traditional arts of music, textiles and beadwork common to sub-Saharan Africa. Each art form is presented through informative booklets, publications, objects and artifacts with labels.. The materials may be used as a "mini-museum" display, as the core of a learning center, as a series of lessons or a workshop. Children are encouraged to use the instruments -- the mbira, drum and rattles, play the Adi game and examine the cloth samples and beadwork.
Grades K-3. Price: $15 a week. 6-8 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Ancient Egypt
You can have your own classroom exhibit of Egyptian objects and artifacts. Samples of Egyptian writing, scarabs, jewelry, household items and wall fragments from ancient Egyptian structures can be used as display items and as part of your curriculum. Pictures depicting elements of Egyptian lifestyles and art can be used to gather more information about this ancient culture. The Teacher's Guide includes activity suggestions and background information.
Grades K-8. Price: $25 a week. 10-12 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Ghana Today
Straight from Ghana, this kit includes school uniforms, maps, lesson books, a Ghanaian flag, Kente cloth, books and a video to introduce students to life in modern Ghana. An extensive Teacher's guide provides background information and additional curriculum suggestions.
Grades K-5. Price: $25 a week. 12-15 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Happy Birthday, Dr.
King!
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a great American leader who had a vision of the future in which all people would enjoy freedom. This kit outlines Dr. King's role in the civil rights movement and encourages an appreciation of his life and work. Through an exploration of the rich ethnic heritage of African American people, students develop respect for this history and its contemporary legacy.
Grades K-5. Price: $15 a week. 6-8 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Kenyan Kids: An African
Childhood
An exciting way for students to learn about a Kenyan child's life. Objects from Kenya include school uniforms, toys, photographs, books and artwork to provide a glimpse of contemporary Kenyan childhood. Beautiful photograph packets of Baricho and Nairobi include curriculum materials and ideas. An extensive Teacher's Guide provides background information and additional curriculum suggestions.
Grades K-5. Price: $25 a week. 12-15 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is an annual African American celebration that begins on December 26 and lasts for seven days. It is based on African agricultural traditions and values. Kwanzaa is a time for African Americans to explore and celebrate their cultural roots. Read and listen to the story Imani's Gift at Kwanzaa and use the artifacts to hold a Kwanzaa celebration. Learn some Swahili words, the importance of the seven principles of Kwanzaa and play some African games.
Grades K-5. Price: $15 a week. 6-8 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Group Visits Information
The Boston Children’s Museum offers group visits in Social Studies for Grades 2 and up. Featuring: Boston Black: A City Connects; Self-Guided visits and seasonal drop-in activities. Please call (617) 426-6500 x405 or email groupvisits@bostonchildrensmuseum.org for more information.
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ASIA & ASIAN AMERICANS
Ancient China
This kits explores the life and times of ancient China from the beginnings of settled human activity to the time of the first emperor Qin Shi Huang-di around 221 BCE. The kit includes artifacts, classroom activities, books and audio material and while geared towards Social Studies, interdisciplinary collaboration among different departments such as Language Arts or Fine Arts is encouraged. An extensive teacher's guide explains the history and provides for further exploration.
Grades 2-8. Price: $25 a week. Over 20 hours of lessons & activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Chinese Celebrations
This kit is organized around three major traditional Chinese celebrations: Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. A variety of art and language activities help students connect the modern Chinese family to centuries old traditions. Students learn about the science and mythology of the Chinese lunar calendar, the animal zodiac signs, as well as engage in activities and exercises to compare other ethnic celebrations.
Grades K-5. Price: $25 a week. 12-15 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Chinese Games
This Kit introduces five popular games that were invented in China. The games range in difficulty from the simple game of "To Catch the Thief" to the more sophisticated games of "Go" and "Chinese Chess." The rules to these games, as well as the games of "Go-Bang" and "Tangram" are included in the Student's Guide. The Teacher's Guide includes some further instructions, sample games, and solutions. We have included all of the games and books for further reference.
Grades 4-8 Rental: $15 a week. 6-8 hours of activities.
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Chinese Shadow Puppets
This Kit provides an opportunity for students to see, touch and operate authentic hand-made shadow puppets from China. The puppets in this kit represent some of the principal characters from the Chinese classic "Journey to the West." Explore Chinese literature, learn about a revered traditional folk craft, make your own shadow puppets and produce your own puppet show.
Grades K-5. Price: $25 a week. 10-12 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Fine and Folk Arts of
China
Introducing students to some of the fine and folk arts of China will help them gain an appreciation of cultural values and an awareness of Chinese arts. Five areas are covered: the development of Chinese writing and books, calligraphy, painting, personal seals, and paper-cuts. Each of the lessons have activity projects, slides, objects for use and viewing, and background information. Writings and pictures by Wang Yani, a famous young Chinese painter, are included.
Grades K-5. Price: $25 a week. 12-15 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Japan: Getting Acquainted UPDATED!
Introduce your class to contemporary Japanese life through a variety of everyday objects, photographs and books. Daily artifacts of children's belongings, household items, clothing and food are explained in the Kit Guide. Children can compare items in their culture to what they find in the Kit.
Grades K-2. Price: $25 a week. 12-15 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Japanese and Chinese
Calligraphy
This Kit makes it possible for anyone to teach and learn about Japanese and Chinese calligraphy and to gain an understanding of how different cultures have devised visual symbols to convey ideas. Background information on both languages, character samples common to both languages, study prints, activity sheets and traditional writing utensils are included.
Grades K-5. Price: $15 a week. 6-8 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Japanese Children's
Day - Kodomono Hi
Kodomono Hi is a holiday that celebrates children. The Kit includes information, activity sheets and materials for children to create objects and play games traditional to Japanese Boys' and Girls' Day festivals. Kids can learn to use chopsticks, make a carp kite, try their hand at paper folding, or make a fish print. All the materials (except the fish!) are included.
Grades K-5. Price: $15 a week. 8-10 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Japanese Families
The emphasis in this Kit is the modern Japanese family and the roles of the family members. Each child takes on the role of a member of one of five families. Students learn about Japanese shoes, food and table manners, religions, clothes and flower arranging. Role cards, props, costumes, and items found in a Japanese home combine to help students gain more intimate knowledge of another culture.
Grades 2-8. Price: $25 a week. Over 20 hours of lessons & activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Japanese New Year -
Oshogatsu
Oshogatsu is the most important of Japanese holidays. With the materials in this Kit, kids can engage in some of the traditional pastimes associated with the Japanese New Year. Your group can design New Year's cards with traditional characters using brush and ink, make chopsticks envelopes, play and make festival games, and more. The Kit includes instructions and all supplies.
Grades K-5. Price: $15 a week. 8-10 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Travels of Marco Polo
Students can begin to develop an understanding of 13th-century China, one of the "golden ages" in Chinese history. The Kit begins with the "Story of Marco Polo" and one of the first East-West cultural exchanges. Through the story and viewing the slides, students will learn about travel, trade and relative levels of civilization during this time. They will study a famous hand scroll, "Spring Festival on the River," to learn about daily life in China. Students can also bring the scenes to life using the objects, costumes and activities in the Kit. Teacher's and Student's Guides provide information about Marco Polo, China's gifts to the West and activity ideas.
Grades K-6. Price: $20 a week. 10-12 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Group Visits Information
The Boston Children’s Museum offers group visits in Social Studies for Grades 1 and up. Featuring: Japanese House; Suminagashi; Self-Guided visits and weekend drop-in activities. Please call (617) 426-6500 x405 or email groupvisits@bostonchildrensmuseum.org for more information.
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