Culture

Using the Europe Giant Map to Plan a Backpacking Journey - Updated 2025

Click on the image above to open the lesson. It will open as a Google Doc.

Description: This is an interactive and engaging lesson designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the European Union, the cultural touchstone of backpacking, and the geographical layout of European cities. The lesson involves reading, researching, and planning a backpacking journey through Europe. It is a hands-on activity that encourages students to apply their knowledge of geography, culture, and history to create a unique travel itinerary.

The rationale behind this lesson is to foster a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of our world, particularly within the context of the European Union. By planning a backpacking journey, students will gain insights into the geographical, cultural, and historical diversity of Europe. They will also develop critical thinking and teamwork skills along with geographic awareness. This activity is designed to make learning geography an engaging and interactive experience, moving beyond rote memorization to application and analysis.

This lesson is aligned with both National Geography Standards and Oklahoma Academic Standards, ensuring that it is not only educationally relevant but also beneficial for students. The activity provides a practical application of these standards, allowing students to see the relevance of what they are learning and how it applies to the real world. Please note this lesson may be adapted for use with digital or desktop-sized maps if the Europe Giant Map is unavailable.

Grade level(s): Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Cory Williams

Using the Africa Giant Map to Understand Latitude and Longitude - Updated 2025

Click on the image above to open the lesson. It will open as a Google Doc.

Description: In this lesson, students will investigate the significance of latitude and longitude in geography, such as understanding climate zones, temperature variations, time zones, and the ability to navigate and locate any place accurately. This activity may be completed with the Africa Giant Map, and can be adapted for digital or desktop-sized maps.

Grade level(s): Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Cory Williams

Refugee Resettlement in Oklahoma - Updated 2025

Click on the image above to open the lesson. It will open as a Google Doc.

Description: Students will analyze and interpret geographic data, engage in critical thinking, and develop a deeper understanding of the social, economic, and environmental aspects of refugee resettlement in Oklahoma.

Grade level(s): Middle
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Cory Williams & Grace Gierach

An Exploration of the Archaeology of Jerusalem - Updated 2025

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped folder due to its size.

Click on the image above to open the lesson. It will open in the Google Drive.

Description: These readings are meant to supplement Dr. Rangar Cline’s discussion on his archaeological research in Jerusalem for the 2021 OKAGE workshop on the city’s significance in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Visit Dr. Cline’s website here for more information on his research.

Watch the recording of this session here.

Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: GFL
Produced By: Rangar Cline, Ph.D.

Jerusalem: A Center for Peace or Conflict? 2021 Update - Updated 2025

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Click on the image above to open the lesson. It will open as a Google Doc.

Description: Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is considered a holy city by three religions: Judaism, Islam and Christianity. For centuries it has also been a spiritual center. Just like the dove, it is associated with peace and its name is even thought to be derived from the phrase “of peace.” Students will identify Jerusalem’s religious significance to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. They will also learn about the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and explore what it is like for people on both sides of the conflict.

Watch the recording of this session here.

Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Teresa Potter

OKAGE Online Professional Development Session 5: Oil, Religion, and the Global Landscape - Updated 2025

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped file due to its size.

Click on the image above to open the lesson. It will open in the Google Drive.

Description: The Middle East produces about one third of the world’s oil which makes the entire world reliant on that oil and natural gas. The goal of this lesson is to use map skills to gain an understanding of the effects of abundant oil supplies in the Middle East. Using maps, students will analyze data from a geographic perspective. They will increase their understanding of conflict and cooperation among specific groups over oil and religious differences, along with the impacts of COVID-19 upon global markets. They will also identify multinational peace-keeping efforts to stabilize relationships in the Middle East.

Watch the recording of this session here.

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Teresa Potter

Online PD Session 3: Asia's Cultures and the 2020 Health Crisis - Updated 2025

Click on the image above to download the lesson. This lesson will open in a Google Drive folder instead of a zipped file due to its size.

Click on the image above to open the lesson. It will open as a Google Doc.

Description: This lesson is designed to assist students in using visual information to identify urban areas in East Asia and determine how COVID-19 spread rapidly through these areas.

Watch the recording of this session here.

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Susan Smith

World Religions - In Search of the Light

Click on the image above to download the lesson

Click on the image above to download the lesson

Description: Students will evaluate the impact of a region’s major religions, including geographic hearths, major beliefs, customs, and the significance of religion in contemporary societies, and explain how religion can both unify and divide people.

Grade level(s): Middle School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Jeff Woolsey

The Peoples Forum: What Does Sovereignty Mean for the World's Indigenous Peoples?

Click on the image above to download the lesson

Click on the image above to download the lesson

Description: The objective of this lesson is to introduce students to the concept of sovereignty and its necessity to assure the survival of the Earth’s most unique, as well as threatened, cultures. Through a simulated conference among representatives of various indigenous groups, students will investigate eight case studies of conflict and cooperation between indigenous groups and governments whose exercise of authority endangers their lands, political rights, and social rights. A review of the goals of the United Nations’ Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People serves as a catalyst for student-created resolutions to address the problems from these eight case studies through mock deliberation and debate.

Grade level(s): Middle School, High School
Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Pam Merrill

This Land is Our Land

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Description: Students will gain an understanding of the historical context for modern-day Arab-Israeli conflicts, as well as involvement of the international community in contributing to and in trying to resolve conflict.  They will also practice interpreting political cartoons over this topic.

Grade level(s): Middle School                  Standards: OAS, GFL
Produced By: Janet Hall

Putting the “Us” in USA

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Description: Culture is a term we take for granted that students understand, but the nuances of prejudice that are formed by misunderstanding are difficult to overcome. As groups of people use more and more stereotypes to describe culture, it becomes obvious that a country or region's culture is not considered a worthwhile part of their human existence. Culture may very well be the most important aspect of what it means to be human and by understanding and respecting the culture of other people we will come closer to being humane.

Grade level(s): Middle School          Standards: OAS, GFL, CC            Produced By: Jayne Marley

Picture Yourself There

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Description: Culture may very well be the most important aspect of what it means to be human and by understanding and respecting the culture of other people we will come closer to being humane.

 Grade level(s): Middle                     Standards: OAS, GFL             Produced By: Jayne Marley

Jerusalem: A Center of Peace or Conflict

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Description: Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is considered a holy city by three religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. For centuries it has also been a spiritual center. Just like the dove, it is associated with peace and its name is even thought to be derived from the phrase “of peace.” Students will identify Jerusalem’s religious significance to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. They will also learn about the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and explore what it is like for people on both sides of the conflict.

 Grade level(s): Middle and High School   Standards: OAS, GFL             Produced By: Teresa Potter

Nigeria's Ethnic Challenges

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

Click on the image above to download the lesson.

The first part of this lesson focuses on the pre-colonial ethnic history of Nigeria. The second part looks at how European colonization impacted the area’s development. The third part shifts the focus to modern times and the north-south conflicts of today.   

Grade level(s): Middle                            Standards: OAS, GFL                          Produced By: Janet Hall

Take Your Peck

Click on the image above to download the lesson

Click on the image above to download the lesson

Description: Physical characteristics associated with ethnic background and cultures develop over time through a process known as natural selection. In this lesson students will explore this process through an activity that simulates the natural selection process in birds. Students will later analyze the physical characteristics of people from various countries by exploring photos from the “Photo of the Day” project from National Geographic.

 Grade level(s): Middle                 Standards: PASS, GFL             Produced By: Tiffany Neill

Cultural Caravan

Click on the image above to download the lesson

Click on the image above to download the lesson

Description: Students may encounter differences in cultures through the course of their lives, but they may not fully recognize how cultures develop. Some cultures share characteristics while some aspects about a culture are distinctly different. Through this lesson students will explore the processes that influence cultural characteristics. Students will also have an opportunity to explore and present cultures connected to their own families and backgrounds.

 Grade level(s): Middle                 Standards: PASS, GFL             Produced By: Tiffany Neill