World Cultures

Broaden your students’ horizons by learning about world cultures.

Follow cultures across time

Bring the world to your classroom with resources that introduce students to the diversity of ancient and modern cultures. Using lesson plans, videos, and other resources, your students can learn to think like an archaeologist and investigate ancient cultures or gain an appreciation for the many communities that live around the world today.

Resource Spotlight: Explore Ancient Cultures

See what life was like thousands of years ago, and learn how people who lived in the past continue to influence our lives.

  • Neolithic Village Flyover

    Explore a reconstruction of the Neolithic village of Szeghalom, which was located in eastern Hungary. Archaeological findings there signaled a shift from foraging to farming.

  • Societies in the Ancient Americas | Exploring the Field Guide

    Observe six types of societies that developed in the Americas in response to specific environmental conditions.

  • Exploring Language | China Toolkit

    Explore the history of writing in China by drawing conclusions about the impact of the written word on human civilizations and how language changes over time.

Exhibition Spotlight: Cyrus Tang Hall of China

Delve into Chinese history and culture while honing critical thinking skills.

  • Maps | China Toolkit

    Analyze maps to draw conclusions about their purpose, audience, and potential bias.

  • Testing the Scholars | China Toolkit

    Explore the classical Chinese civil service exam system, compare it to current exam systems, and develop a sense of what it means to be qualified for a role.

  • Investigating the Qingming Scroll | China Toolkit

    Learn about the contradictions depicted in the Qingming Scroll and compare it with present-day representations of idealized societies.

World Culture resources

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    Showing 25 resources

    • Ancient Americas Educator Guide

      Investigate diverse cultures across different times and geographic locations in the Ancient Americas exhibition.

    • Archaeological Footprint | China Toolkit

      Analyze how we learn about history through objects and theorize what gaps can exist in object-based stories.

    • Ask an Artifact | China Toolkit

      Discover what you can learn from the objects all around us when you look carefully and apply a specific disciplinary lens. Spanish subtitles available.

    • Chicago Before Skyscrapers | Exploring the Field Guide

      Observe a local ecosystem and infer how Native Americans of the Chicago region have traditionally used these resources.

    • Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism | China Toolkit

      Explore three major belief systems in China—Buddhism, Confucianism, and Daoism—through art and artifacts.

    • Conservation in Action | Exploring the Field Guide

      Examine different ways that scientists and community members conserve the environment, then analyze the results.

    • Evidence in the Unwritten | China Toolkit

      Investigate the role of an archaeologist and discover the types of questions that drive their work. Spanish subtitles available.

    • Exploring Artifacts from the Pacific | Exploring the Field Guide

      Observe and analyze artifacts from the Pacific Islands to develop evidence-based claims about how these cultures view the world.

    • Exploring Cultures | Exploring the Field Guide

      Look closely at artifacts to learn how culture and geography create similarities and differences between China and Egypt.

    • Exploring Language | China Toolkit

      Explore the history of writing in China by drawing conclusions about the impact of the written word on human civilizations and how language changes over time.

    • Exploring Objects | China Toolkit

      Analyze objects using varied lenses, including anthropology, history, economics, geography, and art history.

    • Families Across Place and Time | Exploring the Field Guide

      Explore similarities and differences between families across different geographic locations and time periods.

    • From the Field to the Field Museum

      Prepare for a field trip or object study by learning how the Field Museum collects and studies specimens and artifacts from around the world.

    • Grainger Hall of Gems Educator Guide

      Explore the geological and cultural significance of a variety of gems.

    • Investigating the Qingming Scroll | China Toolkit

      Learn about the contradictions depicted in the Qingming Scroll and compare it with present-day representations of idealized societies.

    • Maps | China Toolkit

      Analyze maps to draw conclusions about their purpose, audience, and potential bias.

    • Maya Blue and You | Science Hub at Home

      Discover how you use the color blue as compared to the Maya.

    • Neolithic Village Flyover

      Explore a reconstruction of the Neolithic village of Szeghalom, which was located in eastern Hungary. Archaeological findings there signaled a shift from foraging to farming.

    • Outsiders Inside | China Toolkit

      Analyze the concept of “outsiders,” or ethnic minorities, in Chinese history through artifacts and connect the concept to present experiences.

    • Plants of the World Exhibition Guide

      Observe intricate plant models to determine the functions of their unique structures.

    • Read, Watch, Listen, Visit: Student Resource List | China Toolkit

      Explore more ways to learn about China with your students.

    • Societies in the Ancient Americas | Exploring the Field Guide

      Observe six types of societies that developed in the Americas in response to specific environmental conditions.

    • Structure and Function | China Toolkit

      Analyze early Chinese objects to understand how an object is designed or structured is related to its function.

    • Testing the Scholars | China Toolkit

      Explore the classical Chinese civil service exam system, compare it to current exam systems, and develop a sense of what it means to be qualified for a role.

    • What Does Blue Mean to You? | Science Hub at Home

      Discuss what the color blue means to you and compare your answers with other museum visitors.

    Dioramas and specimens are among the objects teachers can borrow from the Museum through the N.W. Harris Learning Collection.

    N. W. HARRIS LEARNING COLLECTION

    BRING ARTIFACTS INTO THE CLASSROOMBrowse Dioramas