How can studying the culture and society of foreign nations help us understand the similarities and differences among us and help us all get along?

1.1 – Students use reference tools such as dictionaries, almanacs, encyclopedias, and computer reference programs and research tools such as interviews and surveys to find information they need to meet specific demands, explore interests, or solve specific problems.

2.16 – Students observe, analyze and interpret human behaviors, social groupings, and institutions to better understand people and the relationships among individuals and among groups.

2.17 – Students interact effectively and work cooperatively with the many ethnic and cultural groups of our nation and world.

2.26 –Through the art and humanities, students recognize that although people are different, they share some common experiences and attitudes.

4.5 – Students demonstrate an understanding of, appreciation for, and sensitivity to a multicultural and world view.

1. What do I need to know about foreign nations to understand its culture (folktales, music, art, language, dress food, holidays, etc.)?

2. What do I need to know about foreign nations to understand its society?

3. How can knowledge of cultural differences help me to understand the problems that might occur between others and myself?

Given one of the seven cultural characteristics (food, dress, art, music, language, literature and holidays), groups of students will demonstrate an understanding of that characteristic by preparing four slides that would be incorporated into a whole-class PowerPoint presentation to be shared with the community. The slides will be:

Slide 1: A title page

Slide 2: One example of a difference between two nations

Slide 3: Another example of a difference between two nations

Slide 4: Conflict/Resolution

Reading literature from chosen nation throughout the unit study during Read Aloud and Silent Reading Time

Students have been given beginning PowerPoint lessons prior to starting unit

Day 1

Goal: Examine students’ background knowledge of cultural differences.

Activity: Students take a pre-test on the seven cultural differences and have a whole-class discussion of student responses.

Day 2

Goal: Provide a basic introduction of the country to be studied

Activity: Create folder with a map of the nation being studied, locate the country on the world map or globe, discuss climate in relation to the equator, make a K-W-H-L chart to place in folder.

Online Resources: Mexico and China

Day 3

Goal: Students will examine the written and spoken language of the cultures being studied.

Activities: Show examples of the written language, listen to tapes of the spoken language, explore the country’s websites. Create a Venn diagram or a T chart to compare and contrast the foreign culture’s language and our language.

Day 4

Goal: Students will examine the dress of the cultures being studied.

Activities: Students will examine types of clothing using various resources, for example books, magazines, Internet sites, software; teacher dresses the part; segments of videos and television programs.

Day 5

Goal: Students will examine the food of the cultures being studied.

Activities: Students will examine types of food using various resources, for example books, magazines, Internet sites, software; segments of videos and television programs; menus from restaurants; make menus with Publisher; bring in samples of foods (domestic and imported).

Day 6

Goal: Students will examine the music and dance of the cultures being studied.

Activities: Collaborate with music teacher; students will examine types of music using various resources, for example books, magazines, Internet sites, software; segments of videos and television programs (KET); find examples of instruments and typical dances; national anthem

Day 7 - 8

Goal: Students will examine the art of the cultures being studied.

Activities: Collaborate with art teacher; students will examine types of art using various resources, for example books, magazines, Internet sites, software; segments of videos and television programs; discuss famous artists and examples of prints; decorations and home décor.

Day 9 - 10

Goal: Students will examine the holidays of the cultures being studied.

Activities: Internet search; Venn diagram; highlight a holiday unique to that country

Day 11

Goal: Students will examine the literature of the cultures being studied.

Activities: Collaborate with librarian; comparing folk tales, fables, stories, fairy tales, poems using a graphic organizer

Day 12

Goal: Students will reflect on what they have learned and still want to know about the seven cultural characteristics.

Activity: Complete K-W-H-L chart and formulate questions for Guest Speaker

Day 13

Goal: Students present their questions and have them answered by a guest speaker

Activity: Guest speaker

Day 14 - End

Goal: Students will complete the Culminating Performance

Activities:

Internet Site Resources: