Learning Links
United Nations / Immigration / Emigration / National Anthems / Global Village / Telecommunications / Architecture / Language / Folk Tales / Celebrations / Customs / Legends
Related Concepts
Religion / Multicultural Perspective / Diversity / Equity / Equality / Interdependence
Demonstrators should be read from bottom to top, but need not be demonstrated sequentially.
Elementary Demonstrators
• Explore the uniqueness of the individual.
• Recognize and respect the right of others to display unique characteristics.
• Describe cultural universals, similarities, and differences.
• Recognize that culture is learned.
• Investigate how our society is influenced by a variety of cultures.
• Explore conflict resolution strategies for problems arising from cultural tensions.
Middle School Demonstrators
• Analyze cultural differences.
• Analyze the benefits and problems of living in a pluralistic society.
• Develop strategies to work cooperatively with culturally diverse groups.
High School Demonstrators
• Analyze the assimilation and non-assimilation of groups into society.
• Design strategies to solve problems arising from cultural differences.
• Demonstrate multicultural understanding through a variety of real-life activities.
Sample Teaching/Assessment Strategies
Collaborative Process: Cooperative Learning / Community-Based Instruction: Field Studies, Service Learning / Continuous Progress Assessment: Interviews, Observation, Portfolio Development, Self-assessment, Performance Events/Exhibitions / Graphic Organizers: Mapping/Webbing, Time Line, Venn Diagram / Problem Solving: Inquiry, Case Studies, Creative Problem Solving, Future Problem Solving, Debate, Oral History, Simulation / Technology/Tools: Computers, Interactive Video, Multimedia / Whole Language Approach / Writing Process
These sample strategies offer ideas and are not meant to limit teacher resourcefulness. More strategies are found in the resource section.
Ideas for Incorporating Community Resources
• Invite community members of various cultural backgrounds to help plan and participate in a cultural exhibition.
• Interview representatives of private businesses and industries to learn about their international linkages.
• Contact the Bluegrass International Program, Japan/America Society, Kentucky International Education Program, or similar organizations for multicultural resources.
Core Concept: Cultural Diversity
Sample Elementary Activities
• Research other cultures to identify behaviors that are considered to be rude and impolite. Dramatize the findings. Compare the rude and impolite behavior to acceptable and non-acceptable behavior in our society. PE
• Read a literary selection such as Nolen's Hats, Hats, Hats and work in teams to create books about cultural elements common throughout the world (e.g., food, clothing, shelter). Present the books to younger children. PE, P
• Interview someone who grew up in a culture other than your own. Examine and discuss differences between the two cultures. P
• Develop an album of different cultures using pictures from a magazine, P
• Tell the story of a famous historical person who was involved in a conflict (e.g., Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr.). Explain how the person dealt with conflict resolution. PE, OE, P
Applications Across the Curriculum
Language Arts
• Prepare a tasting party of ethnic dishes for another class. Plan and implement the following tasks: budget, menu, invitations, decorations, entertainment, food preparation. PE, P
Science
• Compare daily dress to the ceremonial dress in various cultures. Present your findings. PE, P
Mathematics
• Collect and organize information related to your ancestors' birthplaces. Prepare a presentation of your findings. PE, P
Arts and Humanities
• Create a collage showing how people from diverse cultures have influenced American history. PE, P
Practical Living
• Interview older members of a given culture regarding their leisure activities as children. Determine the influence of the past on the leisure-activity choices in that culture today. OE, P
• Interview immigrants to determine cultural health remedies and treatments for diseases. Present the findings. PE, OE, P
Vocational Education
• Investigate customs linked with your family's culture. Exchange this information with class members. PE, P
Sample Middle School Activities
• Construct a list of the groups not represented at the Constitutional Convention in 1787; speculate about how the Constitution might have been different if the groups not represented had been present. Communicate these differences. PE, OE
• Study slave narratives and other primary sources from American history. Compare the view expressed in these documents to modern views about minority groups. Analyze whether or not racism is more or less prevalent in the United States today. PE, OE
• Investigate the inequities in the treatment of minorities in the local community. Develop a presentation about your findings. PE, P
• Organize a club in your school which works to promote cultural understanding. PE, P
Applications Across the Curriculum
Variations on a theme: Identities
Language Arts
• Examine the idea of national stereotypes as portrayed in a novel (e.g., My Darling, My Hamburger by Paul Zindel). Compare and contrast this idea to your own and your classmates. OE, P
Science
• Chart the influx of other cultures into the United States over the last 200 years. P
Mathematics
• Prepare several different charts showing how the influx of various cultures into the United States has influenced demographic changes. P
Arts and Humanities
• Create a collage showing how people from diverse cultures have influenced American history. Present the collage to the class. PE, P
Practical Living
• Make costumes celebrating cultural diversity in the United States. PE, P
Vocational Education
• Discuss the identification of certain cultural groups with certain occupations in the United States. OE
Sample High School Activities
• Create and present a video tour of the central states which examines the movement and settlement of diverse cultures throughout the country. Present your video to the class. PE, P
• Design and sponsor a community workshop which promotes cultural awareness and conflict resolution. PE, P
• Research and analyze the attitudes of minorities about local issues. Present findings and recommendations to local civic and political leaders as a basis for revising local polices. PE, P
• Investigate a student exchange program which involves students from various cultures located in the state, nation, or world. OE, P
Applications Across the Curriculum
Language Arts
• Identify diverse ethnic and cultural groups in your community. Study the lifestyles of each group to determine similarities and differences of each group. Plan a community event which celebrates the commonality of all the groups. PE
Science
• Debate the issue of different cultures (e.g., Native Americans) being able to use a controlled substance in a cultural ceremony. PE
Mathematics
• Research the demographics of various ethnic groups in the United States. Graph the findings and make predictions about future trends. OE, P
Arts and Humanities
• Research customs, past and present, on culture and present findings through multimedia (e.g., videos, photos). PE
Practical Living
• Investigate the various health-care services provided by different governments. Determine how cultural influences have impacted government participation in the health-care system. Present your findings. PE
Vocational Education
• Research salaries for occupations in a variety of cultures. Make inferences about the status placed on individuals holding these occupations in their society. Justify your findings to the class. PE