COMMUNITY CULTURAL OBSERVATION
Become familiar with a community place, location, organization, familiar or unfamiliar to you. Reflect on what you believe community to be. Tell the story of this community from your perspective, Seek to imagine and reflect on other points of view as well.
Post COMMUNITY OBSERVATION on google web site
This activity will help you become familiar with a community familiar or unfamiliar to you. The format for recording your observations will be either video or still photography and presented in a delivery format of your choice.
Take time to reflect on what you believe community to be, and wrestle with your own definition of community. As you tell the story of this community from your perspective, seek to imagine and reflect on other points of view as well.
Objectives
Create a unified presentation which informs others about the community, from one or more of the following perspectives.
Procedure
Select one of these perspectives, and consider how you might gather information to understand the community’s culture from each perspective. Also include questions and perspectives of your own.
(a) Anthropologist: In what ways do people participate in religious, the arts, entertainment, ethnic, or other social activities or organizations?
(b) Historian: What are you able to discover about the history of the community? How has the community changed over time, as shown by historical data, and/
or observed by school or community members?
(c) Geographer: How has, and how does the geography influence the community? (Land forms, water systems, resources, climate)
(d) Economist: What do you notice about socioeconomic conditions? The residences, the businesses, the cars people drive, neighborhood conditions, landscaping, etc.? Opportunities for employment? Financial organizations located in the community?
(e) Sociologist: What groups – families, schools, clubs, civic organizations, businesses, etc., operate in the community?
(f) Political Scientist: What government-related activities, services, facilities, or representation are available in the community? Zoning? Public spaces available?
(g) Linguist: What are the primary languages used by residents in the community? What literary resources and communication pathways are available to community members?
Document your observations through video, digital photography, observations, or reflective notes, through the eyes of the role you selected. Support your documentation with other resource materials as needed or based on your curiosity: Maps, pamphlets, charts or graphs, interviews, historical documents, recordings, photographs, newspaper ads/articles/ pictures, recorded music, etc. How will you tell the story of this community?
Presentation
1. Share your video or photos and reflections in a presentation of your choice (PowerPoint, emaze, prezi, scrapbook, imovie, poster, music video, etc.)
2. Post your presentation on your COMMUNITY OBSERVATION website.