Embedded Files
Objectives
- Students will understand the meaning of culture
- Students will experience how culture makes people unique
Educators
Have students do a think- pair- share and ask them: How would you define culture?
Each group can share what they think culture is, then proceed to the definition slide (to the right).
Review the definition. Proceed to the last slide as a lead-in to the first activity.
Features of My Culture
Features of My Culture
How would you describe your culture? Fill out the Features of My Culture questions and compare them with a partner.
Discussion
Discussion
How are our answers similar?
How are our answers different?
Why do we have differences even though we live in the same area?
Cultural Encounters Activity
Cultural Encounters Activity
This activity requires an open space. Each person will adopt the cultures of two unfamiliar groups, interact with each other, and then examine their reactions.
Divide participants into two groups: Group A and Group B. The two groups should be about the same size and have similar numbers of males and females.
Send Group A and Group B to opposite corners of the room. Distribute copies of the cultural-norms sheets to the respective groups. Each group should quickly read these sheets and discuss their norms among themselves. (About 2 minutes)
Visit each group and stress the importance of staying in character. Emphasize the importance of carrying out their cultural norms.
The simulation: Announce that the two groups have been invited to a party. The goal during the party is for participants to meet as many other people as possible.
Start some music (if desired) and let the group interact for 5-10 minutes.
After the allotted time, stop the music and have everyone take a seat.
Debrief the activity particularly in regard to space and non verbal communication. Have a student from each group read the scenario that was given to them then ask the following questions to the class:
How did you feel about the behavior of your own group?
How did you feel about the behavior of other group?
How well did your group members observe the norms of their assigned culture?
What are some real world situations exhibited during the activity?
What lessons from this activity can we keep in mind as we examine other cultures in the next couple days?
Group A
Group B
Extension
- If you are looking for more cultural lessons, check out the Building Bridges Curriculum by the Peace Corps: https://files.peacecorps.gov/wws/pdf/BuildingBridges.pdf
- Try the Building from the Ground Up activity from: Cultures, Food, and Communities Around the World
Curriculum Sources
Cultural Encounters activity revised from Berndtson, M. (2013). Global agriculture curriculum. Retrieved from https://communities.naae.org/docs/DOC-11833 and Deardorff D. K. (2003). Cross-cultural communication activity: uncocktail party. Retrieved from http://www.ufic.ufl.edu/pd/downloads/ici-Activities/UncocktailParty.pdf
Feature of My Culture Activity revised from Peace Corps. (n.d.) Building Bridges. Retrieved from https://files.peacecorps.gov/wws/pdf/BuildingBridges.pdf
Feature of My Culture Activity revised from Peace Corps. (n.d.) Building Bridges. Retrieved from https://files.peacecorps.gov/wws/pdf/BuildingBridges.pdf
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse