LESSON TOPIC: Cultural Awareness/Sharing TraditionsGrade Level: 4-6
Content Area: Social Studies/Technology
Length of Lesson: 1 Day
Instructor: Paula Smith-Turner
Objective:
Students will learn to understand and appreciate the cultural diversity that exists among each other.
Students will be able to identify some of their own family traditions and share with the class.Social Studies Benchmarks:
SOC.I.3.EE.1-Use a variety of records to construct a narrative about their personal or family histories.
SOC.IV.1.EE.1-Locate information using people, books, audio/video recordings, photos, maps, graphs, and electronic technology.
Michigan Educational Technology Standards:
MET6a-Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
MET4b-Students use a variety of media and formats to create and edit products to communicate information (presentations, newsletters, and brochures).Evaluation:
The teacher will monitor students within their assigned groups as they discuss family traditions. Students will write at least 4 entries in their journals on what they learned about their peers especially recognizing the differences and similarities. Each student will interview someone outside their race and report their results to the group.Procedure:
Following a class discussion on cultural diversity and awareness and some of the many different cultures that exist within the United States and other countries, the class will be organized into 4 groups with 4-6 students in each that will include a combination of ethnic backgrounds, genders, academic, and learning abilities. Each group will have at least one student that is learning challenged/disabled. Students should be aware that they will be with the same group until the end of the lesson which could be at least 3-4 days.Each student will be presented with an interview questionnaire to help guide the interview. Each group will discuss family traditions relating to holidays, religious customs, foods, household chores, and other interesting facts.
Within their assigned groups, students will interview each other, compare information, and create a poster/brochure of their findings to be handed in the next class period.Students are encouraged to bring in photos and other interesting things to share. Each group will be assigned a different region of Africa to be discussed for the next class period.
Accommodations/Adaptations
To ensure that all students are able to effectively participate in the lesson, reasonable accommodations can be made for those who may need additional assistance whether they are physically or academically challenged. Those with a mild learning disability such as autism and speech impairment will be allowed to use a special word prediction software program and an AAC device to aid in speech communication. Those who are hearing impaired will be equipped with an assistive listening device to enhance their hearing and visually impaired students will be using the descriptive video services (DVS). Any student academically challenged can be allowed additional time to complete the assignment and be assigned a peer teacher to work with them.Materials:
Journals
Interview sheet
Pencils
Informational sheets on different cultures and regions inside and outside the U.S.
Paper/Poster Board
Computer with internet accessConcept Vocabulary:
Cultures
Ethnicity
Customs
Traditions
Prejudice
Stereotypes
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