ONE LOVE. ONE HEART.
The Multi-Cultural Classroom
We all come from different cultures and different societies. We are all special and unique in many different ways, culture is a part of what makes us who we are as individuals.
*To be good teachers we need to really get to know each of our students we should learn about each of their different cultures and ways of lives.
*As educators we always talk about achievement gaps, somehow different culture gaps fall into that category as well.... THEY SHOULD NOT.
*We need to be reminded that we are all one, in that we need to remind our students of that as well.
Examples: Everyone from every culture eats! Start the lesson off by teaching students about different foods in different cultures. Every culture has their own traditions or holidays, the teacher could also bring these aspects into the classroom. Everyone from every culture wears a different type of clothing, the teacher could bring this idea into the classroom as well.
*One great idea is to have a bulletin board with a picture of every student in your class. Under their picture have information about their specific culture, society or way of life! Remind the students that even though everyone is different we are all one as well! :)
Interesting Cultures and Societies content FOR STUDENTS!
http://mamasmiles.com/how-food-can-teach-kids-about-world-culture/
This website is a great idea! Have the students research where each of their ancestors come from. After each student finds out the teacher will have the students research with their families and cook a specific item that shows where their ancestors are from. This is a great introduction to the culture topic! As well as a yummy introduction!
http://mamasmiles.com/how-food-can-teach-kids-about-world-culture/
This website is a great idea! Have the students research where each of their ancestors come from. After each student finds out the teacher will have the students research with their families and cook a specific item that shows where their ancestors are from. This is a great introduction to the culture topic! As well as a yummy introduction!
Use "Me on the Map" to introduce the Cultures and Societies topic. This activity helps students understand their own place in the world and on the globe. I would also give each student a world map to hang up in their room or in their home. I will stress the importance of HAVING A MAP IN THE HOME! To help students understand just how large our world really is I would use the globe to help the students really visualize just how LARGE our world really is.
(These would be great introductions to culture and society...)
(These would be great introductions to culture and society...)
This is an AWESOME video that can help show students the differences between our culture and our everyday life in the United States verses the life of the young men shown in this video! This is a REAL LIFE CONNECTION for students
Culture is the characteristics of a particular group of people, defined by everything from language, religion, cuisine, social habits, music and arts. Today, in the United States as in other countries populated largely by immigrants, the culture is influenced by the many groups of people that now make up the country.
We all belong to a culture. One definition of culture is the combination of human knowledge, beliefs and behavior that we learn and pass on to future generations. We usually express our culture in certain ways, like how we dress, what we eat, what we believe, and how we play.
Culture permeates EVERY aspect of our being!
How to teach Culture in YOUR Classroom
How to teach Culture in YOUR Classroom
- Food
Everyone eats, but not everyone eats the same things, and the differences in diet from one culture to the next can be very dramatic. You can let your students share their culture through food by inviting them to talk about or share dishes typical in their countries. To do this, have a cultural food fair or ask your students to prepare a national dish in a class presentation. If everyone in class gets a little taste, even better, just keep in mind food allergies that your students may have. - Holidays
What better time to talk about traditional foods than during the holidays. Any holiday that pops up on the calendar is an excuse to celebrate any and all holidays from January toDecember. Ask each of your students to talk about a traditional holiday from their native culture. They can give information about the holiday itself as well as national and family traditions. The students in your class will enjoy sharing some of their traditions as well as hearing about those of their classmates. - Clothing
Often another element of holidays or special occasions is traditional dress. It is not unusual for ESL students to bring some pieces of formal or traditional dress when they travel overseas to study. If you are teaching immigrants, your students also have a good chance of having these clothing items at home. You can invite your students to wear traditional clothing on a certain day or bring picture of themselves or others in traditional dress. Encourage each person to explain the significance of the different pieces, if any, and give an opportunity for everyone in class to ask questions. - Time
While you are talking about holidays in your class, have another conversation aboutwhat people do in their free time. Generally, a person’s schedule will be reflective of his or her values. Looking at the typical distribution of time can give an insight into what is important in a given culture. Of the 168 hours in the week, how many do most people spend working? Studying? Going out with friends or spending quality time with family?The answers to these questions and the differences from one culture to another will help your students understand and appreciate what their classmates value. - Music
While you are at it, does anyone in your class play a traditional instrument? That may not be all that common, but most students could probably play some popular music from their country for the class. Bring in an iPod dock and play a little rock and roll, then invite your students to share some of their music. Again, encourage open conversation and question among your students. Be sure to remind your class that national preferences vary as do personal preferences, and remind them to be sensitive to what their classmates share. - Money
Why not bring culture into the classroom with a little show and tell? Set a day, perhaps at some point during a unit about business, to invite your students to bring in a sample ofmoney from their native countries (which you should make note that they brought and make sure they bring home). Either collect all the money in one place or pass it around and let your students look at the coins and bills. Have them take note about who or what is pictured on the money, and give your students a chance to talk about these people and things. By sharing stories about what is important enough to put on the country’s currency, your students will gain another level of cultural understanding from their classmates. - Traditional Stories
Traditional stories such as folk tales or tall tales are another way to bring culture and history into the classroom. You can have your students read English translations of traditional tales or have your students tell the stories to their classmates. By noticing who plays prominent roles in the stories and how they handle conflict, you and your students will see some more of what motivates and challenges a national group. - Religion
Though religion is not necessarily a national value, allowing your students to share their religious beliefs and those that most members of their culture hold will also provide valuable opportunities for your students to understand one another. With a spirit of open-mindedness and acceptance, ask your students to share some religious practices or beliefs and allow the rest of the class to discuss the issues that may arise from thediscussion. If everyone in your class can be tolerant of their classmates beliefs, there is the potential for a very powerful and informative discussion on the topic of religion, simply proceed with caution. - History
Often key events in a country’s past will either establish or define that culture’s values. You can give your students an opportunity to discuss significant events in their country’s history, and if you do asking, them to explain how those events influence their people today will give you an insight into culture. If you have done other activities on culture, you may have already touched on these events when talking about holidays or money, but looking at things from a historical perspective can add another layer of understanding for your students. - Family
Not only does a country hold particular values, but families also hold certain values that they pass on to their children. Allowing your students to share about their families can open the door to talking about the values that their families hold. Talking about these family values will also often lead to a discussion about the values of a people group. When opportunities arise for your students to talk about their families, encourage it and perhaps your students will learn a little more about one another.
Every culture values their own way of life! Here is a picture that depicts most of the different aspects that make up culture!
Integrate clothing from different cultures into your instruction to help students make connections.
After the connections have been made have the students dress up In their ancestors clothing!
After the connections have been made have the students dress up In their ancestors clothing!