Learners will identify elements of cultural differences found in picture books about children in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and minority groups in North America. They will also identify one difference they can celebrate in some way, such as the fun or expediency of doing a common task in a different way or seeing the beauty of a different style.
The learner will:
- list culturally specific vocabulary found in a picture book.
- identify perceived positive or negative connotations of words.
- contrast dominant culture / minority culture elements in a book.
- celebrate one diverse custom or cultural characteristic.
- deliver a presentation.
Picture books on multicultural topics, such as:
- An Amish Christmas, Richard Ammon
- Chicken Sunday , Patricia Polacco
- El Chino, Allen Say
- Everybody Cooks Rice, Nora Dooley
- The Farolitos of Christmas, Rudolfo Anaya
- Grandfather's Journey, Allen Say
- Heroes, Ken Mochizuki
- How My Parents Learned to Eat , Ina Friedman
- Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book or Moja Means One, Muriel Feelings
- Knots on a Counting Rope, John Archanbault and Martin Bill, Jr.
- Lord of the Dance: An African Retelling, Veronique Tadjo
- Poster board and markers (optional)
- Scoring Guide for Persuasive Presentation ( Attachment One )
- Ammon, Richard. An Amish Christmas. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1996. ISBN: 0689838506
- Anaya, Rudolfo. The Farolitos of Christmas. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 1995. ISBN: 0786800607
- Archanbault, John and Martin Bill, Jr. Knots on a Counting Rope. New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1987. ISBN: 0805005714
- Dooley, Nora. Everybody Cooks Rice. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda, 1990. ISBN: 0876145918
- Feelings, Muriel. Jambo Means Hello: Swahili Alphabet Book . New York: Dial Press, 1974. ISBN: 0140546529
- Friedman, Ina. How My Parents Learned to Eat. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1984. ISBN: 0395442354
- Mochizuki, Ken. Heroes . Lee & Low Books, 1995. ISBN: 1880000164
- Polacco, Patricia. Chicken Sunday. New York: Puffin, 1998. ISBN: 0698116151
- Say, Allen. El Chino. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1996. ISBN: 0395778751
- Say, Allen. Grandfather's Journey. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1993. ISBN: 0395570352
- Tadjo, Veronique. Lord of the Dance: An African Retelling. New York: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers, 1989. ASIN: 0397323522
Day One:Anticipatory Set:Read the following quote from Nelson Mandela: “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background or his religion. If [people] can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” Talk briefly about the United States being a place where we often have the opportunity to meet people who are different from ourselves. Explain that the class will focus in the next few days on some of the ways we can learn to enjoy and celebrate those differences.
Arrangethe class into groups of four. Give each group a book to read. Have each group together read their book aloud. Ask them to list any culturally specific words found in the texts as they read.
Tell the groups to prepare to present these words to the whole group. They can use the overhead, skits, the chalkboard or simply-prepared props to assist them. They should focus on any positive or negative connotations associated with these words as well as with their definitions.
Let each group take turns presenting their vocabulary words.
Day Two:Anticipatory Set:Read and discuss the following Russian proverb: “When you meet a man, you judge him by his clothes; when you leave, you judge him by his heart.” Include in the brief discussion the idea that you can enjoy looking at his clothes.
Define culture and help the learners analyze the predominant culture(s) of their community.
Return students to their groups with the same books as they had yesterday to discuss some of the differences they can find between our dominant culture and the culture represented in the story.
Have the learners choose something in their story that is unique to that culture. (e.g., eating with chopsticks, having a naming day for a baby later in life, wearing different clothing styles).
Tell teams to prepare an effective presentation that promotes understanding and respect for that cultural attribute or behavior. Students should plan their presentation as an advertisement for TV, radio or a magazine.
TV: Plan a skit.
Radio: Write and read a readers' theater style presentation.
Magazine: Make an advertisement on poster board.
Each presentation should include three reasons with relevant supporting evidence and should engage the audience.
(Teacher Note : Although humor is fine here, make sure that there is no making fun of or belittling another culture.)
Day Three:Anticipatory Set:Read and discuss the following quotation from Lyndon Baines Johnson: “If we are to live together in peace, we must come to know each other better.”
Take turns making persuasive presentations. The “magazine” ads should be explained in front of the class before hanging them up in the room.
For closure, meet in a community circle and discuss the concepts ethnocentrism and cultural diffusion.
Learner presentations will be assessed using Scoring Guide for Persuasive Presentation ( Attachment One ).
None for this lesson.
Strand PHIL.II Philanthropy and Civil Society
Standard PCS 02. Diverse Cultures
Benchmark MS.2 Describe the importance of hearing all voices in a community and respecting their right to be heard.