Culture Project

CULTURE PROJECT

Due date: Monday, October 9

Purpose:

• To learn about the various aspects of culture by focusing our study on one culture in particular
• To better understand that other cultures have both similarities and differences from our own culture
• To practice curiosity, acceptance, and tolerance for practices and ways of life that are different from our own
• To strengthen our reading skillswhen reading informational text and databases

Note: Throughout this document, I will be referring to the country you will be researching. It is important to remember that you are focusing on learning about the culture in this country, how people live (visit, greet one another, eat, communicate, travel, are educated, worship, celebrate, participate in the arts…). This is not a country project but a culture project.

Steps:

1.) Select a culture that you are connected to and/or interested in. You may choose a culture from a country that you would like to visit or have visited. You may choose a country that is a part of your heritage – where you and/or your family can trace your ancestry back to. You may also choose a country where a friend is from.

2.) Begin exploring this culture through the CultureGrams database. This will be our only source of information unless you know someone from this culture. You may get information from someone who has lived in or visited this country.

3.) As you read, take very brief notes on a piece of notebook paper. These notes will be bullet points of information that you find important to understanding this culture and information you find surprising and interesting. Write down what you would like to turn and tell a neighbor. One page of notes, double-spaced, is all that is required.

4.) You will be teaching others, in a small group of nine or ten people, about the culture you chose. Look over the possible project ideas for how you would like to teach others about this culture.

5.) Select what type of project you will create and begin creating your project. As you are working on your project, return to the CultureGrams database to find more information that will add to the quality and interest of your project.

6.) Finish your project and practice your presentation with a friend or family member before presenting to your small group in class.

* Projects will be presented on Monday, October 9. Each person will have ten minutes to present. Between now and October 9, some time will be provided in class to work on your research and project. However, you will also need to work on this project at home. Please budget your time carefully. I expect high quality projects, reflecting that a few hours of work have been put into your final product. This is not Egypt Fest but is also not a project to be completed in one night.

LIST OF POSSIBLE CULTURE PROJECTS

VENN DIAGRAM: Create a large venn diagram comparing the culture in the United States to the culture you are studying. What do we have in common and what are the differences?

COLLAGE: Include pictures and words from various sections of the CultureGrams report or do a large collage focusing on one section of the CultureGrams report.

NEWSCAST: Pretend that you are the anchor of a local news program. Interview a guest who is visiting from the country you are studying. You will need to enlist a partner who is willing to go above and beyond by supporting your project. Create a script so that your partner knows what questions to ask you during the interview. You can also create a video where you are both the interviewee and the interviewer. This could also be quite interesting in class – be both characters by changing hats or something else quite simple.

COMMERCIAL: Create a commercial that convinces others why they ought to visit this country.

GRAPHIC NOVEL OR PICTURE BOOK: Create a book that teaches others about the culture.

PRODUCE IT: Produce a small video that teaches about the culture

SCRAPBOOK: Create a scrapbook as though you were a person who has grown up in this culture (or someone who has visited). Include items in your scrapbook that will teach others about the important and interesting aspects of the culture.

POSTCARDS: Design a collection of postcards that show different aspects of the culture. On the front of the postcard, include photos. On the back, include a brief explanation of what is shown on the front.

COMPUTER PRESENTATION: Use Hyperstudio or Powerpoint to create a visual presentation where you teach about various aspects of the culture. Consider using a combination of words, images, and music.

SONG REMAKE: Take the words to a song that you know (Brady Bunch, Looney Tunes, etc.) and replace them with words that will teach and tell about various aspects of the culture.

SONGS/MUSIC: Give a presentation focused on the music and musicians in this culture. Include how music is important in various aspects of the culture. Share some excerpts of songs and different instruments.

LIMERICKS or POEMS: Write a limerick or poem for various aspects of the culture. You can present these poems or limerick in a small book or on a poster or….

DO’s and DON’Ts: Create a poster of things one ought to do and one should not do when visiting this country. Include images or drawings.

PAINTING/DRAWING: Create a painting or drawing that teaches others about this culture.

TRAVEL ARTICLE: Pretend you were recently hired by National Geographic or a travel magazine. Write an article about your trip and your experiences when visiting this country.

ABC BOOK: Create an ABC book based on a what you have learned and found interesting and/or surprising about the culture.

TRIVIA GAME: Create a trivial pursuit game based on the culture. Make sure to include the answers.

COOKING: Invite your group to experience a meal that would be served in the country. You only need to provide sample-size portions. Serve the meal in the way in which it would be served in the country (on the floor, with chopsticks…). Provide additional information about when and where people eat, staple foods, spices, etc.

STORY CUBE: Create a three-dimensional cube out of paper. On each side of the cube, show different aspects of the culture with a combination of words and art.

BAR GRAPH: Create a bar graph that compares many different aspects of your culture to the culture of the United States (education, healthcare, average number of children, religion…)

ACT IT OUT: Act out various customs and courtesies (visiting traditions, eating/meals, greetings, marriage, recreation). This could be a fun game of charades. After the audience guesses the word, explain the importance and share additional information.

DRESS UP: Dress up in the clothing that is worn in this culture on special occasions, to school, or on a daily basis. Include pictures in a slide show or collage (or paintings or drawings) of the various clothing worn in this culture by different age groups and for different occasions.

PUPPET SHOW: Create a puppet show where puppets ask questions about the culture that are answered by other puppets. You could also have the puppets act out various “mistakes” made by visitors.

DANCE: Learn a dance performed in this culture and perform it for us. Use traditional music from the culture.

CULTURE IN A BOX: Create a box that teaches about your culture. Inside the box include a collection of physical objects, pictures, and foods that you will explain the importance of. Decorate the inside and the outside of the box with items that will also teach about your culture (map, flag, cloth, images…).

Note: If you have a project idea that is not included on attached list, please feel free to propose your idea to me. I am happy to consider other creative alternatives.