What is Culture?

Objective:

To promote student self-awareness of their own culture in an effort to appreciate the culture of Native Americans.

Teaching Goals:

What does the word culture mean? To many Native American tribes it is an extremely important component of everyday living. Each tribe differs in their cultural activities. Navajos in the southwest do not have the same language as the Mohawks in the east. Hidatsas in North Dakota do not have the same ceremonies as the Paiutes in Nevada. Each tribe is unique. This makes the study of Native Americans challenging!

An effective way to begin the study of Native Americans is to focus on the word, culture. So much of Native American existence is based on culture it would be worthwhile to highlight this before a unit is started. To help children understand culture define it by having them look at their own.

Activity:

1. Divide students into teams of four.
2. Write the word "culture" on the blackboard and then ask the students, "What does culture mean?" Discuss student responses to help students analyze their own unique cultures,
3. Give each of the four students a sheet of paper with one of the following headings:
   • What is the climate like where you live?
   • What kind of homes are in your neighborhood?
   • What kinds of food do you eat?
   • What kind of clothing do you wear?
   • What language do you speak?
   • What kind of music do you enjoy?
   • What customs or celebrations does your family participate in?
4. Have each student answer the question on the sheet they receive, (give them about a minute or less) then the students will pass their papers to the person on their right and answer the next question they receive. Continue this round robin until all questions have been answered by all four students in each group.
5. After the questions are answered have the student groups decide which answer they like best on each sheet. A student from each group will write the answers the group chose on flip sheet papers posted on the wall with the same headings.

Writing the answers chosen on flip sheet paper allows students to visualize other group responses and assists students with following along when the answers are read aloud.

Some other points or questions to help students understand culture areas follow:

• Culture is made up of things that surround you and your family everyday.
• Every society has its own culture. If another culture is different from yours does that mean it is not important? Discuss this with your class.
• Name two cultures that exist side by side. Do you think two cultures can exist together without changing one another?
• Do you think one culture will try and influence the other? Discuss these things with your class.
• Name differing cultures in your area.
• Would you be willing to give up your beliefs to become part of a different culture? Under what conditions would you be willing to do this?

Ways to share your family background:

• Teach songs, dances, and stories your family enjoys.
• Share special foods that your family eats.
• Share arts and crafts of your culture and family.