WHAT IS CULTURE
RELATED LINKS:
SOUTHWEST CULTURES
MISCONCEPTIONS
Use this lesson better understand Native American stereotypes.
CULTURE
Use this lesson to better understand what culture is.
MYTHS
Use this lesson to learn about Native American myths.
LIVING OBJECTS
Use this lesson to better understand the importantance of objects.
What does the word culture mean? To many Native Americans it is an extremely important component of everyday life. 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 Paiute of 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.
Lesson
Divide students into teams of four.
Write the word “culture on the blackboard and ask students, “what does culture mean?” discuss student responses to help them analyze their own unique cultures.
Give each team of four 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?
Have each student answer the question on the sheet of paper, give them about a minute, then students will pass their paper to the person on their right and answer the next question they receive. Continue until all questions have been answered by all four students in each group.
After the questions have been answered have the student groups decide which answer they liked best on each sheet. A student from each group will write the answers the group chose on flip sheet paper posted on the wall with the same heading.
Writing the answers chosen on the flip sheet paper allows students to visualize other group responses and assists students with the following along when the answers are read aloud.
Lesson Extension
Some other points or questions to help students understand cultural 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 not 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 with out changing one another?
Do you think that 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?