Summary: We will review Worksheet #2: Your Identity: Everyone Has a Culture–Everyone is Different.  Then, in your own words, with at least one to two pages of notes. You can include information about yourself that is unique to you, not related to the questions.

III. Features of Culture Part 2: Everyone Has a Culture-Everyone is Different (11:35 to 13:05)

This lesson is adapted and based on Paul D. Coverdell’s publication “Building Bridges: A Peace Corps Classroom Guide to Cross-Cultural Understanding.” The publication is free and downloadable for educational purposes, such as classroom use. The Building Bridges Classroom Guide provides classroom activities related to culture. Paul Coverdell, a former Peace Corps Director and US Senator, sponsored the publication through his Worldwise Schools and National Geographic.

“Enduring Understanding: Everyone has a culture. It shapes how we see the world, ourselves, and others.” ~Paul D. Coverdell

1) From 11:35 to 12:10, please review Worksheet #2: Your Identity: Everyone Has a Culture–Everyone is Different.  Then, in your own words, with at least one to two pages of notes. You can include information about yourself that is unique to you, not related to the questions. You have about 30 minutes to think about and answer the nine prompt questions.

2) Then, at about 12:10 to 12:50, you will be able to discuss the questions in your new group until lunch time at 13:05. The questions are:

1. What languages do you speak?
2. What music do you listen to? What dances do you know?
3. What foods do you eat at home?
4. In your family, what is considered polite and what is considered rude? What manners have you been taught? (Think about such things as table manners, behavior toward guests in your home, what to say when answering the telephone, and how to say thanks for a meal.)
5. What do you wear on special occasions?
6. How often do you see your extended family (for example, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins)? What role do they play in your life?
7. What holidays and ceremonies are important in your family?
8. Describe something very important to you. It could be a value, such as respect or honesty. It could be a person, such as a parent, brother, sister, or friend. It could be a goal, such as going to college or designing a website. It could be a hobby.
9. Based on what you’ve written, how would you describe the characteristics of the culture you’re a part of?

Note: You may prefer to discuss your friends, members of a group, colleagues, or acquaintances instead of family. Please discuss other people in your culture as you like.

3) After you share your responses to the questions, from 12:50 to 13:05, please discuss:

1. Are your responses exactly alike? If not, why not?
2. What differences did you find among responses?
3. How can you explain the differences?

13:05 to 14:05 Lunch Time