Language Arts Activity: Cultural Exchange (NOVEMBER

Language Arts Activity: Cultural Exchange (NOVEMBER - DECEMBER)

Printable Copy

Overview
Students will examine both a holiday unique to their region and a common holiday (e.g. New Year's) and share the traditions and customs with other classes and see how other communities celebrate. Students will also analyze the effect of climate on this celebration. Students will then construct a poster, bulletin board, or multimedia presentation highlighting the similarities and differences between the two. Students should include their findings in a final report that is submitted to the project Discussion Area. Final Reports will be published at the completion of this project and will be posted in the Student Area.

Objectives
Students will:

Acquire a geographical understanding by studying the world in spatial terms.

Use the social communications of others to enrich their understanding of people and their views.

Read and write for social interaction.

Understand and apply scientific concepts, principles, and theories pertaining to the physical setting and living environment.

Time
Approximately two 45 minute class periods.

Materials

Computers with Internet access

Notebooks and Pencils

Large wall-size world map with latitude and longitude lines

Poster board or a large piece of paper (Multimedia presentation software such as PowerPoint optional)

If students locate the schools individually, the following free downloadable world maps are available from National Geographic if they do not already have one:

Small World Map (.gif format)

Large World Map (.pdf format)

Printable Student Worksheet (Optional)

Teacher Preparation

All students should research and describe their school however only one letter should be posted to the Discussion Area. Therefore you might find it helpful to review the following:

Implementation Assistance Strategies

Assessment Suggestions
The students' Culture Posters / presentations OR worksheet can be used for assessment (e.g. Are the answers complete, accurate, and do they show an understanding of the lesson concepts?).

Procedure

NOTE: The following instructions for the Language Arts Activity: Cultural Exchange are printed in the Project Instructions section of this web site.

Language Arts Activity: Cultural Exchange (NOVEMBER - DECEMBER)

Geography

How does climate affect your environment?

Cultural Exchange

Materials:

List of Participating Schools

Large wall-size world map with latitude and longitude lines

Push pins, sticky dots/stars, different color pens, etc. for plotting the schools.

Optional: the following free downloadable world maps are available from National Geographic:

Small World Map (.gif format)

Large World Map (.pdf format)

Printable Student Worksheet (Optional)

Instructions:

PART 1

Describe in detail how New Year's is celebrated in your community. Things to think about include:
- When is it celebrated (e.g. the date)?
- What is the weather like?
- Are there special traditions?
- Is there any special music?
- What kind of food might you have?
- What do people wear?
Select and describe in detail a holiday or celebration that is unique to your community or region. Things to think about include:
- When is it celebrated (e.g. the date)?
- What is the weather like?
- Are there special traditions?
- Is there any special music?
- What kind of food might you have?
- What do people wear?
Prepare the information you have collected above into one letter and submit to the Language Arts conference of Discussion Area. Be sure to specify your city, country, latitude, etc. so the other classes can locate where your school is located.

PART 2

Return the Language Arts conference of the Discussion Area and select and read another school's letter.
NOTE: You may need to return to the Language Arts conference a few days after you submit your letter from PART 1 if there are no other letters posted.
Construct a Culture Poster, bulletin board, or multi-media presentation:
1. comparing and contrasting the differences in your New Year's celebrations.
2. comparing and contrasting the differences and similarities between the celebrations holidays unique to your community with the celebrations in another community.
3. describing how temperature affects holiday celebrations.
Include what you have learned about how temperature and/or climate affects the way you live in your community and the way others live in their communities in your final reports.