Comparative Culture A Year-Long Social Studies Unit

Concept: People find ways to adapt to their environment

Geography/Climate: Cultural development is driven by physical circumstances. Geography/Climate: Cultural development is driven by physical circumstances.

Food/Shelter: Basic needs are met with available resources. Food/Shelter: Basic needs are met with available resources.

Religion/Ritual: Belief systems arise out of circumstances. Religion/Ritual: Belief systems arise out of circumstances.

Recreation: Play is practice for life Recreation: Play is practice for life

Concept: People in a culture find rules to protect themselves

Government Systems: Methods of rule evolve as circumstances change. Government Systems: Methods of rule evolve as circumstances change.

Famous People: Leaders arise from need. Famous People: Leaders arise from need.

Division of Labor: Specializing can improve way of life. Division of Labor: Specializing can improve way of life.

Social Unit: Family units increase the chance of survival.

Concept: Cultures interact and change each other

Transportation: Availability of transportation affects development of culture. Transportation: Availability of transportation affects development of culture.

Language (written and numbers): People invent ways to express themselves and communicate more effectively. Language (written and numbers): People invent ways to express themselves and communicate more effectively.

Technology: Cultures borrow ideas from each other.

Arts: People find expression of personal identity and social order in outward appearance. Arts: People find expression of personal identity and social order in outward appearance.

Universal ElementEssential QuestionEnduring Understandings Geography/ClimateWhat makes a good location in which to live? People adapt to their environment to survive FoodWhy don’t we all eat the same food? People adapt to the resources available. ShelterWhat are the best houses in which to live? Why don’t we all live in the same kinds of houses? People adapt to the climate and geography of their environment, using available resources. TransportationWhat is the best way to get around? People use naturally occurring geographical features and fauna (waterways, animals). GovernmentWould life be different without government? What is the best way to run a civilization? What makes a government? People find rules to protect themselves and keep order. Family UnitWhat makes a family?Family units increase the chances of survival. ReligionWhy don’t we worship in the same way? What is religion? Belief systems arise out of circumstances.

Universal ElementEssential QuestionEnduring Understandings Division of LaborIs it a good idea to rely on others for your needs? Specializing can improve way of life. Language (written and numbers)What is the best way to communicate? Why do we need to write things down? People invent ways to express themselves and communicate more effectively. Famous PeopleWhat is “famous”? What makes people famous? Is being famous a good thing? What happens to famous people? Leaders arise from need. ArtsWhat objects do we value? Why make beautiful things when beauty is all around us? What is beauty? Human beings are driven to express themselves. Clothing/JewelryWhat are the best clothes to wear? Why don’t we all wear the same clothes? People adapt to their environment, and find expression of personal identity and social order in outward appearance. RecreationWhy do we play? Is play important? Play is practice for life. Technology (Inventions)Is there such a thing as a new idea? Cultures interact and change each other (cultural borrowing).

Planning Guide For Project –Based Area of Study Sensemaking Tasks:

Webquests: Webquests: Students research topics online through selected Webquests. Links are provided on the classroom website.

Award Presentation Speeches Award Presentation Speeches Students select an explorer and team up for award presentations, acting as presenter or recipient. The recipients are famous people of history. Students give speeches that outline their fame or infamy, and the award is titled accordingly.

Artifact Creation Artifact Creation Students build replicas of artifacts of the culture. They analyze the link between available resources, inventions of the period, and the effect on lifestyle.

Jigsaw Team Teaching Jigsaw Team Teaching Students take on the role of teacher, researching an area of study and presenting it to the rest of the class. Focus is on designing an opening activity that engages their peers.

Big Idea Journal Big Idea Journal Students keep a journal of the essential questions that arise from group discussion. As more questions and possible answers arise, they are entered in the journal.

Citizen of the Culture Journal Citizen of the Culture Journal Students take on the life of an anonymous person in history, and record a period of their life, keeping the daily life historically accurate and recording their reaction to an important event in history.

Child of History Portrait/Pen Pal Letter Child of History Portrait/Pen Pal Letter Students draw a portrait of themselves as a child of the culture of study, and write a pen pal letter to a child of the current age, explaining their way of life.

Architectural Design Architectural Design Student teams select a building to research. The focus is on borrowed elements of design. They teach to the class using a PowerPoint presentation.

Final Project “Ideal Island” “Ideal Island” Students borrow elements from all the cultures they have studied to compose their ideal culture. They create a three dimensional model, map, and poster.