CULTURE CLASH Fixing the stereotypes among race, religion, and ethnicity… Get ready, this might be!

Books

Persepolis: A Story of a Childhood Setting: Iraq during Islamic Revolution. Setting: Iraq during Islamic Revolution. Tells story of a young girl who is growing up during this revolution. Tells story of a young girl who is growing up during this revolution. Does not know about government or political views Does not know about government or political views Ignorant of her families involvement, as time passes she becomes more aware of her family’s viewpoints. Ignorant of her families involvement, as time passes she becomes more aware of her family’s viewpoints. Attempts to learn and form her own opinions on the matter and eventually becomes involved with her parents in the protests. Attempts to learn and form her own opinions on the matter and eventually becomes involved with her parents in the protests. She is sent to Vienna to live with her Aunt to be safe from the harm of the Revolution She is sent to Vienna to live with her Aunt to be safe from the harm of the Revolution

Does My Head Look Big in This? Setting: Australia… I know, Interesting…. Setting: Australia… I know, Interesting…. A young woman decides that she wants to “go full time” in the Hijrab. A HUGE religious decision. A young woman decides that she wants to “go full time” in the Hijrab. A HUGE religious decision. Depicts her struggle as a young woman Depicts her struggle as a young woman As a Muslim (full time) in front of her peers As a Muslim (full time) in front of her peers Deals with boys (ugh…) Deals with boys (ugh…) Cultural and personal growth an realization. Cultural and personal growth an realization.

Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian Setting: Eastern Washington state on the Spokane Indian Reservation and Reardon High School. Setting: Eastern Washington state on the Spokane Indian Reservation and Reardon High School. Struggles growing up as an American Indian Struggles growing up as an American Indian Dealing with pressure from not only an opposing race but also from his own Dealing with pressure from not only an opposing race but also from his own Growing up in poverty Growing up in poverty Being an outcast in your own society as well as in another. (smarter than the average bear and doesn’t look like the average bear either). Being an outcast in your own society as well as in another. (smarter than the average bear and doesn’t look like the average bear either).

Dante and Aristotle Discover the Secrets of the Universe Setting: El Paso Texas. Setting: El Paso Texas. Coming of age Coming of age Mexican American. NOT PROUD OF IT! Mexican American. NOT PROUD OF IT! Two young men, completely opposite but drawn together. Two young men, completely opposite but drawn together. Sruggles through individualism, coming of age, coming out of the closet, and family issues. Sruggles through individualism, coming of age, coming out of the closet, and family issues.

Literary pairs

Movie Option Smoke Signals (American Indian) Smoke Signals (American Indian) House of Sand and Fog (Muslim American) House of Sand and Fog (Muslim American) Real Women Have Curves (Mexican) Real Women Have Curves (Mexican) Pair any of these movies or scenes from them with the text to better understand the culture of the group you are discussing. Pair any of these movies or scenes from them with the text to better understand the culture of the group you are discussing. Assignment: Write a review on the IMBD or Amazon websites about the film and how it helps your understanding of the new culture. Perhaps form a class blog to post discussion questions. Assignment: Write a review on the IMBD or Amazon websites about the film and how it helps your understanding of the new culture. Perhaps form a class blog to post discussion questions. Assignment: Form a chart that compares dominant society to that of the new culture. Choose a scene from the one of the films that illustrates on or more of these differences Assignment: Form a chart that compares dominant society to that of the new culture. Choose a scene from the one of the films that illustrates on or more of these differences

Other Activities Investigate well known American Indians of today. Investigate well known American Indians of today. Group presentation to the class about their impact on the native or dominant societies in today’s culture. Group presentation to the class about their impact on the native or dominant societies in today’s culture. Make a bumper sticker geared toward American Indians Make a bumper sticker geared toward American Indians ie) America: Love it or give it back ie) America: Love it or give it back Of course you can’t trust the government! Just ask an Indian! Of course you can’t trust the government! Just ask an Indian! Explore the Patriot Act and ask students to create a poster or a T-shirt with their viewpoint on it to present to the class. Explore the Patriot Act and ask students to create a poster or a T-shirt with their viewpoint on it to present to the class.

Teacher Resources Middles East Links Middles East Links Middles East Links Middles East Links Encyclopedia/hijab.htm Encyclopedia/hijab.htm Encyclopedia/hijab.htm Encyclopedia/hijab.htm Mexican American Links Mexican American Links American Indian Links American Indian Links

Bibliography Abdel-Fattah, R. (2005). Does my head look big in this. New York: Scholastic. Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part time indian. New York: Little, Brown and Company. Saenz, B. (2012). Dante and aristotle discover the secrets of the universe. New York: Simon and Schuster BFYR. ADD PERSEPOLIS!