1. Material and Non-Material Culture: My Cultural Handprint
AP Human Geography
Cultural Patterns and Processes Unit

2. For today, 11/01
Take out a sheet of paper and label it “Intro to Culture.” Copy down these four definitions.
(1.) Culture: body of beliefs and material traits that together constitute a group’s way of life
Habit: individual
Custom: group
(2.) Cultural trait: what people do to reflect their culture
(3.) Cultural norm: “laws” that guide people’s behavior
(4.) Taboo: a restriction on a behavior

3. In your groups, discuss how culture can be like an iceberg.
Cultural Iceberg
Two components of culture: material culture and non- material culture.
In your groups, discuss how culture can be like an iceberg.

4. Non-Material Culture: Abstract, “below water”
Values: standards that guide how people assess desirability, goodness, and beauty
Serve as guidelines for moral living
Beliefs: specific statements that people hold to be true
Almost always based on values
Behaviors: actions that people take
Based on values and beliefs as reflected in cultural norms

5. Material Culture = concrete, “above water”
Artifacts
reflect values, behaviors, beliefs of a culture
Values?
Behaviors?
Beliefs?

6. Norms: the laws of culture
Written Norms
Murder
Theft
Drug use
Assault
Unwritten Norms
Gender roles
Dining etiquette
Bathroom etiquette
Elevator protocol
A violation of these norms can be considered taboo in American culture.

7. My Cultural Handprint
Beliefs
Behaviors
For each finger: identify various elements of your culture
As part of your culture, include:
What do you value?
What do you believe?
What are some of your behaviors?
What artifacts do you have?
In the palm: explain how your artifacts and behaviors reflect your values and beliefs.
Values
Artifacts
Explain how your non-material culture is reflected in your material culture
Name, pd.