1. What is Culture?

2. Matrix Overview

3. Essential Questions What do we mean by the word “culture”? What are the visible and invisible components of culture?

4. Cultural Self Assessment There are a series of statements grouped in pairs. For each item, circle the statement that they are most comfortable with. You need to respond as spontaneously as possible following your first instinct. There are no right or wrong responses.

5. Talking Drawings What is Culture? Draw items of what you think culture represents and be prepared to explain why you chose those drawings using a single word or phrase for each item in the drawing. After 8 - 10 minutes, share in pairs your drawings, discussing what you included in the drawings and why. You should record the differences in your drawings on the activity sheet. Share your ideas on what is a culture. I will place the key words/phrases mentioned by the class on the board From these words and others try to create a working definition of culture.

7. What is the definition of Culture? One definition of culture is: Culture is shared learned behavior which is transmitted from one generation to another for purposes of promoting individual and personal survival, adaptation, and growth and development. Culture has both external (e.g., artifacts, roles, institutions) and internal representations (e.g., values, attitudes, beliefs, …) (Samovar & Porter, 2004, p.32). Another definition is: Culture is a system of beliefs, values, and assumptions about life that guide behavior and are shared by a group of people. It includes customs, language, and material artifacts. These are transmitted from generation to generation, rarely with explicit instructions (Source).Source

8. Everyone Has a Culture Activity: 40 minutes (Adapted from “Defining Culture” Peace Corp Lesson Plan)Defining Culture Discussing the different cultures present in the classroom. Distribute handout “Everyone Has a Culture, Everyone Is Different” and complete the questions. After 15 minutes, share your answers with a partner and discuss your answers considering the following questions:Everyone Has a Culture, Everyone Is Different How different were your answers? Why do you think there are differences? What similarities in your answers did you find? Why do you think they were similar? Share your answers with the class.

10. Culture is like an Iceberg Culture Is Like an Iceberg Activity: 15 Minutes

11. Journal What do we mean by the word "culture"? What are the visible and invisible components of culture? What cultural characteristics make groups different from each other? In what ways are groups similar? (Many of the responses can be the same as the differences.)