Beyond My Backyard? Script

Introduction (Slide 1: Beyond My Backyard? Exploring Cultures!)

Teacher: "Hey [Student's Name]! Welcome! Today, we're going on an exciting adventure without even leaving our seats. We're going to explore what makes people and their worlds unique and wonderful! Have you ever thought about how different people live, or what makes their families special?"

What is Culture? (Slide 2: What is Culture?)

Teacher: "So, our first stop on this adventure is understanding something called 'culture.' It sounds like a big word, but it's really just like a special recipe that makes a group of people, or even a family, unique! What do you think some ingredients in a 'culture recipe' might be? Think about your own family!"

Teacher: "Exactly! It can be the yummy food we eat, the clothes people wear for special occasions, the languages they speak, holidays they celebrate, or even the stories they tell. It's all the ways people live and do things together."

My Culture, Your Culture (Slide 3: My Culture, Your Culture)

Teacher: "And guess what? Everyone has a culture! Even our own families have their unique culture. Can you think of a special tradition your family has? Maybe a special meal you always have on a certain day, or a way you celebrate birthdays?"

Teacher: "That's a fantastic example! Those traditions are part of your family's culture. They make your family special."

Meeting New Friends! (Slide 4: Meeting New Friends!)

Teacher: "Now, imagine you meet a new friend at school, and their family's 'recipe' is a little different from yours. Maybe they eat different foods, or celebrate different holidays. How do you think we should act when we encounter someone who does things a little differently?"

Teacher: "Awesome ideas! The best way is to Be Curious! Ask kind questions. Be Kind! Listen and try to learn. And always, always Be Respectful! Value their way of life, even if it's new to you. It's about understanding that different doesn't mean wrong, just different and interesting!"

Meet Maya: A Story of Two Worlds (Slide 5: Meet Maya: A Story of Two Worlds)

Teacher: "Speaking of meeting new people, today we're going to read a story about a girl named Maya. She has a really interesting experience because she gets to live in two different cultural worlds. Let's read her story together and see what she learns about cultural sensitivity. As we read, I want you to think about what makes Maya's experiences special and how she feels about them."

*(Proceed to Meet Maya: A Story of Two Worlds Reading. Read together, pausing to discuss key points and ask comprehension questions as outlined in the Lesson Plan. After reading, use prompts from the Cultural Curiosity Discussion Guide.)

Culture Connections Activity (Transition to Cultural Compass Activity and Culture Connections Worksheet)

Teacher: "Maya learned a lot about embracing her different cultures! Now, let's do our own activity to think more about different cultural elements. We're going to use this Cultural Compass Activity and then fill out our Culture Connections Worksheet."

• (Guide the student through the activity and worksheet as described in the Lesson Plan.) *

Discussion and Wrap-up (Using Cultural Curiosity Discussion Guide)

Teacher: "Great job on that activity, [Student's Name]! It shows you're really thinking about how diverse our world is. Let's talk a little more using some questions from our discussion guide. Remember what we learned from Maya, and how we decided to be curious, kind, and respectful when meeting new cultures?"

• (Facilitate discussion using the Cultural Curiosity Discussion Guide prompts.) *

Teacher: "Fantastic insights! So, what's one big thing you'll remember about cultural sensitivity or exploring different cultures today?"

Teacher: "That's a wonderful take away. Remember, our world is full of amazing people with unique stories, foods, and ways of life. By being curious, kind, and respectful, we make our own world, and the world around us, a much more interesting and welcoming place for everyone. Thanks for being such a great cultural explorer today!"

Meet Maya: A Story of Two Worlds

Maya loved Tuesdays. Tuesdays meant her Abuela (that’s Spanish for grandma) came over, and the whole house would fill with the smell of warm tortillas and sweet cinnamon. Abuela didn’t speak much English, and Maya didn’t speak much Spanish, but they had their own special language of smiles, hugs, and delicious food.

At school, things were different. Maya’s friends, like Leo and Chloe, talked about pizza and video games. They celebrated Halloween and Christmas, just like Maya’s American side of the family. Maya loved school, but sometimes she felt a little shy about her Abuela’s visits. Would her friends think her family was weird because they spoke Spanish, ate different food, and had noisy family gatherings?

One Tuesday, Leo came over to play. Maya was nervous. When Abuela arrived, she brought a big plate of tamales – a special Mexican dish made with corn dough and tasty fillings. Abuela beamed, offering a tamale to Leo with a cheerful, “Para ti, mi hijo!” (That means “For you, my son!”)

Leo looked at the tamale. It was wrapped in a corn husk, not like anything he’d seen before. Maya held her breath. Then, Leo carefully unwrapped it. He took a tiny bite. His eyes widened. “Wow, Maya! This is amazing! What is it?”

Maya explained all about tamales, and how her Abuela made them. Abuela, seeing Leo’s enjoyment, started telling a story in Spanish, with lots of hand gestures and laughter. Maya, even though she missed some words, translated the parts she understood, about a mischievous goat on Abuela’s farm in Mexico.

Leo was fascinated. He asked more questions about Mexico, about Abuela’s farm, and about other Spanish words. Maya felt a warmth spread through her. She wasn’t weird; she was special! She had two amazing worlds to share. Leo thought her Abuela and her culture were cool, not strange.

From that day on, Maya realized that sharing her culture wasn’t scary, it was a way to connect. She learned that even though people might do things differently, everyone has interesting stories and special traditions that are worth celebrating. And sometimes, the best way to make new friends is to share a little bit of your own unique recipe.

Culture Connections Worksheet

Name: ________________________

Part 1: About Maya's Story

1. What are two different cultures Maya experiences in the story? (Hint: Think about her family and her school!)
   
   
   
   

2. What special food did Abuela bring that Leo tried?
   
   
   
   

3. How did Maya feel at first about her Abuela visiting when Leo was there? (Circle one)

   • Happy
   • Excited
   • Nervous
   • Confused
     
     
     
     

4. How did Leo react after trying the special food? What did he think?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. What did Maya learn by the end of the story about sharing her culture?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Part 2: Your World of Culture

6. Think about your own family. What is one special tradition or food that is part of your family's 'recipe' or culture?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

7. What is something unique or interesting about your family or yourself that you could share with a new friend?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

8. Why is it important to be curious and respectful when you learn about someone else's culture?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Cultural Curiosity Discussion Guide

After Reading "Meet Maya" and Completing the Activity:

Teacher: "We just read about Maya and thought about our own unique cultures. Let's chat a bit more about what we learned and how it makes us think about the world!"

Discussion Prompts:

1. What was one new or interesting thing you learned from Maya's story or from our activity today?
   
   
   

2. Maya felt nervous about sharing her culture at first. Have you ever felt nervous about sharing something about yourself or your family that might be different from others?
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. When Leo tried the tamale and asked questions, how do you think that made Maya feel? Why is it good to be curious about someone else's culture?
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. Can you think of a time when you saw someone doing something differently (maybe a different holiday, food, or game) and what you thought or did?
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Why is it important to be respectful of other people's cultures, even if you don't fully understand them or they seem very different from your own?
   
   
   
   
   
   

6. What's one way you could show curiosity or kindness to someone from a different background or culture in the future?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Cultural Compass Activity

Materials: Small whiteboards or paper, markers or pencils

Teacher: "Now that we've thought about Maya's world and talked about our own, let's create our own 'Cultural Compass' to help us remember how many wonderful things make up a culture!"

Instructions:

1. My Culture (5 minutes):

   • Take your paper or whiteboard. In the center, write or draw "My Culture!"
   • Now, in different directions (like a compass!), write or draw 2-3 things that are part of your family's culture. Think about:
     • A favorite food or meal
     • A special holiday or celebration
     • A language spoken (even just a few words!) or a special saying
     • A unique family tradition or activity
   • (Teacher guidance: Encourage drawing if writing is challenging. Ask guiding questions like, "What's a food your family loves?" or "Is there a special day you always celebrate?")
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

2. Exploring Another Culture (5 minutes):

   • Now, let's imagine a friend from a different country or background. Or, we can pick a specific country like Japan or India!
   • What are 1-2 things we might know or guess about their culture? (e.g., sushi from Japan, colorful festivals from India, different clothes, different music).
   • Draw or write these ideas on your compass, pointing away from "My Culture!" You can use colors to show different ideas.
   • (Teacher guidance: Provide a few simple examples or prompt with a known cultural element, e.g., "In Mexico, people sometimes celebrate with piñatas! What's something interesting from another culture you've heard about?")
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Discussion (Using Cultural Curiosity Discussion Guide prompts):

Teacher: "Look at your Cultural Compass! It shows how unique your culture is and how many interesting things are out there in the world. How does seeing all these different things make you feel? What does your compass tell you about being curious and respectful?"

(Transition to the Cultural Curiosity Discussion Guide for further discussion.)