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Cultural Tapestry: Our Community

Joehami Leon

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Cultural Tapestry Lesson Plan

Students will be able to identify and appreciate diverse cultural backgrounds within their community and articulate the importance of cultural understanding and respect.

Understanding and celebrating cultural diversity fosters a more inclusive and respectful community, helping students develop empathy and global awareness essential for their future interactions.

Audience

6th-8th Grade Students

Time

60 minutes

Approach

Through sharing, discussion, and a collaborative activity, students will explore and value cultural diversity.

Materials

Google Slides: Cultural Tapestry Slide Deck, Printed copies of My Cultural Mosaic Activity, and Art supplies (markers, colored pencils, magazines for collage, glue sticks, construction paper)

Prep

Teacher Preparation

30 minutes

  • Review the Cultural Tapestry Slide Deck and customize as needed.
    * Print enough copies of the My Cultural Mosaic Activity worksheet for each student.
    * Gather art supplies: markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, construction paper, and optional magazines for collage elements.
    * Arrange classroom for group work or partner discussions if desired.

Step 1

Introduction & Warm-Up: What is Culture?

10 minutes

  • Begin with the Cultural Tapestry Slide Deck (Slide 1-3).
    * Engage students with a brief warm-up question: "What comes to mind when you hear the word 'culture'?" Encourage a quick share-out or a think-pair-share.
    * Introduce the lesson objective: to celebrate and understand the diverse cultural backgrounds in our community.

Step 2

Exploring Our Cultural Tapestry

15 minutes

  • Use the Cultural Tapestry Slide Deck (Slide 4-6) to define culture and discuss various elements of culture (food, language, traditions, art, etc.).
    * Facilitate a short group discussion: "How does understanding different cultures enrich our school and community?"
    * Share examples of cultural diversity within the local community (without singling out students).

Step 3

My Cultural Mosaic Activity

25 minutes

  • Introduce the My Cultural Mosaic Activity (Slide 7-8).
    * Distribute the worksheet and art supplies.
    * Explain the activity: Students will create a
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Slide Deck

Welcome to Our Cultural Tapestry!

Let's explore the rich diversity in our community.

Warm-Up Question: What comes to mind when you hear the word 'culture'?

Welcome students and introduce the exciting topic of cultural diversity. Ask a warm-up question to get them thinking.

Our Learning Journey

Objective: To identify and appreciate diverse cultural backgrounds within our community, and understand the importance of cultural respect.

Share the learning objective for the session. Emphasize that this lesson is about understanding and respecting differences.

What Is Culture?

It's more than just what we eat or where we come from. It's how we live, think, and connect!

Transition to the definition of culture. Ask students for their initial thoughts before revealing the definition.

Elements of Culture

Culture includes:

  • Traditions & Customs: How we celebrate, special events
  • Language: The words we use to communicate
  • Food: Dishes that represent our heritage
  • Art & Music: Creative expressions
  • Beliefs & Values: What we think is important
  • Family Structure: How families are organized

Explain different elements of culture. Use examples that resonate with middle schoolers, like music or celebrations.

Why Celebrate Diversity?

How does understanding different cultures make our school and community stronger?

  • New ideas and perspectives
  • Increased empathy and understanding
  • A richer, more vibrant community
  • Learning from each other's experiences

Facilitate a discussion about the benefits of cultural diversity. Encourage students to think about how it enriches their own lives and the school.

Activity: My Cultural Mosaic

Time to create a piece of art that represents YOU and your culture!

You'll make a "mosaic" highlighting different aspects of your cultural background.

Introduce the main activity. Explain that they will be creating a personal representation of their cultural background.

My Cultural Mosaic Instructions

  1. Think about what makes your culture unique.
  2. Use the My Cultural Mosaic Activity sheet to guide your ideas.
  3. Draw, write, or collage elements that represent your cultural food, traditions, language, and more.
  4. Be creative and proud!

Briefly explain the instructions for the activity. Let them know they will have a worksheet to guide them.

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Activity

My Cultural Mosaic Activity

Name: _________________________ Date: _________________________

Instructions:

Think about your cultural background. What makes you, you? Use the sections below to draw, write, or collage images that represent different aspects of your culture. Be creative and proud to share your unique story!

1. My Cultural Food:

What foods are special in your culture or family? What do they mean to you?











2. My Family Traditions:

What traditions, holidays, or customs does your family celebrate? How do you celebrate them?











3. Language & Expressions:

Are there any special words, phrases, or languages spoken in your home or culture? Share a few! (You can write them and explain their meaning).











4. Arts, Music, or Stories:

What kind of music, art, or stories are important in your culture? How do they make you feel?











5. What makes my culture special to me?

In your own words, describe why your cultural background is important to you.












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