Culture C.O.D.E. Cracked!

Chris Lawson

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Culture C.O.D.E. Cracked!

Students will be able to define culture using the C.O.D.E. acronym (Customs, Origins, Diversity, Environment) and identify examples of each element within various cultures.

Understanding culture helps students appreciate the richness of human experience, develop empathy, and navigate an increasingly interconnected world. This lesson provides a framework for exploring and respecting differences.

Audience

6th Grade

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Direct instruction, interactive discussion, and a guided worksheet.

Materials

Culture C.O.D.E. Slide Deck, - Culture C.O.D.E. Script, - Culture C.O.D.E. Worksheet, and - Culture C.O.D.E. Answer Key

Prep

Preparation

10 minutes

• Review the Culture C.O.D.E. Slide Deck and Culture C.O.D.E. Script.
• Print copies of the Culture C.O.D.E. Worksheet for each student.
• Ensure projector/smartboard is ready for the slide deck.

Step 1

Introduction: What is Culture?

5 minutes

• Begin with a brief discussion using the Culture C.O.D.E. Slide Deck (Slide 1-2) to activate prior knowledge. Ask students: "What comes to mind when you hear the word 'culture'?"
• Introduce the C.O.D.E. acronym as a tool to understand culture more deeply. (Refer to Culture C.O.D.E. Script for detailed prompts.)

Step 2

Exploring C.O.D.E.

15 minutes

• Go through each letter of C.O.D.E. (Customs, Origins, Diversity, Environment) using the Culture C.O.D.E. Slide Deck (Slides 3-6).
• For each letter, provide examples and facilitate a short discussion, encouraging students to share their own understanding or examples. (Follow Culture C.O.D.E. Script for guidance.)
• Distribute the Culture C.O.D.E. Worksheet. Guide students through the first example together.

Step 3

Worksheet Activity & Wrap-up

10 minutes

• Allow students to work individually or in pairs on the remainder of the Culture C.O.D.E. Worksheet.
• Circulate to provide support and answer questions.
• Conclude by briefly reviewing some answers as a class, emphasizing the importance of respecting cultural differences. (Use Culture C.O.D.E. Answer Key as a reference.)
• Assign any unfinished parts of the worksheet for homework if necessary.

Slide Deck

What is Culture?

• What comes to mind when you hear the word "culture"?
• Why is it important to understand different cultures?

Greet students and start with an engaging question to pique their interest in the topic of culture. Transition into the idea that culture is all around us.

Unlock the C.O.D.E. to Culture!

C.O.D.E. helps us understand and appreciate different cultures!

C - Customs
O - Origins
D - Diversity
E - Environment

Introduce the C.O.D.E. acronym as a simple way to remember the key components of culture. Explain that each letter will help us unlock a different aspect.

C is for Customs

• Customs: What people usually do, like traditions, holidays, or daily routines.
• Examples: Celebrating birthdays, eating certain foods on special days, greetings people use.

Explain 'Customs' with examples. Encourage students to think of customs they know.

O is for Origins

• Origins: Where people, traditions, or ideas come from; their history and background.
• Examples: The history of a country, the story behind a holiday, where your family comes from.

Explain 'Origins' and how it relates to history and background. Give examples like where people or traditions come from.

D is for Diversity

• Diversity: The variety and differences found within a culture or between cultures.
• Examples: Different languages spoken, various types of music, unique art styles, different ways people dress.

Explain 'Diversity' as the variety within and between cultures. Emphasize that diversity makes cultures rich.

E is for Environment

• Environment: How the physical surroundings, climate, and natural resources influence a culture.
• Examples: Food grown in a region, types of homes built, traditional clothing suited for weather.

Explain 'Environment' and how physical surroundings and resources shape culture. Offer examples of how geography influences lifestyle.

You've Cracked the C.O.D.E.!

• Culture is a mix of Customs, Origins, Diversity, and Environment!
• Use the C.O.D.E. to explore and understand cultures around you.
• Now, let's practice with a worksheet!

Summarize the C.O.D.E. and encourage students to use it to explore cultures around them. Introduce the worksheet as a practical application.

Script

Culture C.O.D.E. Script

Introduction: What is Culture? (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going to embark on an exciting journey to understand something that shapes every single one of us and the world around us. That word is… 'culture.'"

"When you hear the word 'culture,' what immediately comes to your mind? Don't worry about being right or wrong, just share your initial thoughts."

"Great ideas! Culture can be a lot of things. It's the way we live, the traditions we follow, the food we eat, the languages we speak, and so much more. It's essentially the shared characteristics of a group of people."

"Why do you think it's important for us to understand different cultures?"

"Absolutely! Understanding different cultures helps us appreciate each other, learn new things, and get along better in our diverse world. To help us explore culture, we're going to use a special code today: C.O.D.E.!"

(Display Culture C.O.D.E. Slide Deck - Slide 2)

Exploring C.O.D.E. (15 minutes)

Teacher: "C.O.D.E. stands for Customs, Origins, Diversity, and Environment. Each letter helps us unpack a different part of what makes a culture unique."

C is for Customs

Teacher: "Let's start with 'C' for Customs."

(Display Culture C.O.D.E. Slide Deck - Slide 3)

"Customs are the usual ways of doing things in a particular group or society. Think of them as traditions, habits, or practices that are passed down through generations. These can be big things like holiday celebrations, or small things like how people greet each other."

"Can anyone think of a custom they observe in their family or community?"

"Those are excellent examples! Things like family dinners on Sundays, specific ways we celebrate holidays, or even how we learn in school are all customs."

O is for Origins

Teacher: "Next up, 'O' for Origins."

(Display Culture C.O.D.E. Slide Deck - Slide 4)

"Origins refer to where something comes from – its beginning, its history, or its root. Understanding the origins of a culture helps us understand why certain customs or beliefs exist."

"For example, where do some of our holidays originate? Or, where do your families trace their origins?"

"Fantastic! Knowing where things come from helps us connect to the past and understand the present."

D is for Diversity

Teacher: "Now for 'D,' which stands for Diversity."

(Display Culture C.O.D.E. Slide Deck - Slide 5)

"Diversity means variety or difference. Within any culture, and certainly across different cultures, there's an amazing amount of diversity. This can be seen in languages, clothing, music, art, food, and so much more."

"What are some ways you see diversity in our classroom or community? Think about different languages, foods, or celebrations."

"Wonderful observations! Our world is rich because of its diversity, and it's something to celebrate."

E is for Environment

Teacher: "Finally, 'E' for Environment."

(Display Culture C.O.D.E. Slide Deck - Slide 6)

"Environment refers to the physical surroundings – the land, climate, and natural resources – and how they influence a culture. For example, people living in a desert will have different customs, foods, and ways of life than people living near an ocean or in a cold mountain region."

"How might the environment influence the type of clothing people wear or the food they eat in different parts of the world?"

"Exactly! The environment plays a huge role in shaping a culture's daily life."

Worksheet Activity & Wrap-up (10 minutes)

Teacher: "You've all done an amazing job cracking the C.O.D.E.! Now, let's put what we've learned into practice."

"I'm going to hand out the Culture C.O.D.E. Worksheet. We'll do the first question together to make sure everyone understands."

(Distribute Culture C.O.D.E. Worksheet)

"Look at Question 1. It asks about a specific cultural example. How might we apply C.O.D.E. to describe it?"

(Guide students through the first question, referring to the Culture C.O.D.E. Answer Key as needed.)

"Alright, now that we've done one together, you can work individually or with a partner to complete the rest of the worksheet. I'll be walking around to answer any questions you might have."

(Circulate and provide support.)

(After about 7-8 minutes)

"Okay everyone, let's bring it back together. Can a few brave volunteers share one of their answers from the worksheet?"

"Excellent work! Remember, culture is rich and diverse, and the C.O.D.E. helps us understand it better. Keep your eyes open for customs, origins, diversity, and environmental influences in the world around you."

"Any questions before we finish up? If you didn't finish the worksheet, please complete it for homework."

(Display Culture C.O.D.E. Slide Deck - Slide 7)

Worksheet

Culture C.O.D.E. Worksheet

Name: _____________________________
Date: _____________________________

Unlocking Culture with C.O.D.E.

Instructions: For each scenario or cultural element below, identify which part of C.O.D.E. (Customs, Origins, Diversity, Environment) it best represents. Then, briefly explain your reasoning. You might find that some examples fit more than one category, but pick the best fit and explain why.

C = Customs