Culture Connect Script

Introduction (5 minutes)

Teacher: “Good morning, everyone! Welcome to our Culture Connect lesson. Today, we are going to explore and celebrate cultural differences. By the end of our time together, you will be able to explain what culture is, describe why cultural acceptance matters, and share insights you’ve gained from someone else’s culture.

Teacher: “Let’s begin by defining the word ‘culture.’ Please turn your eyes to Slide 1 in the Culture Connect Slide Deck.”

pause 5 seconds to allow students to view the slide

Teacher: “Culture refers to the shared beliefs, traditions, language, food, art, and values of a group of people. It’s like the special thread that weaves a community together.”

Teacher: “What else comes to mind when you hear the word ‘culture’?”
Wait 3–5 seconds; call on 2–3 students.

Teacher: “Great thoughts! Now, let’s look at Slide 2.”
Display Slide 2 from the Culture Connect Slide Deck.

Teacher: “Here we see ‘Cultural Acceptance.’ That means respecting, understanding, and valuing differences across cultures. Why do you think cultural acceptance is important—in school, our community, or in jobs you might have in the future?”
Wait 5 seconds; invite 2 volunteers.

Teacher: “Excellent—accepting differences helps us work together more smoothly and builds empathy. Let’s move into our reading.”

Reading & Reflection (7 minutes)

Teacher: “I’m handing out the Cultural Snapshot Reading. As you read, underline two cultural elements you find new or surprising. Then, write a quick reflection answering: ‘Why might this element be important to someone’s cultural identity?’”
Hand out readings.

Teacher: “You have 3 minutes. Begin now.”

Teacher: “Time’s up! Please put a star ★ next to the reflection you’d most like to share in a moment.”

Group Discussion (7 minutes)

Teacher: “Now, let’s form groups of three or four. Go ahead and find your group.”
Pause while students organize.

Teacher: “In each group, take turns answering the questions on Slide 3 of the Culture Connect Slide Deck:

1. What surprised you about the reading?
2. How does accepting differences help us collaborate?

Remember to listen carefully and ask follow-up questions like, ‘Can you tell me more?’ or ‘Why do you think that?’ I will circulate to listen in and support you. You have 5 minutes—go!”

Teacher: “Time’s up! Thank you for your thoughtful sharing.”

Interactive Activity (8 minutes)

Teacher: “Next, I’m handing out the Cultural Exchange Activity Guide and the Culture Comparison Worksheet. Please pair up with someone you haven’t worked with yet.”
Hand out materials; students pair.

Teacher: “In your pair, share one cultural tradition or value from your background—or one you admire from the reading. Then, on your worksheet, note similarities and differences and reflect on how these help you understand each other better. Use these sentence starters if you need them:

• ‘In my culture…’
• ‘One tradition I admire is…’
• ‘A similarity we share is…’
• ‘A difference I noticed is…’

You have 6 minutes. Begin now.”

Teacher: “Great work, everyone. Let’s wrap up our pairs.”

Debrief & Assessment (3 minutes)

Teacher: “Let’s come back together as a class. I’d like 3–4 volunteers to share one insight from your worksheet. Who would like to go first?”
Select volunteers; allow 1 minute each.

Teacher: “Thank you for sharing those insights. Today we learned that culture shapes how we see the world, and accepting differences helps us build empathy, work collaboratively, and become global citizens.

Teacher: “Please hand in your worksheets as you leave. Have a fantastic rest of your day!”

Cultural Snapshot Reading

Cultural practices shape daily life and bring people together. Below are three snapshots of diverse traditions from around the world. As you read, think about how each practice reflects important values and beliefs.

1. Japanese Tea Ceremony (Chanoyu)

The Japanese tea ceremony is a ritualized preparation and serving of matcha tea. It has roots in Zen Buddhism and focuses on harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility. The host carefully cleans utensils, prepares the tea with deliberate gestures, and offers it to guests in a calm atmosphere. Each movement—bowing, whisking, and drinking—is meaningful. This practice teaches mindfulness and respect for nature and others.

2. Día de los Muertos in Mexico

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a lively Mexican celebration honoring ancestors. Families build ofrendas (altars) decorated with marigolds, candles, food, and photographs of loved ones who have passed away. The celebration blends indigenous beliefs and Catholic traditions. People visit cemeteries, share favorite foods of the deceased, and tell stories about them. Rather than a sad event, it is a joyful way to remember and connect with family history.

3. Maasai Beadwork and Storytelling

Among the Maasai people of East Africa, beadwork is more than decoration. Women create colorful necklaces, bracelets, and ornaments using beads arranged in patterns that carry meaning. Colors like red symbolize bravery, blue stands for energy, and white represents purity. Beadwork accompanies important events such as weddings and coming-of-age ceremonies. Elders also share stories and proverbs, passing down knowledge and values through oral storytelling and the designs in their beads.

Culture Comparison Worksheet

Partner Names: ___________________________ and ___________________________

1. My Cultural Tradition or Value

In my culture…

1. My Partner’s Cultural Tradition or Value

In my partner’s culture…

1. Similarities

A similarity we share is…

1. Differences

A difference I noticed is…

1. Reflection

How does understanding these similarities and differences help you develop empathy and respect?

Sentence Starters (optional):

• “One tradition I admire is…”

• “I was surprised to learn that…”

• “This tradition is important because…”

• “In both cultures, we…”

Cultural Exchange Activity Guide

Duration: 8 minutes
Group: Pairs (students who haven’t yet worked together)

Purpose

Students will practice sharing and listening skills by exchanging one cultural tradition or value. They will use the Culture Comparison Worksheet to record similarities, differences, and reflections, building empathy and respect.

Steps

1. Pair Up (1 minute)
   • Ask students to find a partner they haven’t worked with yet.
   • Distribute one Culture Comparison Worksheet per pair.
2. Share Your Tradition (2 minutes)
   • In your pair, take turns (1 minute each) describing:
   • “In my culture…”
   • One tradition or value that matters to me.
     • While your partner speaks, listen actively. Consider asking:
   • “Can you tell me why this is meaningful?”
   • “What feelings does this tradition bring?”
3. Complete the Worksheet (4 minutes)
   • On the worksheet, each of you will write short responses to:
   • “One tradition I admire is…”
   • “A similarity we share is…”
   • “A difference I noticed is…”
   1. Your own tradition/value
   2. Your partner’s tradition/value
   3. Similarities you notice
   4. Differences you notice
   5. A reflection on how these insights build empathy and respect
      • Use sentence starters if you need support:
4. Supports & Scaffolds
   • ELLs & Multilingual Learners:
   • Provide bilingual glossaries or visual icons for key words (tradition, identity, respect).
   • Model one example sentence before pairs begin.
     • Students with IEPs or 504 Plans:
   • Offer extra time or allow drawing/diagram instead of writing.
   • Provide printed sentence-starter strips.
     • All Students:
   • Encourage asking follow-up questions: “Why is that important?” or “How does that tradition make you feel?”
5. Teacher Circulation & Monitoring
   • Move around the room, listening for clear explanations and question prompts.
   • Gently nudge pairs to expand on brief answers: “Could you say more about that?”
   • Remind students of time with a 2-minute warning.
6. Wrap-Up (1 minute)
   • Signal pairs to finish writing and prepare to share one insight during the class debrief.
   • Collect worksheets after the debrief for formative assessment.

Outcome: Students gain firsthand experience valuing different perspectives, practicing respectful dialogue, and reflecting on how cultural knowledge strengthens empathy and collaboration.