Culture Stations Exploration

Welcome to the Culture Stations! At each station, you will explore a different aspect of culture. Think about how these aspects relate to your own culture and what you observe in others.

Station 1: Food & Celebrations

• Look at the pictures of different foods and celebrations from around the world.
• Think: What special foods or celebrations does your family enjoy? How are they similar or different from what you see here?
• Write down one interesting food or celebration you see and one you celebrate.
  
  
  
  

Station 2: Language & Stories

• Listen to short audio clips of different languages being spoken or read a short story excerpt.
• Think: What languages are spoken in your home or by your family? Do you have special stories or folktales?
• Write down one new word you heard and one story or language important to you.
  
  
  
  

Station 3: Art & Clothing

• Observe various pieces of art (paintings, sculptures, crafts) and traditional clothing.
• Think: What kind of art or clothing styles are important in your culture or family? How do they express who you are?
• Write down one type of art or clothing that catches your eye and one that represents your culture.
  
  
  
  

Station 4: Family Traditions & Values

• Read short descriptions of different family traditions or values (e.g., respect for elders, hospitality, importance of education).
• Think: What traditions or values are important in your family? How do they shape your life?
• Write down one tradition or value you learned about and one important tradition or value in your own family.
  
  
  
  

My Culture & My Peer's Culture: A Venn Diagram

Instructions: Partner with a classmate. In the left circle, write aspects of your culture. In the right circle, write aspects of your partner's culture. In the overlapping middle section, write things that are similar in both your cultures. Then, answer the reflection questions below.


```
_________________________ _________________________
/ \ /
| My Culture | My Peer's |
| | Culture |
| (Unique) | (Unique) |
\ (A) | (B) /
_______________________|_________/
\ /
| Similarities |
| (A & B) |
/ \

<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

## Reflection Questions:

1. List two similarities you found between your culture and your partner's culture:
<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

2. List two differences you found between your culture and your partner's culture:
<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

3. What is one new thing you learned about your partner's culture?
<br/><br/><br/>

4. Why is it important to learn about and respect different cultures?
<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>

Culture Kaleidoscope Script

Introduction (5 minutes)

"Good morning, everyone! Today, we're going on an exciting journey to explore something truly special: culture. Has anyone heard that word before? What do you think it means?"

"That's right! Culture is all the amazing things that make a group of people unique – like their food, the languages they speak, their traditions, their art, and even the stories they tell. Think about your own family and what makes your family special. Those are all parts of your culture!"

"Our goal today is to discover the rich tapestry of cultures right here in our classroom and around the world. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to list two similarities and two differences between your culture and a peer’s culture. Why do you think it's important to learn about different cultures?"

"Excellent points! Learning about other cultures helps us understand each other better, respect our differences, and build a stronger, more connected community. And that brings us to a very important word: diversity. Diversity simply means having a variety of different things or people. Our classroom is a wonderful example of diversity!"

"As we explore today, remember our golden rule: respect. It means listening, being open-minded, and appreciating what makes everyone unique. No making assumptions, just learning and celebrating!"

Culture Stations Exploration (10 minutes)

"Alright, adventurers! Get ready for our 'Culture Stations' journey! Around the room, I've set up a few stations, each focusing on a different aspect of culture – things like Food & Celebrations, Language & Stories, Art & Clothing, and Family Traditions & Values."

"You'll have about 2-3 minutes at each station. Your task is to look, listen, and think about what you see and read. Most importantly, think about how these cultural aspects relate to your own culture. Does anything look familiar? Is anything totally new and interesting? I want you to make a few notes about what you observe at each station."

"I'll let you know when it's time to rotate. Any questions before we begin?" (Pause for questions)

"Fantastic! Let's begin!"

(Monitor students as they rotate through stations, offering guidance and prompting engagement.)

Partner Venn Activity (10 minutes)

"Wonderful work exploring, everyone! Now it's time to connect our discoveries. I want you to find a partner. Once you have a partner, grab a Venn Diagram Sheet."

"On this sheet, one circle is for 'My Culture,' and the other is for 'My Peer's Culture.' In your own circle, write down some things unique to your culture that you thought about at the stations. Your partner will do the same in their circle. Then, together, in the overlapping middle section, you'll write down two similarities you found between your cultures and two differences. Remember our objective!"

"You'll have about 7-8 minutes for this activity. Work together, discuss, and help each other understand your unique cultural backgrounds. I'll be walking around to help if you need it."

(Circulate, assist, and encourage discussion.)

Share Similarities Chart (3 minutes)

"Alright, let's bring it back together! Who would like to share one interesting similarity they found between their culture and their partner's culture?" (Call on 2-3 pairs.)

"How about one difference that stood out to you?" (Call on 2-3 pairs.)

"Thank you for sharing your amazing discoveries! It's so cool to see how much we have in common and how many wonderful ways we are different."

Reflect on Respect (2 minutes)

"To wrap up our 'Culture Kaleidoscope' journey, let's reflect. Based on what we've learned and discussed today, what's one way you can show respect for the different cultures in our classroom and in the world outside? Why is it so important to celebrate our differences?" (Allow a few students to share brief responses.)

"Those are powerful thoughts. Remember, our differences make our classroom, our school, and our world a more vibrant and interesting place. By being respectful and open to learning about each other, we make our community stronger. Great job today, everyone!"

Culture Kaleidoscope Warm Up: My World

Instructions: Take a moment to think about your own daily life, your family, and what makes you, you! Answer the questions below in a few sentences.

1. What is one thing your family does regularly that is special to your household (e.g., a special meal, a weekend activity, a unique way of celebrating a holiday)?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is a language, food, or tradition that is important to you or your family? Why is it important?