I teach 2nd grade and our Social Studies theme for next week is learning about different cultures. The standards say to teach about: 1) similarities/differences 2) contributions of different cultures 3) diversity (in U.S./classroom) I guess I'm struggling because I feel this is a very broad topic, and wondered what lessons you have done to teach these concepts to your classes?
our school has a large population of students from other countries, so the 2nd grade teachers at my school have these parents come visit. Then, the class can compare and contrast the things they learn from the visits. They have also done international food taste tests. You can target specific similarities/differences if you choose to. Another school had the kids do mini presentations on a specific country/sub-topic. For example, one little boy did a report on china and mealtimes (Basically 4 sentences-in china, rice and noodles are eaten at almost every meal. Chopsticks are used instead of forks/spoons. The whole family share the meal out of one bowl., etc.). If you split it up between the children, you could make mini books. Choose 3 or 4 different countries and then 3-4 topics (mealtime, school, family/homes, major contribution to economy). Group 4 kids per country, then assign them a specific topic. Then once the kids are done, bind them and put them in the classroom library. You could even have the kids find a picture or two from the internet to illustrate their page to cover technology standards.
I say use trade books. Here are some recommendations. Am I A Color Too? Families Are Different Hannah Is My Name Through My Eyes (the story of Ruby Bridges) Fly High! The story of Bessie Coleman Martins Big Words (MLK) Rivka's First Thanksgiving In My Family You can also find more on the Social Studies Notable Trade Books lists at: http://www.socialstudies.org/resources/notable/ Maybe with this idea others will add books too
These are some great suggestions. Next year, though, I think it'd be more worthwhile to spread out these standards ongoing throughout the year, and integrate them into all other subjects areas and standards. My class is extremely diverse (5 languages) so some of this just happens naturally in the give and take of daily life. If you don't have that natural diversity, you have to work harder to look for opportunities to integrate that type of learning. This has been encouraged in my urban district for 20 years or so. Winter holidays of light would be one way; nutrition/foods (Everybody Eats Bread, Everybody Eats Rice; ethnic food fair);art (masks or textiles unit); music.etc. The idea is that diversity is everywhere, and should be taught with everything - not just as a one week "add on". I'm interested in what everyone thinks...
I agree that these things should be integrated throughout the year. I received some free materials from teachingtolerance.org that are really great. There is a CD with great music, some books with wonderful stories, posters, as well as some other great materials. I have begun to use them in the classroom to generate discussions and the kids really love them. They get really excited when I turn on the CD. Here's the link: http://www.tolerance.org/teach/resources/index.jsp
I am thinking maybe they talked about it through the year, but this is for the specific week that they are covering these exact standards. Like talking all year about the colors, but spending a week in December on red and green - you talk about it all year, but it is a specific theme for the week. I agree that you have to work on it all year and it is especially important in classrooms where everyone is similar.
Here is a link to most of the songs that are on the CD that I have and lessons that go along with them. If you click on the theme links along the side, you can get the lesson ideas. http://www.tolerance.org/teach/resources/songbook/songs/index.jsp
more or less....We do teach about diversity at other times during the year,as well as incorporating it into daily life as much as possible, but the next couple of weeks our reading stories are multicultural, so we've tied this in as our social studies topic.
