CULTURAL AWARENESS OVERVIEW: Students will get to meet individuals of different cultures around the world and locally,

learning more about these cultures through discussion. Through inquiry based activities, students will discover how the culture of school (institution) mimics the culture of community. SUBJECT: Social Studies-Special Education LENGTH: 2 Block Periods (180 minutes) REQUIRED MATERIALS & EQUIPTMENT: Computers (Internet/Skype) Paper Pencil/Pen Maps Elmo Speakers from World Food & Music Festival OBJECTIVES: Students will understand the changing nature of society. o Understand various institutions influence elements of culture. o Understand the role of institutions in furthering both continuity and change. o Understand the means by which individuals, groups, and institutions may contribute to social continuity and change within a community. Students will understand the process of how humans develop, learn, adapt to the environment, and internalize their culture. o Students will understand how to evaluate social research and information. o Understand basic distinctions between information that is based on fact and information that is based on opinion DESCRIPTION OF LESSON: Direct Instruction: o Introduction on Cultural Awareness. Have an open discussion with students about how institutions influence society, possible differences between geographic regions. Provide students with pictures and images from different regions, downtown areas, family values, historical events o Supply students with a list of geographic regions and a map indicating their location (Cuba, Puerto Rico, South America, North America and Central America), which they will choose one country. The students will be provided with six categories to research and collect data. Family and Cultural Values Key Historical Events Characteristics of Community and Institutions What roles does Class and SES play in country GRADE: 9th-12th

 Common Problems in Classroom Most Effective Teaching Strategies o Students will learn about Skype and how to use it. Guided Practice: o Share data, and discuss the society in a classroom/school, how does this dynamic compare to that of students in other schools? o I will then encourage students to think of what kind of questions they would like to ask students in a different school district about their education; what problems, if there are any could be solved by talking to other communities. o They will see a demonstration of a Skype interaction. o Students will also review the expectations and etiquette of Skype and other social media networks. Collaborative Learning: o Students will talk with the classroom of choice, asking them questions and responding to their questions (lasting approximately 30 minutes). As students are on Skype, their conversations and interactions will be recorder. This way, the teacher is able to review the interaction, ensuring that they understood the instructions on expectations and appropriate conduct. o Students will then write a blog, reflection on what they learned and the experience. o Students will analyze the data from their interviews. Using a graphic organizer, students will compare and contrast the two schools (their country of choice to the United States). Guided Practice: o After we finish with our Skype activity, we will come together as a class and discuss their findings. I will also ask them to evaluate the success of the lesson and activity. o We will then start to look locally at the cultural diversity. o At this time, I will ask all students to tell me about a culture they are familiar with in our community. o They will discuss some of the traditions, values and background of these groups. Lecture: o As our classroom discussion on local diversity wraps up, we will have some guest speakers. The guest speakers will be from local cultural diverse fairs, festivals or organizations (World Food & Music Festival, Latino Heritage Festival, Taste of Israel, Jewish Food Fair, Ioway Culture Day, and Italian Heritage Festival). o Students will be able to use the same questions that they used when talking with the students from other countries. o This way, the students will be able to see what cultures are carried over and what cultures have lost some of their beliefs since coming to the United States. Collaborative Learning: o In groups or pairs, students will be asked to compare and contrast local culture and their country. o The students are to provide a reflection on their findings and feelings.

Guided Practice: o We will come together as a class and discuss our findings and what they liked and disliked. DIFFERNTIATED INSTRUCTION: o Images of different regions, downtown areas, family values and historic events. o A list of the geographic regions and a map of the world with their country will be highlighted for students. o A list of questions, for the schools in other countries, will be provided to the students who need them. o The Skype demonstration will be from YouTube and will be available to the students after it is shown on the teachers website. This way they can watch it more than once. o I will work with students that need the addition help with social expectations. o Graphic organizers will be provided to the students to help them with their writing skills.