Culture shock
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/04/g68/
cultureshock.html
A lesson plan for Grades 6–7 Social Studies and English Language Arts
In this Xpeditions lesson, students explore how cultural customs differ throughout the world. Activities in this lesson engage students in whole class discussion, online learning, creation of a project, and writing assignments.
Students will:
- discuss the topics they would include in a Culture Shock! book for the United States;
- research other cultures and take notes on their customs;
- discuss what they have learned from their research; and
- write stories pretending they are on a trip with a friend from the country they have researched, visiting a country that neither person is familiar with and describing their reactions to the new culture.
Xpeditions provides detailed directions for completing the lesson, suggestions for assessment and extension activities, discussion questions, and links to helpful web resources.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
Social Studies (2003)
Grade 6
- Goal 13: The learner will describe the historic, economic, and cultural connections among North Carolina, the United States, South America, and Europe.
- Objective 13.01: Identify historical movements such as colonization, revolution, emerging democracies, migration, and immigration that link North Carolina and the United States to selected societies of South America and Europe and evaluate their influence on local, state, regional, national, and international communities.
- Objective 13.02: Describe the diverse cultural connections that have influenced the development of language, art, music, and belief systems in North Carolina and the United States and assess their role in creating a changing cultural mosaic.
Grade 7
- Goal 13: The learner will describe the historic, economic, and cultural connections among North Carolina, the United States, Africa, Asia, and Australia.
- Objective 13.01: Identify historical movements such as colonization, revolution, emerging democracies, migration, and immigration that link North Carolina and the United States to selected societies of Africa, Asia, and Australia, and evaluate their influence on local, state, regional, national, and international communities.
- Objective 13.02: Describe the diverse cultural connections that have influenced the development of language, art, music, and belief systems in North Carolina and the United States and analyze their role in creating a changing cultural mosaic.
- Objective 13.03: Examine the role and importance of foreign-owned businesses and trade between North Carolina and the nations of Africa, Asia, and Australia, and assess the effects on local, state, regional, and national economies and cultures.
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 6
- Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives drawn from personal or related experience.
- Objective 1.01: Narrate an expressive account (e.g., fictional or autobiographical) which:
- uses a coherent organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
- tells a story or establishes the significance of an event or events.
- uses remembered feelings and specific details.
- uses a range of appropriate strategies (e.g., dialogue, suspense, movement, gestures, expressions).
- Objective 1.02: Explore expressive materials that are read, heard, and viewed by:
- monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard, and/or viewed.
- analyzing the characteristics of expressive works.
- determining the effect of literary devices and/or strategies on the reader/viewer/listener.
- making connections between works, self and related topics.
- comparing and/or contrasting information.
- drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
- determining the main idea and/or significance of events.
- generating a learning log or journal.
- creating an artistic interpretation that connects self to the work.
- discussing books/media formally and informally.
- Objective 1.03: Interact appropriately in group settings by:
- listening attentively.
- showing empathy.
- contributing relevant comments connecting personal experiences to content.
- monitoring own understanding of the discussion and seeking clarification as needed.
- Objective 1.04: Reflect on learning experiences by:
- describing personal learning growth and changes in perspective.
- identifying changes in self throughout the learning process.
- interpreting how personal circumstances and background shape interaction with text.
- Objective 1.01: Narrate an expressive account (e.g., fictional or autobiographical) which:
Grade 7
- Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives in response to personal, social, cultural, and historical issues.
- Objective 1.01: Narrate an account such as a news story or historical episode which:
- creates a coherent organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
- orients the reader/listener to the scene, the people, and the events.
- engages the reader/listener by establishing a context and creating a point of view.
- establishes the signficance of events.
- Objective 1.02: Explore expressive materials that are read, heard, and viewed by:
- monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
- summarizing the characteristics of expressive works.
- determining the importance of literary effects on the reader/viewer/listener.
- making connections between works, self and related topics.
- comparing and/or contrasting information.
- drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
- determining the main idea and/or significance of events.
- generating a learning log or journal.
- maintaining an annotated list of works read/viewed.
- creating an artistic interpretation that connects self and/or society to the selection.
- constructing and presenting book/media reviews.
- Objective 1.03: Interact in group settings by:
- responding appropriately to comments and questions.
- offering personal opinions confidently without dominating.
- giving appropriate reasons that support opinions.
- soliciting and respecting another person's opinion.
- Objective 1.04: Reflect on learning experiences by:
- analyzing personal learning growth and changes in perspective.
- examining changes in self throughout the learning process.
- determining how personal circumstances and background shape interaction with text.
- Objective 1.01: Narrate an account such as a news story or historical episode which:



