Overview of Lesson		Body of Lesson - Procedure & Assessment
Connection to the Curriculum,Standards and Skills		Activity One and Student Assessment
Grade Level		Activity Two and Student Assessment
Purpose of Lesson		Activity Three and Student Assessment
Primary Geographic Question		Activity Four and Student Assessment
Secondary Questions		References
Materials

Overview of the Lesson

Americans continue to adapt to different ethnic and cultural groups who move into their communities. It is vital that children become aware of and appreciate cultural diversities in people. People move to different areas for reasons such as religion, climate, employment, economics, and for a better way of life.

Geography Standards

Standard 4:  The physical and human characteristics of places.

Standard 6:  How culture and experience influence people’s perception of places and regions

Alabama Course of Study:  Social Studies Content Standards (Grade 7)

Standard 15:  Describe human populations on the Earth's surface.

Standard 16: Identify ways in which communities reflect the cultural background of their inhabitants.

Geographic Skills

Acquiring geographic information. Analyzing geographic information; appreciate differences in regions and cultures; using geography to solve problems.

Grade 7

To educate students on cultural diversity and make them aware of how the community reflects the cultural background of their inhabitants.

Why do people of different cultural backgrounds move to new locations and how are their differences accepted by people?

What is cultural diversity? Explain differences globally and locally?

What are reasons people would relocate to the United States?Alabama? Muscle Shoals?

What are some of the ways in which communities reflect the cultural backgrounds of their inhabitants? (Building styles, Spanish menus, languages, foods)

If you could move to another location, where would it be ? Why? (Students will have to locate it and give different reasons using maps and geography for the reasons to locate)

• Similarity & Difference Activity Sheet
• People by Peter Spier
• Rainbow Sheet
• Markers
• Assortment of Cookies & Activity Sheet
• Multiple Copies of Newspapers (containing world, national, and local news)
• Relocation Activity Sheet
• Paper
• Pencil
• Cultural Walk Activity Sheet (optional)
• Map of the United States
• Encyclopedia
• Poster Board

Activity One

• Secondary Question # 1:  What is cultural diversity? Explain difference globally and locally?
• Divide students into groups of two.
• Instruct students to look at their partners for one minute. During the one minute the students are not to talk, only observe. After the one minute, instruct the students to write down similarities and differences in the appropriate column of the person they were observing and themselves.
• Discuss the observations of the activity.
• Read the book People by Peter Spier
• Students will discuss diversities in people locally and globally based on the information in the book.

Assessing Student Learning: Activity One

Each student will fill in a rainbow chart. On each hue of the rainbow the students will write about how the world is like a beautiful and unique rainbow.

Activity Two

• Secondary Question # 2:  What are reasons people choose to relocate to the United States? Alabama? or student's hometown?
• Give each student a Chips Ahoy, Oreo, Vanilla Wafers. Ask the children to describe each cookie . Discuss the description of each cookie.
• Ask the students, "If you could have just one cookie, which one would you eat?" "Why?" Discuss responses.
• Relate the cookie activity with people choosing to relocate to different states, regions, and communities.
• Divide the students into small groups. Give each group sections of newspapers containing articles on local, national, and world events. Based on information, students will write reasons why people might choose to relocate.  Discuss.
• Write responses on a chart for the students to view.

Assessing Student Learning: Activity Two

Students will list ten reasons for relocation to the United States, Alabama, and their hometown.

Activity Three

• Secondary Question #3:What are some ways in which communities reflect the cultural backgrounds of their inhabitants?
• Students will go on a cultural walk, if possible. Students will observe their community to identify and record ten examples of diversity and influences.
• Discuss and give an example of what information to look for while doing the cultural walk. ( Ex. Greek columns on churches, as a cultural influence)
• Students will discuss their observations in class.

Assessing Student Learning: Activity Three

Did the student find 10 examples of cultural diversities or influences in their community? Students will write a paragraph on their feelings about the changes in the community.

Activity Four

• Secondary Question #4: If you could move to another location in the United States, where would it be? Why?
• Students will receive a map of the United States. They will identify five states that they would like to research with the idea of relocating.
• On a sheet of paper the students will brainstorm ideas of why they would like to relocate to each state.
• Each student will need to choose two or more states and search for information on geography, climate, religion, employment, economy, and other resources of the area.  Students will choose one state after comparing and contrasting data.
• Student will make a poster that contains the following information:
• An informational article on the state chosen (one page)
• An attractive advertisement for the state chosen (something to make other people want to relocate to this location)
• A map showing the location of the state and any interesting geographical information

Assessing Student Learning: Activity Four

How well did students complete the research and the poster project? Students will list the top five reasons they would want to relocate to the state they chose.

References

People by Peter Spier

Map of the United States - MCMXCI Instructional Fair, Inc.

Print Artist or Other Program to Develop Student Worksheets (optional)