Cultural Expressions
Research Scenario
"A few weeks ago the cashier at the grocery store, seeing my dark hair and dark eyes, counted my change back to me in Spanish. Three days later the waitress at the pizza place made the same mistake. Happens all the time since I moved to Miami. As though without buckskin, braids and beads I don't exist."
- Deloras (Dee) Lane, "Invisible Indian". Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle, 2nd edition.
Writers are shaped by their own culture and experiences. Representing a different culture in a believable, realistic way requires the writer to conduct research for accurate information and a deeper understanding.
How can a writer reflect the unique characteristics |
First, let's read some children's books which reflect characteristics of culture, from the TumbleBooks database.
Go to TumbleBooks and do a search on keyword culture to access the children's books in the Culture Playlist,
Culture Playlist: More than a sight-seeing trip and more than a trip to a museum. Immerse yourself in the lives and experiences of a different culture for your own...and learn that we are all not so different from each other at all!
Books in this playlist:
Bintou's Braids, Suki's Kimono, and The Best Mariachi in the World
Read and listen to one of these children's books to discuss how elements of culture are reflected in the characters, plot, and setting of the story.
Task & Product
You will write a children's story portraying the unique characteristics and values of a chosen culture. Before you begin writing your story, you will need to conduct research in order to develop an understanding of the culture you want to portray.
Consider using one of the modern cultures studied in World Cultures class this year as the basis for your story:
- Any Latin American culture (Choose Mexican or any other country in Central America or South America)
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Indian (South Asian)
You might also use one of the many cultures that are part of the Baltimore community's cultural heritage*:
- African (Choose any country)
- Caribbean (Choose any country)
- German
- Greek
- Irish
- Italian
- Korean
- Polish
- Russian
- Ukranian
*Source: "Ethnic Festivals Celebrate Cultures of Baltimore Communities," Baltimore Sun
Visit the Culture Grams Photo Gallery for a quick visual overview of some world cultures to help you select one for your research and children's story.
Assessments
Research Process Assessments:
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Final Product Assessment: |
Questions
How can a writer reflect the unique characteristics |
Subsidiary Questions:
- What cultural information could be reflected through characterization in a story? (a character's words, actions, physical appearance, etc.)
- What cultural information could be reflected through the plot events in a story?
- What cultural information could be reflected through the setting of a story?
Gather and Sort
Use a variety of resources for gathering information about specific elements of culture that might be included in your story, such as:
- clothing
- language (common greetings and expressions)
- foods
- customs and traditions
- sports and recreation
- art or music
- education/school
- holidays
- religion
You may think of other aspects of your chosen culture to include in your children's story.
Sort your research findings using this note-taking web or chart, or you may create a graphic organizer of your own.
Be sure to avoid plagiarism and remember to cite your sources. Use an online citation generator or check a research guide for details about the proper citation of sources. For MLA guidelines and examples, click here.
Organize
Analyze your research notes to determine if you have sufficient information to portray your chosen culture accurately and realilstically in a children's book for elementary students.
- Which cultural elements work would be most interesting to a young child?
- Which cultural elements work best with your story idea? Which details don't fit in with your story idea should not be included?
Synthesize your findings by creating a Story Map to plan your children's story including elements of culture from your research.
- Incorporate elements of the culture you researched into the characters, plot, and setting of your story.
- How could you thoughtfully reflect the culture and the theme of your story in the book's title?
- What pictures would best illustrate the cultural elements included in your story?
- How might you illustrate the cover of your book to go with your title?
Use your Story Map to write a first draft of your children's story.
Evaluate your children's book for quality and completeness according to the assessment rubric. Have a peer evaluate your children's book as well.
- Revise or edit your first draft as needed, based on your self-assessment and peer feedback.
Write a final draft and create illustrations and a cover for your children's book.
- Use the Culture Grams Photo Gallery to get some ideas for your illustrations.
Conclusion
Presentation: Share your children's book with a classmate. Your teacher may also have you read your book aloud to a small group. Use PQP (Praise Question Polish) to provide feedback. How realistic was the author's portrayal of culture in the story?
Reflection: Suppose your best friend's family was moving to a new country. What information do you think would be most important for them to know in order to have a better understanding of the culture?
Extension Activity: Visit an elementary school to help celebrate their Multicultural Day. You can share your children's book with students there and earn Service Learning Hours as you do so.