Cultural Lesson Plans for Teachers about the ... - Brown University

LESSON PLAN THREE — TEACHER INSTRUCTIONS
Literature /
Oral Storytelling
BROWN
Read a fiction book written by an author from a culture other than your own.
Research information about the author. How is the author’s culture apparent
in the work? You may choose instead to watch and interview a storyteller.
Are there clues to other cultural aspects such as food, ceremonies, or
daily life in the story? Bring the book, or photographs of the storyteller, to
school and share with your class.
Family Life Visit a family or research family life in another culture. How is the family
structured? Do males and females, adults and children have different roles
in the household? Are there expected customs when guests arrive? What is
daily life like? Bring photographs to school and share with your class.
Music Check out a CD from the library or attend a performance of music from a
culture other than your own. What kinds of instruments are played? What is
the music like? Are there certain forms of dance that accompany the music?
Are traditional and modern pieces both included in the performance?
Does the artist create new works using traditional instruments? Have the
instruments been altered to make a modern sound? You may need to also
research the instruments in the library or online to find these answers. Bring
music or a video sample and photographs to school and share what you
learned with your class.
Visual Art
(painting,
pottery,
other crafts)
Attend a workshop to make a craft from a culture other than your own. You
may choose to instead visit a museum to study a cultural artifact or modern
work of art of an artist from a culture other than your own. What medium
is used? What colors are used? How are the pigments made? How are the
pigments applied? Are there colors and symbols that portray meaning? Research
the background of the artist or craft at the library and on the internet.
Is the craft or piece purely aesthetic or utilitarian? Bring the craft you made,
or a photograph or sketch of the work of art you studied to school and share
with the class.
Clothing Research clothing styles from a culture other than your own. Try to visit a
museum that has examples of clothing. What materials were traditionally
used to make clothing? How did the people traditionally obtain the materials?
Are different materials used now? How have styles changed over time?
Do males and females, adults and children wear different styles? What symbols
are used on the clothing? Are there different styles for everyday and
ceremonial wear? Bring a photograph or sketch to school and share with
your class.
The Haffenreffer
49
Museum of Anthropology