So many of our students do not have the opportunity to travel the world and learn about cultural differences. As I sit in my hotel room in Toronto, I am reminded that I need to constantly provide this for my students. It can be as simple as showing my students pictures from my personal trips, showing videos or pictures from an area that we are studying, or pulling down that map in the room to remind students about the vast world we live in.
Thinking back to a previous post about reflection, this reminded me of the time last school year that I read a book to my students about Italy. They were having a hard time really grasping what I was talking about. My first instinct was to pull the map down and explain where Italy was, what the culture was like, etc. Then I thought, why not show them pictures from my trip. Their eyes were glued to the board taking in every picture and enjoying learning about the country through their teacher's eyes.
Another reflection is the holidays around the world celebration I did at our December party. Students were provided with a passport (and of course taught what that was) and taken on a trip around the world. They learned about December holidays celebrated in India, Israel, Mexico, and America (Kwanzaa). Students learned about the customs, games played, and foods eaten. They created something through an art project at each station and tasted foods from around the world. The students also loved this experience and were talking about it for the rest of the year.
When contemplating providing students with choices in their classes or class projects, make sure you encourage them to think creatively and use technology to learn about the world. Challenge your students to learn more about the vast world around them. Provide the students with as many experiences as possible to truly engage in the wonderful world around them.
Bari, I've totally had these thoughts before. I am lucky to have my grandparents in my life, because they have afforded me so many opportunities to experience other cultures and places. I always share my vacation pictures with my kids. My first through third years of teaching, we had morning meeting each day. Each week I introduced a new greeting from around the world. Kids shook hands and practiced the greetings. It got tough towards the end of the year! Once I (finally) got my iPhone, I started a new vacation tradition. Every time I went somewhere, I asked someone if I could record them greeting my students. In countries other than the US, I had them use their native language (lots of different stuff from the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii!). If I was in the US, I had them greet using a regional greeting if applicable, or just tell a fact about their state/region. I showed these during morning meeting or snack. It was a really fun way to help my kids experience other cultures. I love your ideas about the class parties! Maybe someday I will again be in a setting where something like this is applicable.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great example of how you challenged yourself to make the content more relative. I have seen classes talk about the Sisten Chapel and take the kids there in Second Life where they could get up close to the paints. It was amazing. And real!
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