About:
The Worldview Project’s Cultures in the Classroom schools program enables greater cross-cultural understanding and appreciation by elementary (grades 3-5) students with a focus on everyday life in a wide variety of cultures. Through the program children will learn about the diversity of world languages, geography, traditional music, food, family relationships and everyday customs of other cultures. Cultures in the Classroom encounters are also an excellent opportunity for students to reflect upon their own family’s cultural heritage.
Our Program:
The program consists of 45-minute sessions, each focusing on one culture. The sessions are led by dynamic Cultural Ambassadors, who have grown up in different countries and thus have a deep familiarity with their own culture. Sessions are highly interactive and support different learning styles. Session activities include:
- Hear stories about the childhood, family and school life of the Cultural Ambassador
- Learn basic facts about the culture or country
- View photos and videos displaying everyday life in other countries
- Learn about traditional art forms, food, holidays and culturally specific types of recreation
- Locate the culture/country on a world map
- Learn simple expressions and words in the culture’s language (and how to count to five).
- Ask questions to the Cultural Ambassadors (from a prepared a set of questions to encourage students participate, as well as allowing for students own questions)
Cultures in the Classroom has been designed to meet the content standards of California State Board of Education. Our program will enhance the school’s curricular objectives in world languages, geography, music and listening comprehension. The Worldview Project will supply all of the materials needed for the session.
Feedback from the Pilot Session:
This program is currently in its development phase and thus far we have held one pilot session about life in Argentina at Museum School. Feedback from the teacher and students was very positive, stating the following.
- The session was engaging and informative
- Students were actively participating in the class
- Our materials, such as pictures and artifacts, were considered highly interesting and fun for students to explore
- Best parts of the session were thought to be Cultural Ambassador’s stories of childhood and school life, as well as the opportunity to taste meat, a traditional South American drink.
To learn more about Cultures in the Classroom program and how to bring the program to your school, please contact our coordinator at [email protected].