National Curriculum Standards

National Geography Standards: Human Systems

• Standard 10: The geographically informed person knows and understands the characteristics, distributions, and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics.

Developed by the National Council for Geographic Education

Curriculum Standards for Social Studies: Global Connections

• Standard E [Middle Grades]: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of global connections and interdependence, so that the learner can describe and explain the relationships and tensions between national sovereignty and global interests, in such matters as territory, natural resources, trade, use of technology, and welfare of people.

Developed by the National Council for the Social Studies

• CultureGrams World Edition
  
• CultureGrams Photo Gallery
  
• Supplies needed to make brochures (e.g., Computers or papers, pens, scissors, etc.)

1. Divide students into groups of three to four and assign each group to read a CultureGrams report for a different country. While reading the reports, students should focus on these categories: History, Language, Religion, Diet, Arts, Holidays, and Economy.
   
   
2. As students read these sections, instruct them to identify how each country's culture, ideas, events, or people may have influenced other countries. This will help the students understand each country's influence on the global culture and facilitate global understanding.
   
   
3. After reading the CultureGrams report and conducting additional research, assign students to prepare presentations as if they were representatives from their country's travel bureau or embassy. Presentations should focus on two areas:
   
   
   • How the country's culture and people have influenced other countries
   • Why fellow students should wish to visit the assigned country
   
   As part of the presentation, assign each student to also make a travel brochure. The brochure could include descriptions or images from the Photo Gallery of the country's attractions and important historical figures or events.
   
   
4. Following the presentations, hold a vote to see which country the students select as a) the most culturally influential, and b) the most desirable to visit.

1. Lead a discussion about the students' choices. What makes a culture influential? Why do people prefer visiting some countries over others?
   
   
2. Thomas Friedman, in his book The Lexus and the Olive Tree, says that there are two ways to make people feel homeless. One is to destroy their homes and the other is to make their homes look like everyone else's. At what point does cultural influence become damaging and in what ways? Has the influence of the United States reached that point?