CultureGrams & World Conflicts Today
Standards-Aligned Insight into Daily Life & Global Conflicts

National Curriculum Standards

McREL Geography Standards: Human Systems

• Standard 10: Understands the nature and complexity of Earth's cultural mosaics.
• Level II [Grades 3-5] Benchmark 1: Knows the similarities and differences in characteristics of culture in different regions (e.g., in terms of environment and resources, technology, food, shelter, social organization, beliefs and customs, schooling, what girls and boys are allowed to do).
• Level II [Grades 3-5] Benchmark 3: Understands how cultures differ in their use of similar environments and resources (e.g., comparing how people live in Phoenix, Arizona with how people live in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia).

Developed by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning

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

National Standards for Social Studies: Culture

• Standard C [Early Grades]: Social Studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of culture and cultural diversity, so that the learner can describe ways in which language, stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence behavior of people living in a particular culture.
• Standard E [Early Grades]: Social Studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of culture and cultural diversity, so that the learner can give examples and describe the importance of cultural unity and diversity within and across groups.

Developed by the National Council for the Social Studies

• CultureGrams Kids Edition
  
• Art materials -- construction paper, scissors, glue, pens, etc.

1. China is preparing to host the 2008 Olympic Games in its capital city, Beijing. Have students prepare to hold a mock Olympic Opening Ceremony. Begin by having them learn more about China. Each student should read through the Kids Edition China report. Have students write down the most interesting thing they discovered about China as they read. Have them share their findings in a classroom discussion. Also, ask them what preparations they would make if they were a nation planning to host the Olympics.
   
   
2. Assign each student (or have each student select) another country in the Kids Edition series. Have them prepare to represent their country in the Opening Ceremony by reading that country's report. Students should prepare a short (one minute) presentation highlighting the country.
   
   
3. Using the Flag Gallery, print the flag outline for each student's country. Have the students color in the flag. Alternatively, have them create their nation's flag out of art materials, using the flag image in the Kids Edition as a model.
   
   
4. Begin the Opening Ceremony by having one student or group of students act as a representative of China (in addition to their assignment for another country) to welcome the visiting nations. Then have each student present his or her assigned nation's flag (all of which should then be posted together in a prominent spot in the classroom) and give the short presentation. End the Opening Ceremony by lighting the cauldron (using orange foil or other art materials).

1. Use this activity just prior to the 2008 Olympic Games and have students follow the success of their nations' athletes during the Games using Internet news sources. Use the success of a particular athlete or team to launch a short review discussion (based on the student's presentation) about that country.