**This page is for you, the teacher. It is not meant to be used with students. Instead, it is meant to help you better explain and lead students through a discussion of what culture is and how it relates to an iceberg. Through all of the lesson plans on this website, students will come to understand this page without ever having actually viewed it.**
What do I mean when I talk about culture?
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CULTURE, THE FIRST THING THAT OFTEN COMES TO MIND ARE SURFACE LEVEL IDEAS OF CULTURE: WHAT WE EAT, WHAT WE WEAR, HOW WE TALK, OUR RELIGION, WHAT WE CELEBRATE, ETC. WE OFTEN FORGET THAT THE MOST POWERFUL ASPECTS OF CULTURE THAT DRIVE OUR THOUGHTS, ACTIONS, AND FEELINGS ARE BELOW THE SURFACE. AS THE GRAPHIC BELOW SHOWS, CULTURE IS VERY MUCH LIKE AN ICEBERG: WHAT WE SEE ON THE SURFACE IS ONLY A SMALL PORTION OF WHAT REALLY DRIVES IT. THIS IS A HIGHLY IMPORTANT ASPECT OF CULTURE TO UNDERSTAND, AND THIS UNDERSTANDING OF CULTURE WILL FORM THE BASIS OF ALL LESSON PLANS ON THIS WEBSITE.
Iceberg Concept of Culture
Take some time to familiarize yourself with the iceberg below and the terms inside of it. Before leading any discussions with students, jot down responses to these questions to make sure you have a solid understanding of each cultural concept:
- How does each term pertain to you and your beliefs?
- How have these ideas and interpretations been fostered in how you have been raised?
Iceberg of Culture | |
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Culture in this Website
A variety of lesson plans are provided on this website that will take students on a journey of what culture means in relation to themselves as well as characters in text. You will simply act as their guide. Every lesson will connect back to this iceberg. Students will place cultural concepts into a blank iceberg according to where they believe it fits. When students do this, there is no right or wrong answer as long as they can explain the connections they're seeing. In the end, students will have a greater understanding of culture and the role it plays not only in their own lives, but of others around them.