Topic: Culture

Class Information: 7th Grade English, 24 students

Date of Lesson: September 5, 2016 Time of Lesson: 8:00am

General Goal: To inform students about the definition of culture and to encourage students to
explore their own culture as well as their classmates cultures.

A. Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
Explain culture
Explain the iceberg concept of culture
Reflect on their own culture through compare and contrast

B. Materials/Equipment:
Projector/projector screen
Teachers desktop computer
Poster paper and colored markers
White board and dry erase marker
Iceberg Concept of Culture handout
Students will need: lined paper, notebook, and writing utensil

C. Procedures:
1. Anticipatory Set: Teacher will begin by greeting the class and instructing the
students to take out their notebooks and a writing utensil. The teacher will play a
short YouTube video titled What is Culture as an introduction to the topic. The
teacher will tell the students to write down at least one phrase, quote, or thought that
sticks out to them. When the video is over, the students will continue to free write
for 5 minutes. [video: https://youtu.be/57KW6RO8Rcs] (Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs)
2. The teacher will split the class up into groups of 3-4. The teacher will pass out large
poster paper and a handful of markers to each group.
3. The teacher will write the question What is culture? on the board.
4. Students will be instructed to brainstorm ideas of what they think culture means, with
their group members. The teacher will explain that words, phrases, and pictures can
be on the poster paper. Students can be creative with the activity. No dictionaries or
technology can be used to find the definition.
5. Each group will give a short presentation of their poster to the class.
6. The students will turn in their posters, return their markers, and return to their seats.
7. The teacher will open the PowerPoint presentation on Culture.
8. First, another video titled What is Culture? will be shown to the class. When the
video is over, the teacher will invite students to raise their hand and offer any
comments about the video. [video: https://youtu.be/Me2HlTQPS40] (Eva Haug)
9. Next, some definitions of the term will be given.
 Culture is cultivated behavior a person's learned, accumulated experience
which is socially transmitted (Culture).
The behaviors, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, generally without
thinking about them, and that are passed along by communication and imitation from
one generation to the next (Culture).
Culture is a collective programming of the mind that distinguishes the members of
one group or category of people from another (Culture).
10. The teacher will break these definitions down and explain them further. The teacher
will add their own explanation of the term, as well.
11. The teacher will ask students if they have any questions about the definitions of
culture.
12. The teacher will call on a few students to briefly explain what culture is, in their own
words, to check for understanding.
13. The teacher will refer back to the second video, and talk about the iceberg concept
of culture. The teacher will draw the model that was in the video on the board.
14. The teacher will ask the students to raise their hands and take a guess on what each
level means.
15. As the students offer explanations, the teacher will write notes next to each level, on
the board. The teacher will offer a further explanation of the levels.
16. The teacher will pass out The Iceberg Concept of Culture handout to each student.
Together, the class will look at the handout and the teacher will explain the different
parts of the concept. Students will be given the opportunity to ask questions as the
handout is reviewed. [handout: http://www.msdwt.k12.in.us/msd/wp-
content/uploads/2011/10/iceburgofculture.pdf]
17. Next, students will be split up into small groups of 3-4. The instructions of this group
activity will be on the PowerPoint. The teacher will read and explain the instructions
to the class. The students will talk with their group members about their own
cultures. The group members will each take notes in their notebook on one group
members culture in particular. Then, all members will work together to create a
short skit that shows a part of each group members culture. The students will be
encouraged to be creative with the skit.
18. The students will present the skit to the class. After each presentation, the class will
identify what aspect of each group members culture was shown.
19. After each group has presented, the students will return to their own seats.
20. Plan for Independent Practice: Each student will take out their notes that they took
on one group members culture. They will also take out a fresh sheet of lined paper.
The teacher will instruct the students to write a paragraph on what they learned about
that group members culture. They will write a second paragraph on how their own
culture is similar to their group members culture. They will write a third paragraph
on how their own culture is different from their group members culture. When they
are finished, they will turn their papers in.
21. Closure: The teacher will tell the student to put all of their belongings away except
for a half sheet of paper and a pencil. The teacher will write on the board Exit slip:
1. What is culture? Explain. and 2. Explain the iceberg concept of culture. (refer
back to the video, lecture, and the handout) The students will write their answers
on the half sheet of paper and turn it in on their way out.
D. Assessment:
Students will be assessed based on the exit slip activity given at the end of the
class, and on the independent practice writing activity. The teacher will be able
to assess the students knowledge of culture based on their explanation of what
culture is, and the explanation of the iceberg concept. The assessment will also
be based on the students reflection of their own culture and the reflection of their
group members culture.
The students will be graded on the following criteria:

Exit Activity: 10 points

Student formed an accurate explanation of Culture

based on the information given in class __/5 pts
_____________________________________________________________

Student explained the iceberg concept by state the levels of

culture and/or stating aspects of surface culture/deep culture
__/5
pts

Writing Activity Independent Practice: 10 points

Student demonstrated a greater level of understanding of their group

members culture by providing details about their classmates culture.

__/5 pts
_____________________________________________________________

Student reflected on their own culture by comparing and contrasting

their culture with their group members culture.

__/5 pts

Total: ___/20 points

E. Possible Connections to Other Subjects:
Knowledge of what culture is and having awareness of your own and others diverse
cultures can be used in every subject because culture is all around. Multicultural
education can be used in any subject where students interact with each other or reflect
on themselves.
 Works Cited

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. What is Culture? YouTube. YouTube, 13 Feb.

2011. Web. 11 July 2016.

Culture. Texas A&M University. n.p., 2001. Web. 11 July 2016.

Eva Haug. What is Culture? YouTube. YouTube, 29 Mar. 2014. Web. 11 July 2016.

The Iceberg Concept of Culture. Metropolitan School District of Washington Township.

Indiana Department of Education, n.d. Web. 11 July 2016.