what is
C U L T U R E?
Journal Entry

Write ½ page about what I would SEE if you took me on
a tour of your bedroom, house, neighborhood, or city.

Write ½ page about what I would know about you if we
were childhood friends. What are some beliefs, dreams,
motivations, or traditions that make up your life? In other
words, describe aspects of your life that can’t be seen.
Vocabulary
 culture
 parable
 proverb
 cornerstone
 rolling
stone
 refugee
 bias
 Empathy
 capital
Objective
SWBAT:
BY:
understand and
recognize examples of
culture
analyzing examples
with partners and
groups.
Surface culture:
Can be SEEN or HEARD
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Deep Culture:
Cannot be seen
clothing
food
Music

Sports
Religious jewelry or clothes
A school uniform
Christmas tree
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Sense and reason for clothing style
expectations of table manners
things teenagers think about during
the day
the definition of teamwork
Religious beliefs
Expectations for students
traditions
Who cares?! Why do I need to learn this?

Understanding other cultures actually helps you
understand your own culture.

When you learn about culture you learn about
people.

Instead of judging people for what you SEE, you
can understand them based on what you KNOW.
This is called empathy– to think about a situation
from another person’s perspective.

We are naturally biased into thinking our own
culture is best. This perspective limits our ability to
understand the world we live in.
Check for understanding:
Surface culture or deep culture?

Scenario 1:
I travel to Flagstaff, Arizona for the weekend. I visit
the Lowell Observatory and NAU. I buy hipster
clothes and Native American jewelry downtown. I
take a bunch of pictures on the top of Snow Bowl.
At the end of the weekend, I wish I could live here
forever—life is always fun and relaxed in this town.
Am I experiencing SURFACE culture or DEEP
Culture?
Check for understanding:
Surface culture or deep culture?

Scenario 2:
Flagstaff is gorgeous, but its not always easy to live
here. Housing is very expensive and homeowners
often struggle with problems like leaks, mice, and
break-ins. One thing I love about this town is that
people are more concerned with hobbies like
hunting, crafting, and exercising than they are
about Botox, plastic surgery, and Scottsdale style.
Am I experiencing SURFACE culture or DEEP
Culture?
Check for understanding:
Surface culture or deep culture?

Scenario 3:
My friend Lee is half Apache. He invites me to his house
in Globe to meet his mother who is the first female,
Apache doctor in the state of Arizona. She tells me
stories about becoming a doctor.
Am I experiencing SURFACE culture or DEEP Culture?
Check for understanding:
Surface culture or deep culture?

Scenario 4:
Lee’s mother makes a delicious dinner. When I am
finished, I throw away the scraps of my meal, my glass
tea bottle, and my water. “Eheheheh!” She says, “We do
not waste here.” She feeds the leftovers to the dogs and
, pours my water into the plants, and explains that the
glass bottle will be used to create a wall in her garden.
Am I experiencing SURFACE culture or DEEP Culture?
Check for understanding:
Surface culture or deep culture?

Scenario 5:
I am invited to the Durga Puja festival in Kolkata, India.
Everyone is dancing and singing. I can see statues of gods
and goddesses. I can smell fresh spices and food from the
street vendors. I can hear the chai wallah selling tea. I
spend the day enjoying music, taking pictures, and
buying things.
Am I experiencing SURFACE culture or DEEP Culture?
Check for understanding:
Surface culture or deep culture?

Scenario 6:
I’ve been living in India for two months. On the way home from
school, my friend invites me to a movie, but I tell her I can’t go
because I have to wash my floors and bathroom. She rudely
tells me that is not my job and storms off the bus. I leave feeling
confused. Later she shows up at my house with an old woman.
“This is Shunka. She will clean your toilet. She is Muslim. Pay her
250 rupees (five dollars) before she leaves. Do not tip her. Do
not talk to her. Come, chelo, let’s go to the pictures.”
Am I experiencing SURFACE culture or DEEP Culture?
Check for understanding:
Surface culture or deep culture?

Scenario 7:
It’s always been easy for me to respect police officers. When I
have needed them, they have always show up in a hurry eager
to help. For example, when I was 12, a cop gave me a ride
home in his car when I accidently took the wrong bus route and
ended up in the middle of nowhere. My friend Terry, however,
hates cops. He grew up outside of St. Louis and has lots of horror
stories about how they always give him trouble. When I tell him
my bus story, he tells me I’m just a spoiled white girl who doesn’t
understand anything.
Am I experiencing SURFACE culture or DEEP Culture?
Video examples

SURFACE CULTURE
 Look:
at the way they are dressed, the
way they sing and dance, their body
language and facial expressions.

DEEP CULTURE
 Listen:
to the meaning of the lyrics.
What do you think they are singing
about? What is the purpose of their
music? Do American artists sing about
this topic?
Who cares?! Why do I need to learn this?

Understanding other cultures actually helps you
understand your own culture.

When you learn about culture you learn about
people.

Instead of judging people for what you SEE, you
can understand them based on what you KNOW.
This is called empathy– to think about a situation
from another person’s perspective.

We are naturally biased into thinking our own
culture is best. This perspective limits our ability to
understand the world we live in.
Artifact 1: Music video: Protest music
Artifact 2: Video: Preparing for a party