Lesson Plan - Diversity of Cultures in America

Grade Level(s): 5,
Focus:  To have students recognize the diversity of cultures in America
Time: 1 hour
Objectives:
Competency Goal 1    The learner will analyze the characteristics of people of the Western Hemisphere.
    1.1 Identify, locate, and describe major groups of people, past and present, in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
1.2 Describe similarities and differences among the people of the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
1.3 Assess the role and status of individuals and groups in the United States, Canada, and Latin America, past and present.
Competency Goal 2    The learner will assess the influence of major religions, ethical beliefs, and aesthetic values on life in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
    2.1 Describe evolving art forms and aesthetic values and assess their influence on life in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
2.2 Evaluate the influence of beliefs, individuals, and practices associated with major religions in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
2.3 Analyze economic, social, and political situations which involve ethical and moral dilemmas.

Procedure:
Interest Building:
Ask students what they think is meant by that old-time saying, "America is a melting pot." Ask students who know their family history to describe their family origins to the class; or tell them something about your own background.  The teacher then shows pictures of people from different cultures, immigrants coming into the country, and perhaps pictures that tell the story of her own family history.
Lesson Development:
The teacher will provide articles form different magazines and newspapers about different cultures that exist in the United States. Have the class read the articles; then ask students to try to imagine what life is like for these new Americans-new language, new schools, new jobs, etc. What day-to-day problems might they face? What changes would they need to make in their life styles? How might we help new Americans adjust? Have the students cut out articles and pictures that represent the different cultures of the United States.


Closure:
To drive home the "melting pot" idea, make a big black kettle out of poster board. Hang it at the base of the bulletin board. Coming out of the top of the kettle would be a montage of student-selected collages using newspaper articles and photographs that reflect America's diverse population.   Students will discuss their collages and what they found interesting in their findings.
Follow-Up:
Try to arrange for recent immigrants to speak to the class about what it was like to leave one country for another. Or invite a representative of the local immigration department to talk about what a person has to do to become an American citizen; the speaker also might touch on other challenges new immigrants face. Have students develop questions beforehand, based on their newspaper reading.
Evaluation:
Students will respond in their journals regarding what they have learned in class.  Students will reflect on the saying “America is a melting pot”.   What does this saying mean to them as citizens of the US.

Materials Needed:

Poster board
Magazines
Newspaper
Glue
Scissors
Construction paper