Welcome Students!

Welcome students and parents to Cultraverse's blog!

This blog will be your best friend through out this course of this class. It contains the weekly homework and class assignments for each unit, along with any worsheets or power points we use in class. Links to helpful websites and videos will also be provided for your use through these blogs. Extra credit opportunities might also show up on the blog every so  often, so make sure you check the page often.

Our contact info is in the "About Me" page in case you have any questions regarding what we did in class that day or for anything you need us for.

~Dr. LaBairequez and Mr. Flinkenzry

Unit 1: Intro/ Basics (What is the culture?)

EQs: Define what culture and cultural diversity is. Describe how society can affect a culture.  Explain what socialization is?
Standards: SSSocSC1: Students will explain the process of socialization.
a. Identify and describes the roles and responsibilities of an individual in society.
b. Analyze the individual development theories of Cooley and Mead.
c. Identify and evaluate the stages of socialization; include childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and death/dying.
d. Evaluate the factors that socialize the individual; include family, peers, education, media, and religion.
e. Analyze how individuals are socialized by gender and race/ethnicity.

SSSocC1: Students will explain the development and importance of culture.
a. Describe how culture is a social construction.
b. Identify the basic characteristics of culture.
c. Explain the importance of culture as an organizing tool in society.
d. Describe the components of culture to include language, symbols, norms, and values.

SSSocC2: Students will evaluate how cultures develop and evolve.
a. Explain cultural change and diversity include ethnocentrism, cultural relevance, folk culture, pop culture, counterculture, subculture, and culture shock.
b. Compare material and non-material culture.
c. Analyze the impact of globalization on US and other world cultures.

SSSocC3: Students will analyze social structure and interaction within society.
a. Explain the components of social structure; include status, role and social institutions.
b. Describe and compare various types of societies.
c. Categorize groups within a society by comparing primary and secondary groups, in and out groups, reference groups, and social networks.
d. Analyze the components, varieties, and functions of group dynamics; include such factors as group size, leadership and authority, and such processes as bystander effect and groupthink.
e. Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of formal organizations and bureaucracies.


Unit Summary.
In this unit, the students will learn the basics about what culture is and they will be given an understanding of what cultural diversity is, what racism is, and how cultures change and grow. They will also learn about how society affects cultures. This unit will give students the ability to identify what culture is and be able to better learn the information about other cultures that will be taught.

Unit 2: North America

EQ1: Analyze and explain why the United States is called the melting pot & how the world would differ if it were not. 

EQ2: Describe why Canada is as equally diverse as the United States.

Standards

SSWG8.1 The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary Canada and the United States. 

• Explain the reasons for the population distribution in Canada and the United States. 
• Explain how the physical geography of Canada and the United States contributed to regional growth and development. 
• Describe the ethnic and religious groups in Canada and the United States; include major customs and traditions.

SSWG8.3 The student will analyze the different cultures and ethnic groups in the United States and Canada.

Unit Summary

This unit will basically consist of North America e.i United States and Canada. Students will learn about how certain ethnic and religious groups came to the U.S and Canada and why others did not. We will also discuss how Canada and the U.S differ in terms of government and economy as well as different cultural aspects of each country.

Unit 3: South America (Latin America)

EQs:

Predict what would happen to the world if Hispanic culture didn't exist .

Explain how Latin America has changed the world? Elaborate.

Standards:

Students will develop an understanding of the role of physical and human systems in shaping population distribution, natural disasters, political developments, ethnic and religious groups, impact of deforestation, competition in the global market, and the impact of illegal drug production and trade in Latin America. The press conference Performance Task provides the student an opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of a current issue. Using Unit Connecting Themes, students will understand how culture - the product of religion, beliefs, customs, traditions and government - influences decision-making; human environmental interaction will help students understand how physical features such as mountains and bodies of water are linked to human features such as development and population patterns; location will help students understand that the specific place that a people reside affects the development of the society’s economy, culture, and development; and production, consumption, distribution – of goods/services produced by the society is affected by the location, customs, beliefs, and laws of the society.

SSWG7 The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary Latin America.

a. Explain why the region is known as Latin America; include cultural reasons.

b. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on Latin America. 

c. Describe the major climates of Latin America and how they have affected Latin America.

d. Explain how geographic features and climatic patterns affect population distribution. 

e. Analyze the impact of natural disasters and political instability on economic activity in Latin America.

 f. Describe the various ethnic and religious groups in Latin America; include South America, Central America and the Caribbean, as well as major customs and traditions. 

g. Analyze the impact of deforestation on Latin America and explain actions being taken. 

h. Explain how Latin American countries such as Brazil are developing their economic systems. 

resources to compete in the global market and to improve industrial productivity. 

i. Analyze the impact illegal drug production and trade have on Latin America.

Unit Summary:

Students will learn:

a. religious views of all Latin American countries

b. geographic stand points

c. cuisines and diverse food from each culture and country

d. government systems of each country

e. past and possible future conflicts with each country

Unit 4: Africa

Essential Questions:
EQ1: Give examples and compose a list of stereotypes about Africa and its people?
EQ2: Compare and contrast Africa's culture to other cultures.

Standards:
SSWG4: The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa.

• Analyze strengths and weaknesses in the development of Sub-Saharan Africa; include factors such as linguistic, tribal, and religious diversity; literacy levels; and the colonial legacy.
• Describe the ethnic and religious groups in Sub-Saharan Africa; include major customs and traditions.

SSWG3: The student will describe the interaction of physical and human systems that have shaped contemporary North Africa/Southwest Asia.

• a. Describe the location of major physical features and their impact on North Africa/Southwest Asia.
• b. Explain the impact of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam on the development of the region’s culture. 
• c. Explain why this region contains areas on two different continents. 
• d. Describe the major ethnic and cultural groups in North Africa/Southwest Asia; include major customs and traditions.

Unit Summary.
In this unit, the students will learn about Africa and its different cultures. They will learn about:

•  African cultures and how it has changed throughout decades
• Many languages spoken in the continent and how they overlap in other countries
• Different ethnic cultures 
• Major religions practiced in the continent 
• History of Africa 
• Customs of life

Unit 5: Europe

EQ1: What would you do if you lived in Europe without knowing any social customs or culture?
EQ2: What is the most compelling part of European culture? Why is it compelling?

Standards:

• SSSocC3: Student will analyze social structure and interaction within society.
• SSSocC4: Students will analyze the function of social institutions as agents of social control across differing societies and times.

Unit summary:
In this Unit of the class, you will be learning about:

•  European culture and societal customs.
• The many lanugages that are found in this country and how they overlap in the countries.
• Different ethinic cultures in the European countries.
• Governments of each country.
• Major religions and the area they cover.
• Curency of the countries and how it origintated
• How the natives peoples settled and how it affected history
• How the Renaissance influenced European liberal art

Unit 6: Asia

EQ1: Describe the major ethnic and cultural groups in Asia; include main custums and traditions.
EQ2: Pretend that you are Asian. Compare and contrast the way you think of Asians versus what you would like to be treated like if you were Asian.

Standards:

• SS7G12-The student will analyze the diverse cultures of the people who live in Southern and Eastern Asia.
• SS7G8- The student will describe the diverse cultural characteristics of the people who live in Southwestern Asia

Unit Summary.

Asian culture and societal customs.

The many lanugages that are found in this country and how they overlap in the countries.

Different ethinic cultures in the Asia's countries.

Governments of each country.

Major religions and the regions in which they are found. 

Curency of the countries and how it origintated

How the natives peoples settled and how it affected history