Components of American Culture Social Studies Coach Lesson 1.

Components of Components of American CultureAmerican Culture

Social Studies CoachSocial Studies Coach

Lesson 1Lesson 1

The student willThe student will

recognize components of American recognize components of American culture (i.e., holidays, language, culture (i.e., holidays, language, clothing, food, art, music, and religion).clothing, food, art, music, and religion).

recognize personal, religious, and recognize personal, religious, and national celebrations of various national celebrations of various American cultures (i.e., Independence American cultures (i.e., Independence Day, Columbus Day, Native American or Day, Columbus Day, Native American or American Indian Day, Martin Luther American Indian Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Veterans Day, Memorial King, Jr. Day, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, or Thanksgiving).Day, or Thanksgiving).

Components of American Components of American CultureCulture

People of the United States have many People of the United States have many things in common. Americans share things in common. Americans share many beliefs, customs, practices, and many beliefs, customs, practices, and ideas about education, government, ideas about education, government, and leisure time. Many Americans use and leisure time. Many Americans use the same kinds of technology, wear the the same kinds of technology, wear the same kinds of clothing, and enjoy the same kinds of clothing, and enjoy the same kinds of food. All these elements same kinds of food. All these elements help to make up American help to make up American cultureculture..

Components of American Components of American CultureCulture

Culture is made up of many Culture is made up of many different elements, many of different elements, many of which relate to how people live, which relate to how people live, what they may like to do in their what they may like to do in their spare time, and what they think spare time, and what they think about different things.about different things.

The Melting PotThe Melting Pot

Even though they share many Even though they share many important characteristics, Americans important characteristics, Americans also have many differences. These also have many differences. These differences stem, in large part, from differences stem, in large part, from our country’s our country’s immigrantimmigrant history. history. An immigrant is someone who An immigrant is someone who settles in a country that he or settles in a country that he or she was not born in. she was not born in.

Ellis IslandEllis Island

The Melting PotThe Melting Pot

Since the 1500’s, people from around Since the 1500’s, people from around the world have settled in what would the world have settled in what would become the United States. Today, become the United States. Today, very few countries in the world have very few countries in the world have a population as ethnically diverse as a population as ethnically diverse as that of the United States. This has that of the United States. This has led people to call the United States a led people to call the United States a ““melting potmelting pot”.”.

The Melting PotThe Melting Pot

Each group of immigrants that came Each group of immigrants that came to the United States brought with it to the United States brought with it the foods, clothing styles, religious the foods, clothing styles, religious practices, holidays and festivals, practices, holidays and festivals, language, and the arts of its home language, and the arts of its home country. country.

The Melting PotThe Melting Pot

Over time, many of these things became Over time, many of these things became a part of the American culture. Because a part of the American culture. Because so many cultures have influenced so many cultures have influenced American culture, the United States is American culture, the United States is often said to have a often said to have a multiculturalmulticultural society. society. Multicultural is a word that Multicultural is a word that describes anything that is made up describes anything that is made up of or has different cultural of or has different cultural influences.influences.

ImmigrantsImmigrants

LanguageLanguage

Many of the first European settlers Many of the first European settlers in north America came from in north America came from England. As a result, English England. As a result, English became the most widely spoken became the most widely spoken language in the Thirteen Colonies. language in the Thirteen Colonies. Today, most people in the United Today, most people in the United States speak English.States speak English.

LanguageLanguage

Spanish is the second most widely Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the US. Long spoken language in the US. Long ago, Spanish and Mexican settlers ago, Spanish and Mexican settlers moved into what is now the moved into what is now the Southwest United States. Their Southwest United States. Their culture strongly influenced the culture strongly influenced the growth and development of this growth and development of this region of the country. region of the country.

LanguageLanguage

People from different Spanish-speaking People from different Spanish-speaking countries such as Cuba and the other countries such as Cuba and the other countries of Central and South America countries of Central and South America continued to immigrate to the U.S. continued to immigrate to the U.S. Although, many of them learned Although, many of them learned English, they also continued to speak English, they also continued to speak Spanish. Today, Hispanic or Latino Spanish. Today, Hispanic or Latino culture is evident throughout the U.S.culture is evident throughout the U.S.

LanguageLanguage

Many immigrant groups continue to Many immigrant groups continue to practice the customs and traditions of practice the customs and traditions of their countries of origin. For example, their countries of origin. For example, Mexican Americans celebrate Cinco de Mexican Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5 to remember Mexico’s Mayo on May 5 to remember Mexico’s important military victory against the important military victory against the French in 1862. Chinese New Year, with French in 1862. Chinese New Year, with its fireworks and dancers in dragon its fireworks and dancers in dragon costumes, is a big event in cities with costumes, is a big event in cities with large Chinese populations, such as New large Chinese populations, such as New York and San Francisco.York and San Francisco.

LanguageLanguage

HolidaysHolidays

People of the U.S. celebrate a large People of the U.S. celebrate a large number of holidays. Along with much of number of holidays. Along with much of the rest of the world, Americans the rest of the world, Americans celebrate celebrate New Year’s DayNew Year’s Day on January on January 1. Most Christians in the U.S. join 1. Most Christians in the U.S. join Christians in other countries in Christians in other countries in celebrating celebrating ChristmasChristmas on December 25 on December 25 and Easter Sunday, which falls in the and Easter Sunday, which falls in the early spring.early spring.

ChristmasChristmas

HolidaysHolidays

Many African Americans celebrate Many African Americans celebrate KwanzaaKwanzaa. This seven-day festival . This seven-day festival begins on December 26 and begins on December 26 and celebrates African American culture celebrates African American culture with gift-giving, candle-lighting, and with gift-giving, candle-lighting, and feasting.feasting.

KwanzaaKwanzaa

HolidaysHolidays

The U.S. has variety of national The U.S. has variety of national holidays. These holidays celebrate holidays. These holidays celebrate major events in U.S. history, major events in U.S. history, important leaders, or important important leaders, or important American traditions. American traditions. Independence Independence DayDay and and Memorial DayMemorial Day are two are two national holidays in the U.S.national holidays in the U.S.

Independence DayIndependence Day

HolidayHoliday When CelebratedWhen Celebrated What it What it CelebratesCelebrates

Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. DayDay

Third Monday of Third Monday of JanuaryJanuary

The life of civil rights The life of civil rights leader Martin Luther leader Martin Luther King, Jr.King, Jr.

President’s DayPresident’s Day Third Monday in Third Monday in FebruaryFebruary

Washington and Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays, lives Lincoln’s birthdays, lives and contributions of and contributions of U.S. presidentsU.S. presidents

Memorial DayMemorial Day Last Monday in MayLast Monday in May Americans who have Americans who have given their lives for given their lives for their countrytheir country

Independence DayIndependence Day July 4July 4 The day when the The day when the American colonies American colonies declared their declared their independence from independence from Great BritainGreat Britain

Labor DayLabor Day First Monday in First Monday in SeptemberSeptember

Working peopleWorking people

Columbus DayColumbus Day Second Monday in Second Monday in OctoberOctober

Landing of explorer Landing of explorer Christopher Columbus Christopher Columbus in the New world in in the New world in 14921492

Veterans DayVeterans Day November 11November 11 Veterans of American Veterans of American warswars

Thanksgiving DayThanksgiving Day Fourth Thursday in Fourth Thursday in NovemberNovember

Feast shared between Feast shared between settlers from England settlers from England called Pilgrims and called Pilgrims and Native Americans to Native Americans to give thanks for surviving give thanks for surviving the previous yearthe previous year

Religion Religion

In the U.S., freedom of religion in In the U.S., freedom of religion in protected by law. This means that protected by law. This means that the government cannot force people the government cannot force people to practice a certain religion. The to practice a certain religion. The government also cannot prevent government also cannot prevent people from practicing the religion people from practicing the religion of their choice.of their choice.

ReligionReligion

About 90% of Americans identify About 90% of Americans identify themselves according to a specific religion. themselves according to a specific religion. About 70% are members of a religious About 70% are members of a religious group.group.

Most Americans who belong to an organized Most Americans who belong to an organized religion are Christians, about 84% of the religion are Christians, about 84% of the U.S. population as of 2005. About 1.9% are U.S. population as of 2005. About 1.9% are Jewish, 1.6% are Muslim, .9% are Jewish, 1.6% are Muslim, .9% are Buddhists, and .4% are Hindu. Many others Buddhists, and .4% are Hindu. Many others belong to a wide variety of organized and belong to a wide variety of organized and unorganized faiths and spiritualities.unorganized faiths and spiritualities.

1.1.

What cultural elements What cultural elements from their home from their home countries do many countries do many immigrants continue to immigrants continue to observe?observe?

A. Kwanzaa and A. Kwanzaa and Independence DayIndependence DayB. language, music, foodB. language, music, foodC. bank and winter holidaysC. bank and winter holidaysD. Martin Luther King, Jr. D. Martin Luther King, Jr. DayDay

B. language, music, and B. language, music, and foodsfoods

2. Why is the U.S. called a 2. Why is the U.S. called a “Melting Pot”?“Melting Pot”?A. People in the U.S. celebrate a A. People in the U.S. celebrate a specific group of holidaysspecific group of holidaysB. Early settlers used special pots B. Early settlers used special pots to cook their foodto cook their foodC. The English language is made C. The English language is made up of words and phrases from up of words and phrases from other languagesother languagesD. American culture is a blend of D. American culture is a blend of customs and cultural practices customs and cultural practices from around the worldfrom around the world

D. American culture is a D. American culture is a blend of customs and blend of customs and

cultural practices from cultural practices from around the worldaround the world

3. Which of the following is 3. Which of the following is not a component of not a component of American culture?American culture?A. holidaysA. holidaysB. natureB. natureC. musicC. musicD. foodD. food

B. natureB. nature

4. Which of the following is 4. Which of the following is not a national holiday in not a national holiday in the U.S.?the U.S.?A. Independence DayA. Independence DayB. Columbus DayB. Columbus DayC. KwanzaaC. KwanzaaD. Veterans DayD. Veterans Day

C. KwanzaaC. Kwanzaa