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Monday, February 25, Warm-UpOn your Unit Sheet, under Warm-Up #1, answer the following question:

1. What is culture?

•_____

The Nature of CultureWhat is culture?

Culture the ways in which a particular group of people lives, including their shared knowledge, values, customs and physical objects

The Nature of CultureWhen studying cultures throughout the

world, you will analyze various cultures by distinguishing between:

cultural traits – the smallest element in a culture nonmaterial, such as a belief

cultural items – a material culture trait, which can be seen, handled and used

American Culture1. In groups of 4• draw 10 pictures of cultural items

that represent American culture

• write a list of 10 ideas, beliefs or concepts that are cultural traits of American culture.

Tuesday, February 26, Warm-UpAnswer the following question under

Warm-Up #2 on your unit sheet:

Given your understanding of the purpose of studying sociology, why is it important to study culture?

* Under essential questions, change question #1 to What is the purpose of studying culture?

The Nature of CultureWhat is culture?

Culture the ways in which a particular group of people lives, including their shared knowledge, values, customs and physical objects

Religion, dress, music, group behavior, jobs, lifestyles, daily life, family, rules, objects, gestures, symbols, ideas, values, traditions, foods, language, morals, trends, greetings, manners, drinks, laws, art, knowledge, homes

What is the purpose of studying sociology?

1. Understand social structure

2. Explain reasoning for group’s pattern of behavior

3. Repeat or change behavior

4. Promote conformity

Culture vs. Society1. Culture the ways in which a particular

group of people lives, including their shared knowledge, values, customs and physical objects

2. Society a specific territory inhabited by people who share a common culture

3. A society’s culture is their total way of life. Culture needs a society of people to develop and a society will not stay intact without culture.

Thursday, February 28, Warm-UpOn your Unit Sheets under WarmUp #3, answer the following question:

What are basic needs of all humans?

American CultureCultural Items Cultural Traits McDonalds DrugsFord Music Baseball Money Chevy Statue Of Liberty Michael Jordan Flag Football Ipod Cell phone Twin Towers Mall MYSPACE

Authority & Freedom Diversity Opportunities Money Freedom of religion Power & rights Freedom of speech Democracy Education Liberty Justice Patriotism Advertising Gluttony Arrogant

Nacirema CultureCultural Items Cultural TraitsCharm boxHoly waterShrineCharmsPotionsSharp instruments

Body is ugly

Given the list of cultural items and traits, what Americans value?

Given the list of cultural items and traits, the people of Nacirema value?

What is the purpose of studying culture? reasoning for why people act the way that

they doUnderstanding other ethnicitiesExplain why beliefs of groups existSimilarities/differences of cultural groupsNew perspective of life and behavior

What is the purpose of studying culture?1. Studying culture will help us to understand and

explain the patterns of behavior of societies, or cultural groups.

2. Studying culture will help us to determine what behavior is universal across cultures and why cultures differ from region to region.

3. Studying culture will help us to determine which human behavior is instinctive, or innate, unlearned behavior, and which behavior is learned.

What is the purpose of studying sociology?

1. Understand social structure

2. Explain reasoning for group’s pattern of behavior

3. Repeat or change behavior

4. Promote conformity

The Nature of Culture Quiz 11. What is culture?

2. List 5 objects that would be considered cultural items for any culture.

3. List 5 ideas that would be considered cultural traits for any culture.

4. What is the purpose of studying culture?

Class assignment, complete and discuss.Given our discussion on culture and basic needs all

people, write a 2-paragraph response to the following:

Two-thousand years ago, their are 2 groups of people. One group lives in a coastal, or ocean-side, village in what is now Alaska. While the other group lives next to a river on the equator, in what is now Ghana (in Africa). Describe how each group’s society and culture may have developed. (hint: in your answer consider what characteristics define culture, geography and basic human needs).

Cultures DevelopingCulture of group in Alaska

Culture of group in Ghana

How are language and culture related?(essential question #2)IDEA #1:

In order for it to survive, culture must be transmitted, or shared, from one generation to the next.

HOW CAN CULTURE BE TRANSMITTED?

Transmission of CultureCultures can be spread and communicated

through the use of symbols.

Symbols are a thing that stands for or represents something else.

Examples of symbols can include sounds, smells, tastes, gestures, expressions, images, people, objects, or a word

School School Crossing

Men at Work

Car Rental

Elevator

Answer the following questionHow are symbols essential, or important in transmitting culture?

Language and CultureTask #1:

On the following 3 pages, you will view a series of colors you must identify all of these colors by writing its color name on the specific box identified. Your entire group must be in agreement when identifying each color.

Language and CultureTask #1:

On the following 3 pages, you will view a series of colors you must

• identify all of these colors by writing its color name on the specific box identified

• your entire group must be in agreement when identifying each color

What color is it?

What color is it?

What color is it?

How are language and culture related?(essential question #2)IDEA #1:

In order for it to survive, culture must be transmitted, or shared, from one generation to the next.

IDEA #2:

Our understanding of a thing relates to the complexity and detail of the words we use to describe it (also known as the hypothesis of linguistic relativity or the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis)

Language and CultureTask #3Read the expressions on the following page and

complete the following:1.What is the meaning of the expression?2.How might someone who is just learning

American English perceive this expression?

Expression: A leopard can’t change its spots.

• Expression: Getting up on the wrong side of bed.

• Expression: Kick the bucket.

• Expression: It’s raining cats and dogs.

Language and CultureTask #2

On the following pages American English will be compared to other languages. Examine each page and complete the following tasks:

1.Write in additional synonyms for the words provided

2.What can be learned about each culture based on the number, or lack of, synonyms of the words studied. (hint-what does the culture value, or what is important)

Language and CultureAmerican English Inuit (Eskimo Language)

• WORDS THAT DESCRIBE SNOW

FluffIce powderSlushSnowstormSnowfallSnowflakeHailSleetIceBlizzardFrozen precipitationWintery weatherFrozen rain

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE SNOW

See Attached

Language and Culture American English Twi (a Ghanaian

Language)WORDS THAT DESCRIBE

HELLOHey what’s goodYo what’s poppinWhat’s upHiHolaChelloAyo AyeGreetingsGood morningGood dayMorningGood afternoon CiaoHowdybonjour

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE GOOD MORNING (Only)

Mekyea woMa akyeMa ahaMa adwoAgoo AmeeYooNante YeWo ho te sEnKyeaYaa agyaYaa ena

Language and CultureAmerican English Twi (a Ghanaian

Language)WORDS THAT DESCRIBE

MONEY Beans bejamins Bills stalks Bread funds Banknote coin Cash dibs Check dinero Cabbage scratch Dough rocks Capital mula Green green stuff Dollar bill Cask Buck Guap Chedda cheese

WORDS THAT DESCRIBE MONEY

Cedis

How are language and culture related?(essential question #2)IDEA #1:

In order for it to survive, culture must be transmitted, or shared, from one generation to the next.

IDEA #2: Our understanding of a thing relates to the complexity and detail

of the words we use to describe it (also known as the hypothesis of linguistic relativity or the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis)

IDEA #3:When something is important to a society, its language will have

many words to describe. Values of a cultural group can be understood by studying its language.

Monday, March 10, Warm-UpOn your Unit Sheet, complete the following:

Write one paragraph explaining how language and culture are related.

How are language and culture related?(essential question #2)IDEA #1:

In order for it to survive, culture must be transmitted, or shared, from one generation to the next.

IDEA #2: Our understanding of a thing relates to the complexity and detail

of the words we use to describe it (also known as the hypothesis of linguistic relativity or the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis)

IDEA #3:When something is important to a society, its language will have

many words to describe. Values of a cultural group can be understood by studying its language.

Wednesday, March 12, Warm-Up1. What are you suppose to do when you

cough?2. What is the speed limit on Connecticut

highways?3. How many spouses can an American

have?4. How do you shake someone’s hand?5. Is murder acceptable?6. Is lying acceptable?

Identifying culturesCulture –the ways in which a particular group of

people lives, including their shared knowledge, values, customs and physical objects

Sub-culture – groups in society share values, norms, and behaviors that are not shared by the entire population

Counterculture – a subculture deliberately and consciously opposed to certain central beliefs or attitudes of the dominant culture

What components define a culture?All cultures, regardless of time, location

or size have the following:SymbolsLanguageTechnologyValuesNorms, including folkways, mores, and

laws

What are symbols?Symbols are anything that stands for

something else and has a shared meaning attached to it. Language, gestures, images, sounds, physical objects, events, and elements of the natural world can serve as symbols as long as people recognize that they convey a particular meaning.

What is technology? Technology is knowledge of tools people

use for practical purposes

What are examples of tools people use for practical purposes today?

What is language?Language is an organization of written

and spoken symbols into a standardized system.

Read the following:Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, itdeosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrodare, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm.

What are values?Values are shared beliefs about what is

good or bad, right or wrong, desirable or undesirable

A cultural group could have:Religious valuesPolitical valuesEconomic valuesGender valuesAge-related values

Answer:1. What are you suppose to do when you

cough?2. What is the speed limit on Connecticut

highways?3. How many spouses can an American

have?4. How do you shake someone’s hand?5. Is murder acceptable?6. Is lying acceptable?

What are norms*?Norms are shared rules of conduct that

tell people how to act in specific situations in order to enforce cultural values, norms include:FolkwaysMoresLaws

In relation to norms, what are folkways?Folkways are norms that do not have

great moral significance attached to them—the common customs of everyday lifeHow many time a week should a person

shower?

Examples of folkways are: rules for eating, sleeping, supporting school activities, removing your hat indoors, rules for dress

In relation to norms, what are mores?Mores are norms that have great moral

significance attached to themExamples can include: working for a

living, standing up at during the national anthem or pledge of allegiance, not using profanity during a religious service, respecting the limitations of others whether it be physical or mental, telling the truth

In relation to norms, what are laws?Laws are written rules of conduct that

are enacted and enforced by the government. By definition, the violation of these norms is considered a criminal act