Learning about other cultures, countries, and people both around the world and here at home is an essential part of a good education. As our world becomes more global, diversity and inclusion necessitate a global way of thinking. Workplaces and schools are struggling to create more welcoming, diverse, and equitable institutions through such methods as DEI consulting services, a focus on diversity in advertising, affirmative action hiring practices, and more. One way to provide your students with a window into the lives of people around the world is by organizing month-long units focusing on one culture at a time.

Each month, you and your students will take a deep dive into one country or culture, learning what you can about their beliefs, art, history, and traditions. This is a fun and hands-on way to introduce diversity and teach your class about the uniqueness of different countries and cultures, no matter where you are located. Here is everything you need to know to get started:

Culture Board

Create a culture or country board about each country as you study it. Over the month, you will add important people, words, and graphics to your board to help your students remember and connect with what they have learned. This is an interactive board, and it’s important the students understand that it’s a classroom project. Students should decide together what to add and should discuss the importance and significance of each item. This is a great way to get the kids talking about the things you learn.

History and Geography

You should start your unit on each country’s culture by learning where the country is and a little about its history. Watching a movie or documentary about the country is a great way to kick off the unit. Have the kids listen for certain words or fill in a worksheet as they watch the movie.

To learn more about the area, have each child draw a map of the country and decorate it with symbols and pictures that tell about the culture and environment. They can add to this map throughout the unit as they learn more. As an additional or alternative activity, the whole class could work together to draw and decorate a large wall map of the area. Add important people, events, landmarks, and locations to your culture board as you learn about them.

Finally, learn more about the culture and the people by reading picture books together. If there is time, you could also read a short chapter book about the culture spread over the whole unit. Look for stories about modern-day children or historical children who live in the country, immigrant children from the culture, and books about historical events or people.

Culture and Traditions

To learn more about the culture and traditions of each country or group, focus on fun activities and engaging, interactive lessons. You can add these activities to your lessons throughout the month. Start by learning to say “hello”, “goodbye” and any other important or fun phrases in the target language. Add these phrases to your bulletin board as you learn them. One memorable way to learn more about a country or group is to learn how to play a game or sport that is popular in the culture. Kids will love the chance to learn by playing.

You should also learn about the art of the culture by studying traditional art forms, instruments, and music. Videos are a great way to learn more about the art of other countries, whether they are a demonstration of an art form, a video showcasing traditional music and dance, or a virtual visit to a local art museum. If practical, find an easy way to modify a cultural art or craft form for classroom use and let your children experience the art of the country with a hands-on project.

Finally, don’t neglect the oral traditions and storytelling of the country you are studying. Use picture books, online resources, and videos to experience the traditional storytelling and folklore of each culture. Once you have learned a story or folk tale, have the students practice storytelling by retelling the story to each other or their parents.

Food and Celebrations

One of the best ways to learn about other cultures is by celebrating with them. It’s also one of the most fun ways! While you are learning all about different cultures, make sure to set aside some time to enjoy a snack or small meal representative of each country or area. If you can, find a local source for your food, but if that’s not possible you can still enjoy a treat that will give your students a taste for the different cultures.

You can also celebrate an important holiday for each country or culture that you learn about. When you are planning your lessons, try to time it so that you are learning about each culture over that holiday for more authenticity. Create crafts or art projects inspired by each culture, and use them as decorations for your holiday celebration or special meal.

Listen to and learn some traditional songs or a dance from each culture. If possible, learn the songs in the native language as well as English. Most children of these ages love singing and dancing, so this is a fun and active way to learn more about the culture. There are many videos you can watch to help with this.

Consider having a small classroom party at the end of each unit to celebrate the holiday, traditions, foods, and music you have learned about. Decorate with your arts and crafts, enjoy cultural food, and sing your new songs. For a treat, watch a movie about the culture or take turns telling the folk tales you read.

Conclusion

Learning about one country each month is a great way to help your students see that people all over the world have holidays, traditions, music, art, and stories that they love and connect with. Each day, spend a few minutes listening to a story, singing a song, or watching a short video about different cultures, and by the end of the year your students will have learned about people from all over the world.