Culture: Importance, Change Over Time, and Impact

Culture By: Anush K. & Clarissa G.

What is culture? Culture is made up of customs, attitudes, and beliefs that are unique to each group of people. Many cultures have characteristic that make them stand out such as cultural products like food, language, literature, art and music. Different cultures embrace different religions, political ideas and they have changed over time due to technology and human development. All cultures are different and the things and traditions have been passed down for thousands of years.

Why is it important for students to understand culture? It is important for students to understand that human cultures exhibit both similarities and differences, and learn to see themselves both as individuals and as members of a particular culture that shares similarities and differences with other cultural groups across time and place. Living in a multicultural society, it is important for students to understand the multiple perspectives that derive from different cultures, which in turn will help them acquire,develop, understand, and analyze multiple perspectives about real world issues and concepts.

BIG QUESTION: How does culture change over time to accommodate different ideas, and beliefs? Culture can change through contact with other cultures, when contact occurs between two cultures, diffusion may occur. Diffusion is the transfer of ideas between cultures. In the past, this was limited because fewer people were able to travel or communicate with people from other parts of the world. We create culture, so we also have the power to change it. Culture drives the way we treat each other and tells us what s normal, and acceptable.

Examples: Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People Farmers moving due to climate change and increasing temperatures Large Dams displacing people ( Ex: Tehri Dam in India) Indians being forced to evict their lands ( Narmada Bachao Andolon, an Indian social movement, is the greatest example of a battle by indigenous people over land for a large dam)

Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People in Australia Since September of 2019, Australia has been facing a national crisis, as brushfires tear through rural communities across the nation. At least 25 people have died, and more than 2,000 homes have been destroyed. At least 480 million animals including mammals, birds and reptiles have died in bushfires Some regions of the country recorded air quality measurements 20 times above the hazardous level. Evacuations are taking place in three southern states: New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. People are evacuating by ship or plane to safe areas o Australian government would is sending in military support including the country's largest warship, HMAS Adelaide, to help evacuate regional communities on Victoria's coast. o Communities are evacuating to the beach, lakes, and coastal areas to avoid fires

How can we introduce culture to elementary school students and make them aware of cultural changes? Cultural heritage projects Introducing them to important people in different cultures Creating projects where students will research concepts of similarities and differences of cultural groups through various subjects such as language arts, math, science, music, and art. Explaining Indians as one of the most common and significant in cultural moves. Incorporate real-world events in lessons to teach students about cultural awareness

The End Thanks for listening!