Craft Lesson 2

Exploring Cultural Diversity

Resource Material:

Wong, Janet. Apple Pie 4^th of July. Orlando: Harcourt, 2002.

Discussion:

Young children don't realize that the way their families celebrate holidays may not be the same way their neighbors celebrate the same holiday. In Apple Pie 4^th of July, Janet Wong illustrates a young girl's frustration with her parents as they celebrate the 4^th of July. This craft lesson provides a springboard for class discussion of cultural diversity.

How to Teach It:

Begin by reading Apple Pie 4^th of July out loud to the class. Initiate a class discussion comparing the protagonist's experience to the experience she thinks her American neighbor is having, recording responses on a chart tablet. In groups of four students each, have the students discuss other holidays that might be celebrated differently by different cultures. Then have students individually create their own chart comparing/ contrasting their own traditions with those of another group member.

Second Grade Standards Taught:

1)Participating in conversations and discussions, 2)connecting experiences and ideas with those of others through speaking and listening, 3)representing information on a chart