Comparing Cultures Teacher Resources

Children around the world may have cultural differences, yet it is an important reminder that they also have many similarities! Designed for a class of first-graders in Hawaii, this library research project has learners compare and...

Young scholars use a variety of media to explore culture as the accumulation of beliefs, learned patterns of behavior, institutions, and values. They examine how to identify, compare, and appreciate the traits of various regions and...

Young readers compare two stories/cultures, identifying how they are alike and different. They share their own version of a well-known story and adapt it to another culture. They explain their adaptations.

Using informational text to make cross cultural comparisons is a great way to build a global understanding and comparative analysis skills. With several handy worksheets and a Venn diagram the class will read to make cross textual...

Learners explore cultural myths in America by collecting images and characteristics of stereotypical Americans. They read a primary source document, discussing the views of the author in class. Next, they compare the terms used to...

All cultures express similar thoughts, feelings, and ideas. But, often times those things are expressed differently. Learners compare and contrast traditional dances from two cultures. They watch videos of each performance, stop to...

Third graders interpret maps and identify cultural characteristics of North American and South American communities. They then classify cultural characteristics as economic or social. Printable worksheets are included. 

Students explore Native American cultures. In this cultural comparisons lesson, students participate in several activities that compare and contrast the culture of the Hopi and Comanche Tribes.

Students examine the nature of culture, and compare/contrast various cultures and their artifacts and ceremonies. They develop a class list of artifacts, complete a worksheet, and create a poster or diorama describing an object that is...

Second graders are able to compare versions of the same stories from different cultures. They read a version of Cinderalla that is familiar to students. Students make a list of the acts of kindness or goodness from the story they just...

Fifth graders compare and contrast folktales. In this comparative analysis lesson, 5th graders compare "Brush Alligator Meets Trouble" with "The Lizard." They use the texts to review word wall words and vocabulary. 

Students use the program SKYPE to speak to a pal in a Latin American country and describe their life and compare and contrast it to the other's. In this SKYPE lesson plan, students create digital presentations about life in North...

Fourth graders read and look at maps of the Hopi Indians and compare and contrast their lives with the Hopi Indians. In this Hopi Indians lesson plan, 4th graders learn about different cultures and answer short answer questions.

Students compare and contrast their family with the familes of other students in their class. They complete a comparison of the various ways in which their culture is different from another students. Drawing on this experience, they...

Students explore Native American tribes. In this American Literature lesson, students compare and contrast different cultures including the Iroquois and Europeans. Students identify Native American pictographs.

Fifth graders read folktales and discuss how the folktales from different cultures are alike and different. In this folktales lesson plan, 5th graders also fill out a comparing and contrasting worksheet.

Consider the factors and outcomes of societal changes that occurred during the Japanese Feudal period. Critical thinkers use what they know to answer three short essay questions. This helpful learning exercise is a great tool for...

Students read a New York Times article in order to examine the importance of cultural artifacts. They create essays from the point of view of one cultural artifact to demonstrate the knowledge they gained by doing research.

Students use the Internet to discover the cultures and customs of Nepal, Japan, or the Mentawai tribe of Indonesia. They compare their customs to customs in the US. They write paragraphs imagining that they are visiting people of these...

Students discover facts about the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead. In this compare and contrast lesson, students explore Halloween and the Day of the Dead. Students create an alter to memorialize a family member or friend that has...

Third graders explore art that reflects their cultural background. In this writing and research lesson students compare and contrast the Halloween with El Dia de los Muertos. Students study the visual art of these holidays. Then students...

Learners interview a family member about their heritage. They listen to and record part of their family's oral history. Students also create and label a family tree going back a minimum of two generations and compare and contrast...

Fifth graders compare and contrast the cultures of American culture with that of the other cultures of North America. Using traditional and Internet research, 5th graders gather data on one element of culture for comparison. Data...

Fourth graders compare cultural differences. For this Canadian history lesson, 4th graders examine the language and cultural differences between European explorers and First Nations. In small groups, students role-play communication...