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CultureGrams & World Conflicts Today Updates
Did you know that an expanded Teaching Activities collection was included in our newest CultureGrams release? In addition to revising and updating existing activities, the CultureGrams editors have created several new offerings.
Now you and your students can examine the rituals and practices that mark life transitions in different countries, research and explore the variation in climate among different Canadian provinces, classify and contextualize cultural video clips as part of an international film festival, and engage in many other interesting and educational activities that relate to the World, Kids, States, and Provinces editions.
You can find a link to a PDF of all 70 activities on the bottom of every page of your CultureGrams subscription. Detailed bookmarks on the left-hand side of our PDF allow for easy navigation by grade level.
A new index of activity types breaks activities into seven useful categories: Creative Project, Discussion, Game, Presentation, Problem Solving, Research, and Writing. Each activity in the collection includes an associated grade level, objective, relevant national curriculum standards, time requirement and materials guidelines, and instructions.
Don't miss it: Watch our short video highlighting our new, colorful CultureGrams interface.
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Teaching Idea:
How's the Weather?
In this month's lesson, students will research and explore the variation in climate among different Canadian provinces.
Divide the class into groups and have each group choose a Canadian province whose weather they will research. To start, have each group read the Climate section of the CultureGrams report for their province. Then, have groups make predictions about the average temperature in their province for the next month.
How close were the predictions from the beginning of the month? Where is it the hottest? Where is it the coldest? Ask students if they think the same time next year will have the same results. (Full activity.)
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Regional Quiz
How much do you know about the region of
North Africa?
Test your knowledge with these tidbits from CultureGrams:
- Which country in North Africa is the continent's second largest?
- The earliest recorded Egyptian dynasty began around what date?
- In 1787, the U.S. signed a peace and friendship treaty that is still in effect with which North African country?
- Tunisia was a major battleground during which international war?
- The highest temperature recorded on Earth (136°F, 58°C) occurred in which North African country?
- What religion is dominant throughout North Africa?
- Western Sahara is a region claimed by which country?
- What natural resource was discovered in Libya in 1959?
- Which body of water borders North Africa?
- In 1979, Egypt became the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with which Middle Eastern nation?
Answers: 1) Algeria. 2) 3,000 B.C. 3) Morocco. 4) World War II. 5) Libya (at Al Aziziyah on 13 September 1922) 6) Islam. 7) Morocco. 8) Oil. 9) The Mediterranean Sea. 10) Israel.
Did you know...
- In Morocco, around the seventh month of pregnancy, an expectant mother often gathers with female friends and family, who decorate her hands and feet with henna. Seven days after the birth, a celebration is held to give the baby a name. Friends and family bring gifts such as blankets and clothing for the newborn and money for the mother. Most baby boys are circumcised in the first week after birth, but some families wait until the boy is age three or four. The circumcision is an important religious event and cause for another celebration.
- Egyptians are expressive, emotional, and are known for their sense of humor, which has helped them endure difficult living conditions with great composure. Part of Egyptian humor is a love for riddles (which are especially common during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan), jokes, and sarcasm. Egyptians often identify with community groups to the point that personal needs become secondary to those of the group. Generosity is an integral part of this sense of community.
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World Holidays
Holidays provide a great way to introduce students to the culture and history of a country. "Observe" a world holiday in your classroom by asking students to research the holiday's origins or learn more about a particular aspect of the country.
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Focus on a Canadian Province: Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories lies in the middle of Canada's two other territories: the Yukon and Nunavut. It is roughly shaped like a rectangle and stretches over 1,346,106 square kilometers (519,734 sq miles). The Mackenzie River is the largest river in the territory and the second largest in North America, after the Mississippi River. It flows out of Great Slave Lake and travels north to empty into the Beaufort Sea. Great Slave Lake is also the deepest lake in North America, with depths of 610 meters (2,000 ft). The majority of Northerners live in the cities and towns along the Mackenzie River or around Great Slave Lake. Almost half of these live in Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories. Half the population is made up of indigenous (native) peoples, including Inuit, Métis, and First Nations peoples. The birth rate is very high in the Northwest Territories, well above the national average. Its population has been increasing steadily and has more than doubled since World War II.
- The Northwest Territories has eight official languages: Inuktitut, French, English, Gwich'in, Cree, Chipewyan, Slavey, and Dogrib.
- Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, holds the record for the coldest city in Canada, with an average annual temperature of -5.4°C (22 °F).
- When Northerners travel south of the territory, they say they're going "outside."
- The South Nahanni River is considered one of the best whitewater runs in the world for adventurous canoeists and kayakers.
- Virginia Falls in Nahanni National Park is almost twice as high as Niagara Falls!
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Social Studies Grant Feed: Grant Wrangler & ProQuest
Learn how to publish this information on your website
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CultureGrams Photo Gallery Pick
Sahara Desert, Morocco, October 2006
Berber Tents:
Though the majority of Berbers were farmers, groups of nomadic Berber peoples traversed the Sahara Desert in the days before the Arabs invaded. At each stopping place, the women of the family erected tents similar to these. The square reed structure houses the cooking area.
Tap into the complete CultureGrams Photo Gallery.
SIRS Spotlights + Challenge Quests
President-elect Barack Obama will be inaugurated as the nation's 44th president on January 20, an occasion steeped in over two centuries of American history and tradition.
Our SIRS Spotlight of the Month commemorates more than two centuries of presidential inaugurations.
Did you know that nine U.S. presidents were quietly inaugurated following the death of their predecessors?
Learn more with this month's SIRS Challenge Quests.
Video Training:
Anytime, Anywhere, Any Device
In addition to the free, Web-based training courses we offer each month, you can also tap into our recorded training presentations.
Available anytime, these 5-75 minute self-paced Flash videos allow users to pause and resume their training when they have the time.
You may now stream or download
our new CultureGrams, SIRS Researcher, and
ProQuest Platinum video series.
Top 3 Websites
Each month, our editorial team scours the Internet for top-quality sites for teachers and students.
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© ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved.
789 East Eisenhower Parkway, P.O. Box 1346, Ann Arbor, MI, 48106, United States |
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