Development, Movement, and Interaction of Cultures
Unit description: In this unit students will explore how communities share cultural similarities and differences across the world. Students will investigate the structure and activities of families and schools and share similarities and differences across world communities. In addition, students will learn about cultural diffusion and the process by which cultures exchange and transmit ideas, beliefs, technologies, and goods over time.
Note: Lessons will vary in length, depending on the amount of time you have with students, the resources that you choose to accompany the unit, the level of rigor within each learning target, and any other factors that may contribute to the pacing of your learning progressions. It is recommended that you adjust the pace and length of each learning progression(s) accordingly in response to these factors.
Download the complete Grade 3 Social Studies – Development, Movement, and Interaction of Cultures framework to customize for your own planning.
Essential Outcomes of the Unit
- Compare and contrast the structure and activities of families and schools in each selected community with their own.
- Investigate the structure and activities of families and schools and share similarities and differences across world communities.
- Examine how cultural diffusion and the process by which cultures exchange and transmit ideas, beliefs, technologies, and goods over time.
Standards
- Standard 1- U.S. & N.Y. History
- Standard 2- World History
- Standard 5- Civics, Citizenship and Gov’t
Essential Questions and Big Ideas
Big idea of the unit: Our similarities and differences affect how we interact with people around the world.
- How does diversity in our homes, schools, and communities affect beliefs and practices?
- The structure and activities of families and schools share similarities and differences across world communities.
- What role does cultural diffusion play in diversity at home and around the world?
- Cultural diffusion is the process by which cultures exchange and transmit ideas, beliefs, technologies, and goods over time.
- How does it help communities to learn about other community’s members, languages spoken, customs and traditions, religious beliefs, practices, holidays and festivals?
- Communities around the world can be diverse in terms of their members, languages spoken, customs and traditions, and religious beliefs and practices.
Prerequisite Skills
Teachers should select at least three communities that represent different regions of the world, types of communities (urban, suburban, and rural), and governmental structures. The communities selected should reflect the diversity of the local community. The key ideas, conceptual understandings, and content specifications guide the study of communities while exploring the major themes of social studies. The various world communities, Key Ideas and social studies practices may be presented in any order.