Grade 8 Soc. Studies

1. Culture
Chapter 5
Social Studies
Grade 8

2. The Definition of Culture
Culture is a reflection of who and what we are.
It refers to everything connected with the way
humans live in groups.
ex.: the ways people respond to their physical
environment, their history, their economic life, their
social life and their political life.
While culture is transmitted from one
generation to another (cultural transmission),
it is different from the genetic transmission of
characteristics.
ex.: broad shoulders inherited from your
grandfather, or the ability to play sports well.

3. Slovak Traditions

4. A Global Perspective
Scientists who study human
cultural characteristics are known
as anthropologists.
Anthropologists have pointed out
that there are important differences
among cultures; we call this
cultural diversity.

5. A Global Perspective
Some characteristics are shared among all
cultures:
Art Government
Hairstyles Kinship groups
Education Language
Housing Music
Mealtimes Sports
Marriage Numbers
Religion Cooking
Calendars Folklore
Trade Hospitality
Law Jokes
Visiting

6. Activities
Turn to page 69. Read questions 2
and 3.
Choose one.
Complete on a piece of loose-leaf.
Hand in before the end of class.
All responses in complete
answers.

7. Meeting Our Needs
Physical Needs:
The things we need to
survive.
Food
Water
Clothes
Shelter
Safety
Emotional Needs:
The things that are
needed in order for us to
be happy.
Friendships
Love
Self-Esteem
Sense of Belonging
Knowledge

8. Material & Non- Material Culture
Material:
These objects are tangible,
things we can touch.
Ex.: _____________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Non-Material:
These objects are intangible,
things we cannot touch.
Ex.: spoken language, ideas,
stories, myths, legends,
religious beliefs, and ways
of behaving.
Among the most important
apsects of non-material
culture are our values.

9. Traditional & Popular Culture
Traditional:
made up of practices
established over many
generations.

10. Traditional & Popular Culture
Popular:
Culture shared by many
groups in western
society, both in the city
and in the country. It is
also shared over the
globe. Do you listen to
popular music? Or buy
brand name clothes? If
so, then you are
participating in popular
culture.

11. Socialization
Socialization is the process of learning behaviour that is
considered suitable in your culture. Many agents of
socialization have operated in your life. They have
included individuals, groups and institutions.
Institutions are organizations with social, educational,
and religious purposes. Here are some examples:
Family Schools
Peer Groups Clubs & Organizations
Teams Religious Groups
Community Government
Mass Media

12. School Culture
Formal Groups: organized groups that contribute to a
culture. (ex.: chess club, basketball team or student
council.)
Informal Groups: groups that meet for common reasons
(ex.: students who skateboard together, students who
meet to eat lunch together, or students who volunteer to
clean up the cafeteria)
In many cases, schools encourage interaction,
cooperation, and communication among students. They
value the ability to resolve conflicts. Usually they focus
on 3 types of interaction:
Dialogue
Problem Solving
Mediation
*** See Page 77 Figure 5.13

13. Discussion
1. Consider a popular movie, TV
show, comedy or drama, or a
commercial
2. Analyze it. Identify what cultural
values are reflected in that program?
- the way people talk, dress, interact
- the way they solve conflicts
- try to show specific examples

14. Mainstream & Contributing Cultures
Mainstream
Is the general culture
of the majority of
people.
Contributing
These cultures flow into the
mainstream culture.
These cultures are made
up of smaller groups of
people.
A mainstream culture in a local area may be a
contributing culture in a larger region.

15. Celebrating Cultural Diversity
Humans are social creatures who develop by interacting
with each other, for example:
- Most people belong to some sort of family grouping.
- Everyone belongs to an ethnic group who share a common
background ( which can include a country of origin).
- Members of a linguistic group share a common language.
(*There are more than 6000 languages spoken worldwide).
- Many people also belong to a religious group.
(*There are more than 122 000 different religious sects of
groups)

16. Cultural Diversity
Ethic group
Racial grouping
Linguistic Group
Common Language
Religious Group
Cultural Group

17. In most countries, members of all
groups are encouraged to
assimilate
Canadian society is multi-cultural

18. Choose 1 of the 2 options. Prepare an
illustrated, colored report:
A. Material Culture: Choose an
invention. Do a little bit of research
into how this invention changed or
influenced mainstream culture (i.e.
computer, plane, wheel)
B. Non – material culture: Choose a
cultural group. Prepare a report on
that culture (note language, food,
clothing style, music etc. )

19. What is Racism?
The view that all members of a group are the same – rather
than individuals with differing abilties, personalities and
values, is known as a…….
STEREOTYPE
An opinion formed on previously held ideas and not on
knowledge or experience is known as a……
PREJUDICE
Unfair treatment towards a person or a group just because
they are different is known as……
DISCRIMINATION
The belief that a person’s abilities, personality, and values are
influnced by race, colour or ethnic origin is known as...
RACISM

20. Combatting Racism
There are 3 possible responses to people who are racaist:
• Ignore the Comments
• Getting Angry
• Challenging the Statement
Which one is the best???...
Those who ignore the racist comments, or get angry
rarely change the mindset of the racist person. The
most effective response is to defend your beliefs.
*** See Figure 6.9 on Page 89

21. Review…
What is Culture?
Quelle est la différence entre la
transmission génétique et culturelle?
What is anthropology?
What is Cultural Diversity?
Name 5 characteristics that are shared
among all cultures.
What is the difference between
physical & emotional needs? (provide an
example of each).

22. What is the difference between
material and non-material culture ?
(exemples of each)
What is the difference between
tradtional & popular culture ?
What is socialization?
What are some institutions of
socialization?
Review…

23. Review…
What is the difference between
structured and non-structured
groups? (examples of each)
What are the 3 ways to resolve
conflicts?
Explain the 3 types of interactions.
What is the difference between
mainstream cultures and contributing
cultures?

24. Do you have a culture?
No one is exactly like me.
I have many things in common with
the members of my family and
community.
Every person in the world needs
some of the same things I need.

25. Culture
Behaviors and beliefs that a group of
people have in common:
Physical Environment
Social Life
Political Beliefs
Economic Life
History

26. Discussion
How does it feel to know you are part
of a cultural group that shares many
ideas and beliefs?
How many different cultures are
represented in our class?

27. Debriefing
Does culture explain why other
sometimes seem “different?”
What are some of the things you do
that you learned from your culture?
Are all behaviors related to culture?
What can we do to learn about and
understand other cultures?
How can we use what we learn about
cultures to improve our community
and our relationships?

28. Extensions
Can we use what we learn about
cultures to improve our community
and our relationships?

29. Activity
Imagine a community that did not allow
their residents to display or practice any
element of cultural identity. What would
this community look like?
Write a short story
A song
As draw a picture
(20 minutes)

30. Warm up:
List as many symbols of North
American culture as you can:
-Apple pie
-Hotdogs
-Cars/pick up trucks
-Shopping
-Thanksgiving….