Culture In A Box

An e-Twinning Project

Israel – Korea2011

What is a Culture Box?What is a Culture Box?

In this project, students will gather information about their own culture (country, area, school, religion etc.) and send it in a box to their partner school, which will produce and send a similar box.

Pedagogical ValuePedagogical Value

Students will have a chance to look for, classify, talk about, share, write, compare and present information on their culture and that of their partner.

Objectives:Objectives:Students will:•Consider the definition of culture and reflect on what it means to them•Share relevant information about their culture with their partners•Create a real box with items and explanations reflecting their culture•Learn about a different culture (compare and contrast with their own)•Use English in a meaningful way

Process:Process:

4. Pair students and Exchange first letters of introduction by “snail mail.” (Later communication is done by email).

1. Decide on the target class 8th grade AA level class

2. Find a twin class around the world ESLprintables.com3. Brainstorm with your students Ask your students:

* What is culture?* How would you

present yourself to others?* How do you think

other countries see us?

Step 1 – Getting Started

Israeli kids opening Korean

letters

Abbey, their teacher writes:Abbey, their teacher writes:

Hi Sharon,

My students had a really good time opening the letters, too. They showed

them to each other and compared pen pals… They really liked looking at

the pictures… Most of the students are very impressed that their pen pals

are older than they are, and they think that these kids are very handsome

and pretty. They would hold up their letters and say, "My pen pal, so

pretty!“

I told them about kibbutzim, and they got really excited when they looked

in their letters and found the word kibbutz. They are really curious about

that, and they were asking me lots of questions about Israel. I told them to

ask their pen pals in the next letters…

Step 2 – Collecting Information

Instructions:

1.Items must reflect our culture (country, area, school, tradition, religion etc.)

2.Try to make it interesting, attractive, and relevant.

3.Do not “Copy & Paste” information from the Internet.

4.Each item must have a clear written explanation in English.

1.Israeli songs on a CD2.A short video of our school3.The Jewish calendar + holidays 4.A daily newspaper5.Tallit + yarmulke6.Shells from the beach7.Sukkot: ornaments + instructions8.Purim: rattle, mask, costumes9.Hanukah: menorah + candles10.The Israeli flag11.School uniform12.A map of Israel + names of Hof HaCarmel settlements13.Famous Israeli inventions (Taki, Bamba, drip irrigation system)14.Bookmarks with Hebrew ABC15.Name tags – English & Hebrew16.A “Shalom” poster with pictures of students

Students came up with the following ideas:

Step 3 – Preparing and Exchanging Culture Step 3 – Preparing and Exchanging Culture BoxesBoxes

Koreans opening our culture box

Israelis opening Korean culture box

Step 4 – Further research of Step 4 – Further research of partner’s boxpartner’s box

As the students get their friends’ culture box, they need to examine its content:1.They choose one or two items they find interesting.2.Use email to ask their friends more questions about the items.3.Present the items and all the information they have been collecting in class.

Follow up:Follow up:Students must reflect and evaluate what they have learned from the project. They can do it by:Writing an essayOral presentation

The essay and the oral presentation must include:

1.A short description of the project

2.A description of their own task – what they put in the box, why they chose it, what it means to them.

3.The item they chose from their friends’ box – what it is, why they chose it, what they think of it.

4.Compare and contrast one aspect / idea / item regarding the Israeli and Korean culture.

5.Reflection – answering the following questions:◦ What did you think and how did you feel before, during and after the

project?

◦ What did you like best in the project. Why?

◦ What did you learn?

◦ What would you like to know more about?

◦ General comments

General information:General information:Age group: junior high students

with a sufficient level of EnglishDuration: 3-4 monthsTools: Internet, email, (Skype,

camera – optional) time and patience.

A flight to Hof HaCarmel School: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr81eveZpFU