THE CULTURAL ICEBERG

DIRECTIONS:• Work with a partner to complete

worksheet #1: Features of Culture• Think of one example common to

people in the U.S. or the country where you were born

• You will have 8 minutes and then we will share

REMEMBER:• CULTURE IS A

COMPLEX CONCEPT• EVERYONE HAS A

CULTURE• CULTURE SHAPES

HOW WE SEE THE WORLD, OURSELVES, AND OTHERS.

WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT AN ICEBERG?

(Discuss with your group)

• What do you know about the size and shape of an iceberg?

• How much of an iceberg is above the water?

• How much of an iceberg is underwater?

Only about 1/8 of an iceberg is visible above the water.

THE REST IS BELOW

CULTURE IS VERY SIMILAR TO AN ICEBERG.

• It has some aspects that are visible and many others that can only be suspected, guessed, or learned as understanding of the culture grows.

• Like an iceberg, the visible part of culture is only a small part of a much larger whole.

DIRECTIONS:• In groups of four

look at the features of cultures on the sentence strips

• Decide if the features are visible or invisible

• You will have 5 minutes

1. Use the information in the graphic to re-examine your choices

2. Determine if changes need to be made

3. Once your decisions are final, use tape to place your answers on the glacier model

CHECK YOUR ANSWERSABOVE THE WATER - VISIBLE

Styles of dressWays of greeting peoplePaintingsLiteratureGestures to show you understand what has been told to youHoliday customsMusicDancingCelebrationsFoodsGreetingsFacial expressions and hand gesturesReligious rituals

BELOW THE WATER - INVISIBLEBeliefs about hospitalityImportance of timeValuesBeliefs about child raisingAttitudes about personal

space/privacy Beliefs about the responsibilities of

children and teensConcept of fairnessNature of friendshipIdeas about clothingConcept of selfWork ethnicReligious beliefsConcept of beautyRules of polite behaviorAttitude toward ageThe role of familyGeneral worldview

• In most cases the invisible aspects of culture influence or cause the visible ones.

• Ideas about modesty might affect styles of dress

• Religious beliefs might influence holiday celebrations, paintings and music

CULTURE IS JUST ONE OF NUMEROUS

INFLUENCES ON BEHAVIOR.

REFERENCES• http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/educators

/lessonplans/

• http://www.languageandculture.com/en_us/about_culture/cultural_iceberg.html