Grade 7: Understanding Culture and Society

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

• demonstrate awareness of the Deaf community
• identify elements of the culture of Deaf people present in British Columbia and Canada

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Foundations in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

• Invite a member of the Deaf community to explain her or his experiences growing up in a dorm/residential school for the Deaf. Students can prepare questions such as:
  • What was your school crest? Motto? Song?
  • What special traditions or celebrations did you have?
  • What rules did you have to follow in the dorm?
  • What are your favourite memories of dorm life?
  • Why was living in the dorm important for you as a culturally Deaf person?
• Ask students to work in groups to collect information about businesses or organizations that serve or are owned or run by members of the Deaf community. Groups could use the TTY Directory and classified advertisements in community newspapers as sources. Students can then create posters or advertisements, or give brief ASL presentations, about what they learned about the organizations and the services they provide. Students might want to explain their understanding of Deaf cultural ties to such organizations.
• Invite the class or school to organize a simulation of a major celebration common in Deaf culture (e.g., David Piekoff Day, Deaf Awareness Week).

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

• As students participate in activities and discussions about culture, observe and note the extent to which they:
  • show interest in cultures other than their own
  • are aware of the Deaf community in their area and other parts of Canada
  • recognize iconic signs, gestures, and names from ASL (e.g., place names, sports and entertainment figures)
• After a presentation by a member of the Deaf community, encourage students to reflect on the experience by responding to prompts such as the following in their journals:
  • Something that surprised me was ___________ .
  • Something that interested me was ___________ .
  • Something I'd like to find more information about is ___________ .

• Bravo ASL! Curriculum

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