Grade 5 - Understanding Cultural Influences

This organizer contains the following sections:
Prescribed Learning Outcomes
Suggested Instructional Strategies
Suggested Assessment Strategies
Recommended Learning Resources

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

It is expected that students will:

identify elements of their own cultural backgrounds
identify elements of Francophone culture in Canada

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

It is important to establish an atmosphere of mutual respect in the classroom to encourage students to share backgrounds and traditions. The focus should be on students actively participating in a variety of cultural experiences based on their own heritage, as well as on Francophone culture in Canada.

Encourage students to explore their cultural backgrounds, including the foods they eat, special celebrations, and objects from their heritage. They might organize displays to introduce their cultures to their classmates. Displays could include samples of food or clothing, personal objects, photos, maps, cooking demonstrations, or explanations of special traditions.
Students could create a mural that locates Francophone communities in Canada. They would add to the mural over the period of a month. It would be mostly visual, but could include some well-known French words.
Students could explore the way in which Québécois children experience winter, taking into consideration winter celebrations, special clothing, winter cuisine, and outdoor and indoor activities. This could culminate in a jour d'hiver in the classroom in which many aspects of winter are experienced or simulated.
Students could choose a province and obtain information via the Internet, mail, or telephone on different Francophone festivals/celebrations. Student lists could then be combined into a class list of Francophone festivals/celebrations in Canada.

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

Assessment at this level focusses on students' participation in cultural activities and their increasing awareness of Francophone cultures, as well as other cultures represented in the class. Much of their awareness will be demonstrated in graphic and visual formats, with some commentary in English.

When students present their displays, note the extent to which they:
- include important features from their own backgrounds
- attempt to engage their classmates' interest
- respond to questions by elaborating or clarifying information
- ask questions of other students to extend their understanding
- listen attentively
- support and encourage each other
After an activity such as the jour d'hiver, students can reflect on what they have discovered by creating visual representations (e.g., sketch, collage, computer graphic) with captions. Look for evidence that they are interested in and aware
of some aspects of Francophone culture in Canada. Provide opportunities for them to share and talk about their representations with a partner or small group.
Encourage self-assessment by asking students to keep an up-to-date personal record of Fascinating Franco-Canadian Facts using symbols, drawings, and other graphics. Have students review their Fascinating Franco-Canadian Facts from time to time in response to prompts such as:
- What are the two most surprising or unusual facts in your record?
- When you look over the facts in your record, what questions about Francophone culture in Canada come to mind? How could you find out the answers?

RECOMMENDED LEARNING RESOURCES

Multimedia

Acti-Vie 1
Savoir faire: Visages 1

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