To stage a scene so children can acquire firsthand knowledge about individual cultures
Intriguing items from a particular country or culture (see below); travel books from the library about that country or culture
Choose a particular country- say, Japan or Morocco- and help acquaint children with as many aspects as possible about that country. If you choose Japan, for example, children could learn how to bow to each other in the customary Japanese fashion, conduct a traditional tea ceremony, draw pictures of cherry blossoms, and pretend to climb Mount Fuji. To learn about Morocco, they could pretend to worship at a mosque or set up a bustling market or bazaar with fruits, vegetables, clothing, toys, and goods from that country. Travel books offer a wealth of information about local habits, customs, and historical points of interest.
In large cities, visit neighborhoods such as Chinatown and Little Italy so your students can hear the sounds, smell the scents, mingle with the people, and observe the images of that particular culture.
Children also can create a picture file with photographs of outdoor markets, places of worship, or other themes from around the world.
