Celebrate Diversity What is Culture The Merriam Webster

Celebrate Diversity

What is Culture? • The Merriam Webster definitions of culture as they pertain to this lesson are: 1. 2. the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also : the characteristic features of everyday existence (as diversions or a way of life} shared by people in a place or time <popular culture> <southern culture> the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization <a corporate culture focused on the bottom line>

What is Diversity? • According to Merriam Webster the definition of diversity is the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety; especially : the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization <programs intended to promote diversity in schools>.

Why is Diversity Important? • All people are unique in their own way. Differences vary but we need to embrace them and make positive use of them ("NDT Resource Center"). • “When people value diversity, they recognize and respect the fact that people are different and that these differences is generally a good thing ("NDT Resource Center"). • For example, when attempting to solve a problem, it is better to assemble a diverse team with many skills and many different ways of approaching the problem than it is to assemble a team that has all their strength concentrated in one area("NDT Resource Center“. )

How can we celebrate our differences? • Without diversity things would be BORING!!! • Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. We should encourage others to focus only on their strengths rather than harbor on their weaknesses. • We need to identify our differences and celebrate them.

Cultural Handprint • We will be making a cultural handprint to celebrate our differences. • Your cultural handprint will help your fellow peers to get to know you.

Cultural Handprint Directions • First you will choose the color of construction paper you would like to use. • Next you will trace your hand on the paper then cut out you traced hand.

Cultural Handprint Directions • On the hand you will write the following things: – Palm: Your First and Last Name; Picture – Thumb Finger: Your Ethnicity or heritage – Pointer Finger: Hobbies/Sports you participate in – Middle Finger: The State or Country where you were born – Ring Finger: Beliefs/interesting fact Middle – Pinky Finger: Intended Career Pointer Ring Thumb Pinky

TOTD: H. O. T. Questions: Choose one of the questions to respond to with a detailed response: • Conclude the purpose of this activity. • What would happen if everyone was exactly the same? • Compare and contrast this activity with the Big Al activity.

Resources NDT Resource Center. N. p. , n. d. Web. 8 Aug 2011. <http: //www. ndted. org/Teaching. Resources/Classroom. Tips/D iversity. htm>.