Cultural Diversity: Awareness and Tolerance WebQuest

Introduction

 The purpose of this WebQuest assignment is foster student awareness of cultural diversityand global issues and to develop tolerance and appreciation for the cultures which make us uniquely different. 

Task

Explain the role of culture within each of the five resources; analyze the author's purpose, viewpoint and tone; cite the topics of conflict; propose methods to acknowledge, reduce, and eliminate biases and stereotypes; and consider one resource you would like to research further to produce a project for understanding and evaluation.

Process

Over the next week we will explore topics involving culture and teaching tolerance. You will be responsible for completing an assignment on one of the five resources covered.

Lorraine Hansberry: LGBT Politics and Civil Rights

Discussion Questions:

a) How does the author use the term “straight wash?”

b) Is the term applicable to Hansberry’s life and legacy?

c) What does the term “straight wash” mean or imply. Students will also read “Lorraine Hansberry: To the Ladder” with a partner and discuss the connection Hansberry makes between sexual and gender oppression.

Link: http://www.tolerance.org/lesson/lorraine-hansberry-lgbt-politics-and-civil-rights

#2 “The Motivation for Movement”

Discussion Questions:

a)What factors push women to leave their home countries?

b)What factors pull women toward the United States, despite the difficulties that immigrants face when they arrive without legal documents?

c)How has U.S. border policy along the Rio Grande developed since the 1940s?

Link: http://www.tolerance.org/lesson/motivation-movement

#3 “Understanding Others Religious Beliefs”

Discussion Questions:
a) What is religious freedom?

b) Why would you show respect for other people’s religion?

Link: http://www.tolerance.org/lesson/understanding-other-religious-beliefs

#4 “Understanding Disabilities”

Discussion Questions:

a) What are some disabilities?

b) What are the specific conditions of some disabilities?

c) What are appropriate ways to communicate sensitively with people with disabilities?

d) What are some ways to support and encourage others to sensitively communicate?

Link: http://www.tolerance.org/lesson/understanding-disabilities

#5 “Exploring Community History and Cultural Influence”

Students will analyze the following statements:

a)No one is exactly like me.

b)I have many things in common with the members of myfamily and community.

c)Every person in the world needs some of the same things I
need.


Link: http://www.tolerance.org/lesson/exploring-community-history-and-cultural-influence

Evaluation

All student assignments will be assessed using a rubric. Teacher and students will review the criteria for each assignment's rubric prior to student selection. Once the student decides which assignment he or she will complete, the teacher will give the student the corresponding rubric.

1)Lorraine Hansberry: LGBT Politics and Civil Rights - Students will create a timeline based on the author's life and write the biography of Lorraine Hansberry.

2) "The Motivation of Movement" - Students will retrace and retell Areceli's journey in their own words. They will also outline the Border Policy of the Rio Grande over the past 50 years.

3) "Understanding Others Religious Beliefs" - Students will select a religion from the teacher's list, research it, and develop a poster based on their findings. They your orally present their poster and the class will respond to it using the handout, "Speaking with Respect."

4) "Understanding Disabilities" - Students will develop an essay on what they can do about unconscious biases and stereotypes.

5) "Exploring Community History and Cultural Influence" - Students may select one of two options to complete.

a) Students will explore their community's history to trace the influence of various cultures. Who were the original inhabitants of the area? Over the years, what other cultural groups have come to the area? What are some of the features of your community that represent these groups? Students may use materials such as a poster to construct their map or create a Slide Show to represent this information.

b) Students will imagine a community that allowed no resident to display or practice any element of cultural identity. Students will write short stories describing a typical day in such a community. When students have completed their stories, they type, orally present, and display them.

Conclusion

Students will complete the following survey based on their experience:
http://questionpro.com/t/ALRsrZSEj6

Credits