![]() ![]() Typically empathy, the ability to understand your own feelings and relate to those of others, begins to develop at around 4 years of age. Start with surface culture and then go deeper.ĭepending on the age of your little learners, understanding that people have different feelings and thoughts can be a tricky concept to get their head around. ![]() Tips to Use This Model in Your Classroom (Or Home)ġ. When we read the words, which explain how Lillian’s grandmother tells the children stories about their relatives and about life lessons, we can begin to understand how oral storytelling and family might be important parts of their culture. We can look at things like the clothes the characters are wearing and the food they’re preparing (maize) as examples of surface culture. Then, going a bit deeper, you can try and identify the values, norms, ethics and approaches that sit beneath.įor example, the above is a page from our debut book, Lillian The Tiriki Girl, which follows a young Kenyan girl about her day to day life. Looking at the model, you can start by asking your little learners to identify the surface parts of cultural expression in the piece. This model als o works really well when paired with a story from a different culture - whether it’s a book, a poem, a movie or a song. We’ve created some free worksheets which can help little learners piece together some of the ways culture is present in themselves and their family. Are there ways that you think or communicate, or morals you hold that you never considered came from your cultural background?Įducators (and parents) can use the cultural iceberg to start unpacking not only the ways in which difference manifests in people, but also looking at the ways we are unique ourselves. Take a moment and think about your own culture for a moment, using the model. Having a framework and language that helps to describe something can be really helpful tools to have better conversations. We can also start to realise the ways we think and the values we hold aren’t universal, and that there is so much to be learnt from this diversity. Most of us will have a good understanding of surface culture, but when we get to know the deeper parts of culture, we can begin to understand and appreciate some of the more invisible ways we might be different. Surface culture (what’s above the water line) make up the easy to see things: things like clothing, celebrations, dancing, art, music, food, and languages.ĭeep culture (what’s below the water line), meanwhile, includes the more difficult to see parts of culture: things like our attitudes, beliefs, norms, morals, ethics and communication styles. Just like an iceberg where what’s above the waterline represents only a portion of the whole thing, culture is more than what it seems on the surface. We love using metaphors and imagery to help us break down big ideas, and the cultural iceberg model is a powerful example of this! Culture can be a complex thing to define for adults, let alone trying to explain it to the little people in your life. If you’re struggling, don’t worry, you’re not alone. When we talk about culture, what do you think of? Can you articulate it in a sentence? Through appreciating and understanding our differences, we can make space for them to all fully shine! It’s also through deeply learning about different cultures, through many different perspectives, that we can dispel stereotypes and personal biases. It helps us recognise and respect ways of being, thinking, learning and playing that aren’t the same as our own, helping us realise that there’s no “normal” way of doing things. Learning about people who are different to us helps us understand things from different perspectives. While there are many differences to explore and opportunities to appreciate, it’s also important that young people learn how to respond appropriately. ![]() Growing up in a multicultural society is an experience unlike any other. Why Understanding Cultural Differences Is Important Read on for more about where the idea came from and how you can use it in the classroom (or home!) to foster better conversations about culture. If you’re an educator, you'll know how important it is to teach cross-cultural understanding and respect - and how hard it can be! Some students may live in a community where they’re the only one of their kind, while others attend school with children who come from lots of different backgrounds and traditions than they do.Īs we see more cultural capabilities being added to the curriculum, it's important educators have the right tools and frameworks to talk about differences in a safe way with young people.įrom the title, you probably guessed that one framework we absolutely love is the Cultural Iceberg model. ![]()
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