Cultural stories from otherness

First Activity NAME STORIES

Second Activity WHO I AM

Third ActivityWEDDING STORIES

Objectives

The main purpose of these activities is to build the community through showing difference within groups and similarities among members of different groups. Diversity proves to be the one thing we all have in common.

(First activity) Participants will get to know the names of each person in the class, group, or community, as well as something about each person's background.

(Second activity) Participants will have a greater understanding and appreciation for the diversity within the group, while realizing that they have things in common with some of the people they have felt most removed from.

Sharing ceremonies with others

There are different kinds of family ceremonies in different cultures. The forms of ceremonies depend on the religion, ethnic bacround, and socio economic status of families.

For example, the true value of wedding ceremonies for different cultures is to create strong family and society bonds. The different activities that we perform before, during and after a wedding all enhance the memory of the people involved and our relationships with them.

First Activity Description

Students should sit in a circle for this exercise if possible. Teacher should hand out a list of questions for each student to answer for the group. Participants write and share stories about their names and nicknames, what they mean, why they were given them, and how they relate to them

It is important to tell the class that each student will be limited to about two minutes in order for everyone's voice to be heard.

Once everyone has had an oppurtunity to share their information, ask the class to discuss what they have learned from the exercise.

Second Activity Description:

Ask students to take ten to fifteen minutes to write a story called "Who I Am." Leave it open to their interpretation as much as possible, but suggest that they can, if they wish, include statements about

where they're from regionally, ethnically, religiously, etc.,memories from different points in their lives,interests and hobbies, favorite

phrases,family traditions and customs, and

whatever else defines who they are.

In order to ensure that everybody has an opportunity to share her or his story, you might consider breaking the group into diverse small groups of 8-10.

Once everyone has had an oppurtunity to share their information, ask the group to discuss what they have learned from the exercise.

Third Activity Description

Ask students to take ten to fifteen minutes to write a wedding ceremony in their culture in detail.In order to ensure that everybody has an opportunity to share her or his story, you might consider breaking the group into diverse small groups of 8-10. Once everyone has had an oppurtunity to share their memories, ask the group to discuss what they have learned from the exercise.

Notes to teacher Teachers must be aware of that during discussions certain themes usually emerge:Even members of the same "groups" have very different backgrounds. Members of different "groups" have more similar backgrounds than they realize. Many people find out information which allows them to connect somehow with someone else in the group.