Learning how to use CultureGrams

Presented by: Thomas Heverin

Subject Area(s):

Grade Level(s):

Description:

8th grade social studies class is completing a research project on immigrant groups who migrated to the U.S. Each student selects a specific immigrant group and must provide general information about the group's home country. The library media center will use this opportunity to teach the class how to use new database called CultureGrams.

Goals & Objectives:

Instructional Goals:

To teach students how to navigate a new database (CultureGrams) to find specific characteristics of a country [of their choice].

Learning Objectives:

Students will learn how to navigate CultureGrams to find a map, a recipe, photographs, information about customs, religions, history, famous people, and specific numbered data about a designated country.

Motivational Goals:

Build student confidence using an interactive online database. During the lesson, students will discuss and lead the the navigation of the database to show that they already have the skills to conduct research with a new resource.

Demonstrate relevance of a database in support of a class project. Although students normally would go straight to Google, CultureGrams will have all of the required information in one place. This will show how LMC resources can support the curriculum.  

Encourage continued exploration of interactive online databases. There are many features on CultureGrams that can be explored and played with that will not be shown in the lecture. Students will be encouraged to find additional information and to find creative ways to display it.

Encourage satisfaction in being able to find information. The class project requires a lot of detailed information. However, CultureGrams will allow students to find the information in one place and will give students a sense of satisfaction as they complete their research. CultureGrams will also lessen the frustration in navigating through numerous resources that are not verified by the school if they were to use Google.

Materials:

Culture Grams

Culture Grams User Guide [see Supporting Files]

PowerPoint [see Supporting Files]

Display Screen for computer

Procedures:

Introduction:

Social studies teacher will introduce assignment prior to coming to the library. The LMC SmartBoard will be used to show the students the steps in finding information in CultureGrams. Students will be shown how to find a map, a recipe, photographs, information about customs, religions, history, famous people, and specific numbered data about the country. Describe how CultureGrams is a new database that provides a vast amount of information on countries, provinces of Canada, and states of the U.S.

 

Note: a handout will be given out after the lecture listing the steps in finding information for the project.

 

Body:

  1. The first screen to be shown will be the CultureGrams log-in page that requires a username and password. Tell the class and enter the username and password.
  2. The next displayed screen (depicted on the handout as PowerPoint slide 1 – PPT 1) will be the CultureGrams home page that offers ”World Edition”, “Kids Edition”, and “States Edition”. For the purpose of this project, select “World Edition”. The “World Edition” provides information about 182 countries and territories.
  3. This displayed screen (PPT 2) will allow students to either go through a menu to find their designated country or to click on the world map. Ask a student for a specific country and click on the region of the world map where the country is located (PPT 3). For the handout, the example is Germany.
  4. Once the country is found, click on it and the country profile will appear (PPT 4). This profile page will be the gateway to all of the country specific information that is required for the assignment. Ask students where they think they can find information about the country's history. Go along with suggestions and click on a link to see where it takes the class. Ensure to show the right path to find the information (PPT 5). Go over other topics listed on the left hand side menu under the headings: “Background, People, Customs and Culture, Lifestyle and Society.” Now ask where do they think they can find a map of the country.
  5. Click on the small map that is located under the country's name in the profile title. A detailed map of the country will appear (PPT 6) that can be used for the class project.
  6. Return to the country profile page and ask the class where they think they could go to find photographs for country. If it is not suggested, click on right hand side bar under “Additional Content: Photographs”.
  7. Photographs will appear for Germany. (PPT 7).
  8. Go back to the country profile page. Ask the class again how to find info on recipes and famous people. Follow the links to “Recipes” (PPT 8) and to “Famous People” (PPT 9).
  9. Go back to the country profile page. Now show the students how to make a table with numbered information. Go over to the right hand side bar and click on “Tools: Graphs and Tables”.
  10. This page (PPT 10) will allow a student to create a chart or table. To make a table, click on “Comparison Table” on the top of the left side bar menu.
  11. Select the country and three categories such as capitals, area, population, and real GDP (PPT 11) . Then hit “Create Comparison Table”.
  12. The results will be shown as a table (PPT 12).
  13. Finally, go back to the country profile page to complete the presentation.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed at the completion of their immigration research projects. Students will be evaluated based upon whether the following information was found and displayed on their visuals: map, a recipe, photographs, information about customs, religions, history, famous people, and specific numbered data about a designated country. In this exercise, students will only be allowed to use CultureGrams to find this information.

Supporting Files:

Standards: