Gathering,

Interpreting
and Using
Evidence
Social Studies-Exploring Cultural
Diversity
NYS Social Studies Practice 3.5:
Communities
share cultural similarities and
differences across the world.

Objectives:
When asked the question, What does culture look
like? students will construct a one sentence
response using their understanding of culture, to
be applied to an anchor chart.
Students will compose a 3 to 5 sentence paragraph
about a tradition they have within their family.
The students will complete two social studies
activities centered around defining culture, and
how culture may look.
Student Activity 1: Students will discuss the topic
of culture and what it means. They will brainstorm
these ideas and write one sentence about their
understanding of culture. Their sentence will then
be placed on the anchor chart, What is Culture?
Student Activity 2: The students will create an
illustration of a tradition that they follow within in
their family. They will write 3-5 sentences
explaining that tradition. At the end of their writing
and illustration they will be expected to share out
with the class.

English Language Arts-Comparing and

Contrasting our Cultural Differences
During this ELA lesson students will use a primary
reading source to build their knowledge of cultures
and their differences. They will complete a graphic
organizer around the primary source as well as a
venn diagram with a partner describing similarities
and differences that they share among their
respective cultures.

NYS ELA CCLS:

R.I. 3.2-Determine the main

idea of a text; recount the key details and explain
how they support the main idea.

NYS ELA CCLS:

S.L. 3.1- Engage effectively in

a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in
groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on
grade 3 topics and texts, building on others ideas
and expressing their own clearly.

Objectives:
When given the primary source, Discovering
Cultures students will create a graphic organizer
containing the main idea and 4 Details from the
reading.
Students will construct a venn diagram of 4
differences and 4 similarities between themselves
and their selected partner.
Student Activity 1: The teacher will use the primary
source, Discovering Cultures, he or she will read
the source aloud , while displaying the text on the
board, the students will read as they follow along.
The students will be asked to point out key ideas or
important information that they heard at the close
of the reading. Students will work in pairs to
complete a Main Ideas and Details graphic
organizer about What is Culture?
Student Activity 2: Students will work with a
partner to compare and contrast their personal
differences. They will create a venn diagram with
at least 4 differences and 4 similarities about their
culture and their partners culture. They will then

create a paper doll that looks like their partner and

present the ideas shared in their respective venn
diagrams.

Science-Dust Bowl
During this lesson Students will research the
weather phenomenon that was the Dust Bowl by
reading and listening to texts as well as making
inferences about the events using a series of
pictures. They will describe the weather event that
took place and the cause and effect relationship
that it had on the culture during that time. They
will make comparisons about the lifestyle during
the Dust Bowl to their lifestyle today.

NYS NGSS: LS2.C:

Ecosystem Dynamics,
Functioning, and Resilience- When the
environment changes in ways that affect a places
physical characteristics, temperature, or
availability of resources, some organisms survive
and reproduce, others move to new locations, yet
others move into the transformed environment,
and some die.

Objectives:

Students will create a 5 sentence paragraph about

the dust bowl using evidence from 3 photographs
and 1 reading
Students will demonstrate the difficulty
experienced during the Dust Bowl using a Dust
Bowl Simulation
Student activity 1: The students will analyze 1 text
selection and 3 photographs from the Dust Bowl.
They will make inferences about the weather event
and its effects on the culture during that time. They
will complete a 5 sentence paragraph explaining
their inferences using evidence from the sources.
Student activity 2: The students will work together
to complete a Dust Bowl simulation. Each student
will begin on the farm. The students will use dice to
determine their next location. At each location
students will read the event associated with that
location. They will record the underlined words
from each piece on their worksheet. They will
travel around the room until they have found work
in California or the time has ended.