Unit ISociety and Culture

Objectives

Students will be able to:1. Define culture2. Explain the characteristics of culture3. Illustrate the characteristics of

culture4. Compare and contrast cultures5. Defend their knowledge of culture

and it’s characteristics6. Create a concept map for culture

I. What is culture?A. The body of customary beliefs,

material traits, and social forms that together constitute the distinct tradition of a group of people.

B. Origin1. Latin2. “to care for”

C. To care about1. To adore or worship something

D. To take care of1. To nurse or look after something

II. Elements of CultureA. Social Organization

1. When a culture organizes its members into smaller groups

2. What might some smaller groups be in a culture?

3. Family is the most important unit of social organization

a. Nuclear family – husband, wife and childrenb. Extended family – several generations in

one household

4. Social Classes a way to rank people in order of status

a. What can social class be based on?

II. Elements of Culture

B. Customs and Traditions1. Rules of behavior (written and unwritten)2. What are some examples of customs and

traditions in culture?

C. Language1. Important for communication and passing

on traditions and beliefs2. Should English be the official language of

the United States?

II. Elements of CultureD. Arts and Literature

1. Teach about a culture’s values2. Promote cultural pride and unity3. What some examples in America of arts and

literature that promote values, pride, and unity?

E. Religion1. Monotheism – belief in one god2. Polytheism – belief in more than one god3. Henotheism - belief in one god without

denying the existence of others4. What examples of religion in the United

States?

II. Elements of Culture

F. Forms of Government1. People form governments to provide for

their common needs2. Types

a. Democracy: people have supreme powerb. Republic: people choose leaders to

represent themc. Dictatorship: a ruler or group holds power

by force

II. Elements of CultureG. Economic systems

1. Four typesa. Traditional: people produce most of what

they need to surviveb. Market: basic economic questions are

answered by buying/selling goods and services

c. Command: government controls answers to economic questions

d. Mixed: individuals make some economic decisions, the government makes others

2. What type of economic system does the United States utilize? Explain.

III. Ways cultures change

A. TechnologyB. Environment changesC. New ideasD. Diffusion - movement of customs

and ideas from one place to another

IV. Impacts on culture

A. Ethnocentrism1. Judging other cultures by the

standards of your own2. Assuming your own culture to be the

best

B. Racism1. Belief that one racial group is

naturally superior to another2. Race is a culture thing. It does not

actually, physically exist

AssignmentO Create a concept map of culture

Culture

Social Organizatio

ns

Language

• Use the examples we generated in class, and create some of your own. BE CREATIVE!