Now boarding!

Having way too much fun with geography.

Mission accomplished: A rich and immersive learning experience that went far beyond the classroom walls… and no passport required!

In social studies, students embarked on a series of virtual field trips around Northern Europe this week.  The objective was two-fold:

1. To develop an understanding of global cultures
2. To investigate how people adapt to various climates and physical features in their quest to create adequate living conditions (aka human adaptation).

Why is understanding global cultures so important?

The world is becoming increasingly diverse and includes people of many religions, languages, economic groups, and other cultural groups. If we are to build partnerships with other communities to help improve conditions and resolve global problems (i.e. achieving the Global Goals for Sustainable Development), we need to understand and appreciate different cultures, establish relationships with people from cultures other than our own, and build strong alliances with different cultural groups. Here’s why:

• In order to build partnerships with other communities that are powerful enough to achieve significant change and work towards achieving the Global Goals, we need large numbers of people working together. If cultural groups join forces, they will be more effective in reaching common goals, than if each group operates in isolation.

• Each cultural group has unique strengths and perspectives that the larger community can benefit from. We need a wide range of ideas, customs, and wisdom to solve problems and enrich community life to provide fresh perspectives and shed new light on tough problems.

• Understanding cultures will help us overcome and prevent racial and ethnic divisions. Racial and ethnic divisions result in misunderstandings, loss of opportunities, and sometimes violence. Racial and ethnic conflicts drain communities of financial and human resources; they distract cultural groups from resolving the key issues they have in common (i.e. sustainable development).

• People from different cultures have to be included in decision-making processes in order for programs or policies to be effective. The people affected by a decision have to be involved in formulating solutions--it's a basic democratic principle. Without the input and support of all the groups involved, decision-making, implementation, and follow through are much less likely to occur.

• An appreciation of cultural diversity goes hand-in-hand with a just and equitable society.

Getting young students to envision the kind of sustainable world we want to live in is the first step toward change. Couple that with engaging students in learning activities that foster global awareness, and we’ve positioned ourselves to help prepare them for life in the 21st century and a sustainable future.

Section 1. Understanding Culture and Diversity in Building Communities.” Chapter 27. Cultural Competence in a Multicultural World | Section 1. Understanding Culture and Diversity in Building Communities | Main Section | Community Tool Box, ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/culture-and-diversity/main.