Have students in groups design orientation programs to welcome and mentor new students arriving at the school from other countries. Ask students to use a variety of resources to investigate and identify examples of cultural bias, then discuss findings as a class. Encourage cultural sensitivity by introducing a cultural simulation game and then initiating a class discussion. As an extension, students could interview new immigrant families about their experiences in a new culture and how individuals and the community could make these families feel welcome. Introduce and read to the class excerpts from works by famous Chinese writers and poets.
Students identify which selections they prefer and give reasons for their choices.
Ask students to create webs, charts, maps, or home pages to show some of the key Chinese customs, people, and events that have influenced them personally. Have them meet with partners or in small groups to share their work and talk about how these influences may have affected them. As a follow-up, suggest that students each write a short paragraph about key cultural influences in their own lives and how these have affected them. Provide a few minutes each week for students to write about such experiences, events, or interactions. Copyright 1999 All Rights Reserved.