Goal

• The learners will understand the role of cultural diffusion.

• The learners will give examples of American customs that came from other cultures.
   
• The learners will give examples of American customs that have been adopted by other cultures.
  
  
• The learners will know the meaning and significance of cultural diffusion

 
• "Made in the U.S.A." handout (available at the National Geographic Web Site) for each student.
   
• A world outline map for each student.
   
• An atlas or reference map for each student.

Ask students to define culture (the way of life of a large group of people). Ask students to list the important characteristics of a culture, and write the list on the board. ( The list should include: language, religion, food, recreation, clothing, art, holidays). If you are fortunate enough to have a classroom with ethnic diversity, ask students to describe customs from their family and how it reflects the culture of their parents' or grandparents' homeland. Discuss ways that cultures develop. Ask students how cultures adopt things from one another.