Exploring Our Cultures

Madison Doenges
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Objective: Students will learn more about their own and their classmates
cultures. Students will learn how to read Chinese quilts in a way that makes a
statement about Chinese culture.

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Materials: MSU Museum, Chinese quilt exhibit
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Time: 1 Hour
Grade: 6th Grade
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Introduction: Begin by playing a game of apple turnover, where the topic is

something about yourself that defines you. Making sure that this relates back to
something about the students culture. For example, the student in the middle
may say something that defines me in my German heritage, or something that
defines me is that I am a sister.

Build Knowledge: Split students into small groups and assign each group a
specific Chinese quilt. Give them some time to evaluate the quilt and do some
reading into the background of the quilt.

Explore: In their small groups, students will make 3-5 tableau representing
something about the culture of the quilt. For example, if the quilt has dogs on it,
the students could tableau dogs, as long as they can explain the importance of
dogs in the quilt. Or students could tableau the making of the quilt. Leave this
very vague and open for interpretation.

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Share: Students will share their tableau with their classmates.
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Wrap Up: Discuss what exactly culture is and what theyve learned about
Chinese and Chinese quilt making culture through this activity.