The study of culture prepares students to ask and answer questions such as: What is culture? What roles does culture play in human and societal development? What are the common characteristics across cultures? How is unity developed within and among cultures? What is the role of diversity and how is it maintained within a culture? How do various aspects of culture such as belief systems, religious faith, or political ideals, influence other parts of a culture such as its institutions or literature, music, and art? How does culture change over time to accommodate different ideas, and beliefs? How does cultural diffusion occur within and across communities, regions, and nations? In a multicultural, democratic society and globally connected world, students need to understand the multiple perspectives that derive from different cultural vantage points.Ĭultures are dynamic and change over time. Students come to understand that human cultures exhibit both similarities and differences, and they learn to see themselves both as individuals and as members of a particular culture that shares similarities with other cultural groups, but is also distinctive. The study of culture examines the socially transmitted beliefs, values, institutions, behaviors, traditions and way of life of a group of people it also encompasses other cultural attributes and products, such as language, literature, music, arts and artifacts, and foods. Human beings create, learn, share, and adapt to culture. Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of culture and cultural diversity.

X word for social studies