Culture & Geography- 6th-8th Grade (Stage 3)

Use the target language to develop an understanding of the customs, arts, literature, history and geography associated with the target language.

Understand manners and customs of various target language societies. Understand religious (Catholic) practices and customs of various target language societies.

Understand music, dance, folk art, visual art, drama and architecture related to the target language societies. Understand religious (Catholic) music, dance, art, drama related to the target language societies.

Understand literature and various media of target language societies. Understand religious and Catholic literature, Bible stories, Stories of saints and other heroes and heroines of the target language societies.

Understand history of areas where the target language is spoken. Understand the religious (Catholic) history and/or role of the Catholic Church in the history of country(ies) where the target language is spoken.

Understand geography of various target language societies. Understand relation of geography to religious identity in various target language societies.

Distinguish and explain accepted roles of some social units in societies associated with the target language (e.g., the role of the extended family, the concept of friendship, the treatment of elders, gender roles).

Identify traditions and customs associated with times of the year and national events.

Identify Catholic traditions and customs (e.g., stories, rituals, celebrations) associated with target language (may be cross-curricular with Religion).

Plan and participate in a religious holiday/celebration of target language society. 

Describe some specific social practices that occur in the U.S., in the target language culture, and in both.

Exhibit knowledge of selected social practices that differ from those in the U.S.

Compare and contrast routine practices of daily life in target language societies (e.g., school, telephone conventions, food preferences and preparation, meal taking and manners, shopping, dwellings, dress).

Describe the themes of selected art forms.

Use target language vocabulary to describe selected works of art.

Apply essential target language vocabulary to refer to tools and products of one or more art forms.

Use a wider range of target language vocabulary to discuss selected works of art.

Recognize and celebrate Catholic feasts; portray through the arts.

Read, paraphrase, and summarize selected literary works.

Associate sample literary works with their authors. 

Demonstrate comprehension of simple materials in the target language with assistance from resources (e.g., chart, diagram, PowerPoint, graph).

Create simple print or non-print media messages (e.g., T.V. commercial, magazine ads, posters) in the target language using available technology.

Read a piece of literature of target language society and discuss the theme or moral that reinforces our Catholic beliefs and/or social teachings. 

Use acquired language to identify some historical events, concepts, and trends.

Write or present a simple report on a key historical figure giving basic biographical information.

Describe the influences a key historical figure has had on an area where the target language is spoken.

Recognize the role of the Catholic faith in the culture of the target language throughout history.

Use geographical representations to identify geographic and demographic features of the country (e.g., population distribution, average annual income, imports and exports).

Discuss the many places that have Catholic names.

Recognize places where visions appeared, e.g., Lourdes, Guadalupe, Fatima. 

Identify major ethnic groups in the country(ies) where the target language is spoken.

Compare and contrast demographic factors of one target language area with another or with those of the U.S.