Assigned on Wednesday, March 21st Presenting on Thursday, April 19th

Family and Cultural Heritage Project

Essential Question
“What is my cultural identity?”
Description​:
We live in an era and nation that is very self- or individual-focused. The emphasis
placed upon individual identity and the importance of being different from one’s
neighbor may, in some cases, have a detrimental effect on a person’s identity. Instead,
we should be aware of the culture we have inherited, yet value our heritage’s virtues
while combatting its ills. Recognize that much of your identity as an individual is shaped
by your heritage.
In Watership Down, we have been seeing how epic literature celebrates a culture.
By illustrating the values and heritage of the main characters, the reader is able to be
immersed in what unifies the group and establishes their identity as a people. Each of
us are also part of some culture or subculture, which has been inherited by our family.
The purpose of this project is to take time to outline the distinctions of the culture you
identify with and the qualities that make it unique.

Objectives​:

❖ Contemplate the nature of the ​culture​ with which you most identify.
❖ Identify the specific ​values​ associated with your family culture.
❖ Identify the specific ​traditions​ associated with your values.
❖ Trace the ​heritage​ that brought about such values and traditions.
☨ Note the relationships presented in the four items above: the temptation in your
presentation will be to itemize culture, values, traditions, and heritage. Part of
your grade depends upon your ​explanation of the relationships​ between
these four elements.

Presentation of Knowledge:

This project will culminate in an informal presentation and round table

discussion. You will have notes that you have crafted over the unit in front of you from
which you may share to the group; afterward, the group will ask you questions about
your culture and heritage, establishing connections, observing similarities and
differences, and ultimately celebrating our cultures.
Your grade will reflect how well you explained your culture, values, traditions,
and heritage, their sources and visible attributes, and the relationship between them all.
Assigned on Wednesday, March 21st Presenting on Thursday, April 19th

Questions to guide your note-taking process; you won’t need to answer each of these,
and your insight should go beyond these questions, but these are provided to help you
think through your presentation:

❖ What is the nature of my culture?

➢ Do I, or my parents or grandparents, strongly identify with a certain
foreign culture?
■ If not, how much do I, or my parents or grandparents, value
American culture?
➢ What are some of the outward signs of my culture?
■ Items around the house?
■ Traditions and holidays?
■ Family occupations?
➢ What is the center of my family’s culture?
■ Is it a shared value? A person or location?
■ Does it center around Christianity? If so, what does that look like?
❖ What does my culture value?
➢ What do my parents “push” me to do?
➢ What are the rules of my household? Why are these the rules?
➢ What personal qualities does my family treasure or foster?
➢ What are the most important events for my family?
❖ What traditions does my family hold to?
➢ Beyond the holidays everyone celebrates, what sets your family traditions
apart?
■ Does your grandmother cook a certain dish?
■ Does your father read a story aloud?
➢ In daily life, does your family follow an established routine?
➢ Does your family celebrate the church year?
❖ What is heritage?
➢ Have I, in my own identity, responded or reacted to my heritage? Have I
rejected or accepted my family’s culture?
➢ Why is my family culture the way it is?
■ Has a grandparent or ancestor converted to Christianity?
■ Does my family have an immigration story?
■ Did a shaping event occur?