Insights from the Field

Insights From the Field UNDERSTANDING GEOGRAPHY, CULTURE, AND SERVICE Paul D. Coverdell worldwise schools Paul D. Coverdell worldwise schools This guide contains materials that were written by educators and others.The views presented here are not official opinions of the United States government or of the Peace Corps. Contents Introduction The Purpose of this Curriculum............................................................ 5 About the Peace Corps...........................................................................6 Coverdell World Wise Schools................................................................ 7 A Standards-Based Approach.................................................................. 8 Content Standards Addressed in this Guide.............................................13 Unit One: Geography: It’s More Than Just a Place Introduction:The Unit at a Glance.........................................................15 Module One:Where We Live Influences How We Live......................... 20 Module Two: Understanding Demographics........................................... 37 Module Three: Beyond Demographics....................................................43 Module Four: Life in a Hurricane Zone................................................ 48 Culminating Performance Task...............................................................59 Unit Two: Culture: It’s More Than Meets the Eye Introduction:The Unit at a Glance.........................................................62 Module One: Understanding Culture..................................................... 68 Module Two: Culture Is Like an Iceberg.................................................79 Module Three: Understanding Differences..............................................91 Module Four: It Depends on Your Point of View....................................102 Insights From the Field 3 Module Five: Context and Cultures..................................................................... 113 Module Six:The Cultural Universals That Bind Us............................................... 130 Culminating Performance Task.............................................................................142 Unit Three: Service: You Can Make a Difference Introduction:The Unit at a Glance.......................................................................144 Lesson One:Working for the Common Good......................................................147 Lesson Two:Who Works for the Common Good in Our Community?................ 151 Lesson Three: Peace Corps Service Projects..........................................................153 Lesson Four: Conducting Interviews in the Community.......................................159 Lesson Five:Why Does Service Matter?................................................................163 Lesson Six: Planning a Service Project..................................................................164 Culminating Performance Task.............................................................................170 Appendix A. Curriculum Framework: Understanding by Design..........................................171 B.The Dominican Republic:An Overview...........................................................173 Map of the Dominican Republic......................................................................... 180 Bibliography of Print and Electronic Resources................................................... 181 Acknowledgments................................................................................................184 4 Coverdell World Wise Schools Introduction elcome to Coverdell World Wise Schools’ Insights From the Field: Understanding Geography,Culture, and Service.We’ve designed this guide for Wuse with students in grades 6-12. Insights From the Field uses primary source materials from the experience of Peace Corps Volunteers in countries around the globe to make the study of geography, culture, and service come alive—and to help your students achieve important curriculum standards.We hope the book will help you engage your students’ minds, stir their hearts, and broaden their perspectives on our diverse and interconnected world. The Purpose of This Classroom Resource The purpose of this book is to help you engage your students in an inquiry about the themselves and others as they focus on a culture other than their own.We’ve put together learning activities and performance tasks to help your students G Learn important lessons about geography. G Increase their understanding of other cultures. G Broaden their perspectives on the world. G Appreciate how they are connected to their world. G Become inspired to engage in service to others. Insights From the Field contains three instructional units—on geography, culture, and service. We use the example of primary-source materials from Peace Corps Volunteers serving in the Dominican Republic. Firsthand accounts of their lives and work in the Dominican Republic serve as a vehicle for teaching content about geography, culture, and service. Keep in mind that your students will also be learning about issues and concepts that can be applied to any developing country. You can find primary source materials from other countries and cultures (e.g., stories and letters written by Peace Corps Volunteers) on our Coverdell World Wise Schools Web site: www.peacecorps.gov/wws/educators. These materials can be downloaded for classroom use. Insights From the Field 5 About the Peace Corps America has a rendevous with The Peace Corps is an independent agency of the United States government that was established what my friend Joseph through the vision and efforts of President John F.Kennedy, who challenged Americans to dedi- Campbell called a ‘mighty cate two years of their lives to helping people in developing countries.The Peace Corps mission muticultural future.’ But we is to promote peace and friendship by making available willing and qualified U.S. citizens to inter- are not alone and the stone is ested countries to achieve the following three goals: not at the bottom of the hill. We have guides—[more than] G To help the people of interested countries in meeting their needs for trained men and women 163,000 Peace Corps G To help other peoples get a better understanding of the American people Volunteers who have advanced G To help Americans get a better understanding of other peoples the trip.They have been going where our country is going. Since the first group arrived in Ghana in 1961, Peace Corps Volunteers have served in more Out there in the world, as than 130 countries. Although programs vary from country to country based on the host nation’s John F.Kennedy might say, is needs,Volunteers traditionally offer skills in education, agriculture, small business development, truly the new frontier. community development, the environment, and health. Before placement at their sites,Volunteers receive intensive training in the language and culture of their host countries as well as in techni- Bill Moyers, journalist cal skills. Cross-cultural training includes the study of the history, customs, and values of the host and former deputy director of country and prepares Volunteers to become part of a local community for their two years of serv- the Peace Corps ice. By living and working within their communities, Peace Corps Volunteers not only learn about the people of their host countries, but also offer their hosts around the world a chance to learn about Americans. 6 Coverdell World Wise Schools Coverdell World Wise Schools An innovative, global education program of the Peace that connect Peace Corps Volunteers with individual Corps, Coverdell World Wise Schools provides stu- classrooms. Coverdell World Wise Schools resources dents in the United States with a real-world glimpse are available on the World Wise Schools section of the of life in countries where Peace Corps Volunteers Peace Corps website, www. peacecorps.gov/wws. serve. Since the program’s inception in 1989 at the When Peace Corps Volunteers return from over- initiation of then Director of the Peace Corps Paul D. seas, they bring home knowledge of other peoples and Coverdell, more than three million students in 50 cultures. They understand that the ability of the states have “put a face on a place” as they have expe- United States to function in the world community rienced a country through the eyes, ears, hearts, and depends on the extent to which the American people minds of Peace Corps Volunteers. understand life in other cultures, in other countries. Coverdell World Wise Schools contributes to the They know that global interdependence is a reality, third goal of the Peace Corps: to strengthen not just a catchword. Curriculum rooted in Volunteer Americans’ understanding of the world and its people. experiences and grounded in what the Peace Corps The program exists to engage students in inquiry knows about living and working effectively with oth- about the world, themselves, and others in order to ers helps students understand other cultures and devel- promote understanding, broaden perspectives, appre- op a respectful and thoughtful worldview based on the ciate global connections, and encourage service. firsthand knowledge and grassroots experience. The program provides resources focused on geog- It is our hope that at the end of Insights From the raphy, culture, and service. It brings the experience of Field: Understanding Geography,Culture, and Service, you Peace Corps Volunteers directly into the classroom

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