Cultures of the WorldCultures of the World

What Is Culture?What Is Culture?

SportsSports Foods Clothing Entertainment Foods Clothing Entertainment

List items under each category. These List items under each category. These are things that are important to American are things that are important to American life.life.

Different parts of our way of life are part Different parts of our way of life are part of American culture.of American culture.

Culture Culture is the way of life of a group is the way of life of a group of people that share common beliefs of people that share common beliefs and customs.and customs.

The language you speak is part of The language you speak is part of culture.culture.

The way you dress is part of culture.The way you dress is part of culture. Subjects that you study in school are Subjects that you study in school are

part of culture.part of culture. How you spent time after school is How you spent time after school is

part of culture.part of culture.

Culture includes the work people do, Culture includes the work people do, their behaviors, their beliefs, and their behaviors, their beliefs, and their ways of doing things.their ways of doing things.

Parents pass these things on to their Parents pass these things on to their children, generation after generation.children, generation after generation.

Cultural TraitsCultural Traits

A particular group’s individual skills, A particular group’s individual skills, customs, and ways of doing things are customs, and ways of doing things are called called cultural traitscultural traits. Cultural traits may . Cultural traits may change over time, but cultures change change over time, but cultures change very slowly.very slowly.

Some elements of culture are very easy to Some elements of culture are very easy to see. These are material things, such as see. These are material things, such as houses, clothing, foods, sports, houses, clothing, foods, sports, entertainment, and literature.entertainment, and literature.

Things you cannot see or touch are Things you cannot see or touch are also part of culture.also part of culture.

These would include spiritual beliefs, These would include spiritual beliefs, government, and ideas about right government, and ideas about right and wrong.and wrong.

Language is an important part of Language is an important part of culture.culture.

BeliefsBeliefs are what people have learned are what people have learned about right and wrong.about right and wrong.

ValuesValues are what is most important in are what is most important in a person’s life.a person’s life.

List 3 beliefs or values that you have List 3 beliefs or values that you have learned from your family, religion or learned from your family, religion or other groups, such as Scouts.other groups, such as Scouts.

Geographers study how culture is Geographers study how culture is related to the environment. related to the environment. Landforms, climate, vegetation, and Landforms, climate, vegetation, and resources affect culture.resources affect culture.

Japan is a country of many islands. Japan is a country of many islands. These islands are mountainous and These islands are mountainous and have very little farmland. Therefore, have very little farmland. Therefore, the Japanese get their food from the the Japanese get their food from the sea.sea.

Geographers are interested in the Geographers are interested in the effect people have on the effect people have on the environment. The effect is tied to a environment. The effect is tied to a culture’s culture’s technologytechnology, , or tools and or tools and the skills people need to use them.the skills people need to use them.

Examples of technology could be Examples of technology could be computers or stone tools.computers or stone tools.

Levels of technology show how Levels of technology show how advanced a culture is.advanced a culture is.

Think about your culture.Think about your culture. What do people eat?What do people eat? What are the houses like?What are the houses like? What kind of work do people do?What kind of work do people do? Can you identify some beliefs and Can you identify some beliefs and

values of your culture?values of your culture? Describe your culture.Describe your culture.