Families and Cultures Around the World

When I introduce culture, I want children to notice similarities and differences without turning people into stereotypes. This collection gives me a gentle starting point: diverse family groups, a world map, a culture wheel, sushi, tacos, noodles, a paper lantern, hand drums, ribbon dancing, woven clothing, a yurt, a stilt house, an igloo, and familiar games. The globe and handshake images keep the focus on people learning with and from one another.

I use it in kindergarten through fifth-grade social studies units on families, traditions, and communities around the world. For one activity, I pair a home, food, or game image with a short student-written "notice and wonder" card, then have partners compare what is alike and what is different. I'd add a family- or community-authored source to every example, since a single picture can't explain a culture. Color images work well on a map; the blackline art gives students room to label what they learned rather than guess from appearances.