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3rd Grade  Project 6 weeks

Culture Craze: Explore, Share, Connect!

Maite L
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.4
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.5
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.6
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.7
+ 10 more
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Purpose

The purpose of this 6-week project is to immerse 3rd-grade students in a comprehensive exploration of global cultures through a travel agency fair. Students will engage in collaborative research to examine the cultural aspects and historical evolution of a specific culture, showcasing their findings in an interactive exhibition. This experience deepens understanding of cultural diversity and cause-and-effect relationships, promoting critical thinking, effective communication, and self-directed learning while facilitating real-world interactions with international community partners.

Learning goals

Students will conduct comprehensive research on various global cultures, focusing on their historical journeys and distinct cultural aspects to understand change over time through cause and effect relationships. They will interact with community partners from different countries for authentic exchanges, enriching their cultural perspectives. The project will culminate in a "Time Travel Agency" exhibition where students present informed narratives about the past, present, and future of selected cultures, demonstrating global interconnectedness and empathy. Through self-reflection, students will document insights in personalized passports, showcasing learning from cultures beyond their own focus, and gain feedback to refine their presentations. This process allows students to develop critical competencies such as effective communication, critical thinking, and self-directed learning.
Standards
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.2 - Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.4 - With guidance and support from adults, produce writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task and purpose.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.5 - With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, and editing.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.6 - With guidance and support from adults, use technology to produce and publish writing (using keyboarding skills) as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.7 - Conduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.3.8 - Recall information from experiences or gather information from print and digital sources; take brief notes on sources and sort evidence into provided categories.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.3 - Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.7 - Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text (e.g., where, when, why, and how key events occur).
  • [Common Core] CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.3.8 - Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text (e.g., comparison, cause/effect, first/second/third in a sequence).
Competencies
  • Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
  • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
  • Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
  • Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.
  • Academic Mindset - Students establish a sense of place, identity, and belonging to increase self-efficacy while engaging in critical reflection and action.
  • Self Directed Learning - Students use teacher and peer feedback and self-reflection to monitor and direct their own learning while building self knowledge both in and out of the classroom.

Products

Students will collaboratively or individually research a specific culture, using online and print resources to examine the past, present, and future aspects of that culture. They will create a comprehensive exhibit for a culture fair, incorporating interactive components such as informative displays, cultural artifacts, and multimedia presentations that clearly communicate their findings. The exhibit will illustrate cause and effect relationships and cultural changes over time, presented in a "Time Travel Agency" booth. Additionally, students will produce a personalized passport featuring reflections and facts about other cultures, fostering an appreciation for global diversity.

Launch

The project will begin with a virtual tour and class exchange, introducing students to another culture's daily activities and traditions. This will provide a foundation for their research, where they will delve into various cultural aspects, examining historical changes and their causes and effects. The interaction with global peers will enhance empathy and set the tone for meaningful research, preparing them to share insights at the culture fair.

Exhibition

Students will host a Culture Fair where they will present their in-depth research on a specific culture’s past, present, and future, engaging classmates, peers, and parents with interactive exhibits. They will display their findings through creative and informative presentations, supported by cultural artifacts and research data to showcase cause and effect relationships within cultural evolutions. The exhibition will include storytelling elements, such as a cultural dance or song, enhancing the audience's understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures. This event aims to create meaningful dialogue and allows students to receive constructive feedback for refining their communication and research skills.
Rubric
Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric
Category
Learning Goal
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
Deeper Learning Competencies
Collaboration
  • I can work with my classmates to create a simple project plan for the culture we are studying and, with help, I can find and share basic information about the culture, such as its customs or traditions
  • I try to listen to my classmates' ideas and contribute some of my own, even if I need some help organizing them clearly.
  • I work with my partner to gather and sort information from our research
  • I can write clear informative texts about the culture we are studying by using notes and ideas from books or online sources
  • I ask questions and listen to my partner’s ideas to improve our project
  • Together, we create a neat and organized exhibit with displays that explain the culture's journey over time, using cause and effect in our storytelling
  • I share our work with teachers, friends, and family, and I enjoy learning from their feedback to make our exhibit even better.
  • I can work well with a partner to create a detailed and organized exhibit for our culture fair, clearly sharing information about a culture’s past, present, and future
  • I use technology to make our presentation more interesting and clear, and I help make decisions with my partner when we plan and improve our project
  • I also use information from different sources and use ideas from pictures and stories to show what I've learned.
  • I can effectively work with my partner to research and create a detailed exhibit about a culture, showing how its past, present, and future connect
  • I make sure to communicate my ideas clearly and use both print and digital sources to gather information
  • I organize and share our findings through a well-planned display that includes writing, illustrations, and artifacts
  • When presenting, I use feedback to enhance our work, and I confidently explain the causes and effects within the culture's history to our audience.
Deeper Learning Competencies
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
  • I can identify and explain one cultural practice by describing what's happening in a picture or video, and with help, I start to see how this practice has changed over time
  • I can tell a simple story about it using words like 'first,' 'next,' and 'then.' I work with my friends and teachers to organize what I learn into my project display.
  • I can identify connections between historical events of a culture, explaining cause-and-effect relationships with some guidance
  • I use the information I gather to create a clear and informative exhibit, organizing facts and ideas to share my learning about the cultural past, present, and future
  • I can ask questions to explore deeper, applying what I've learned to solve challenges during my project.
  • I can thoughtfully use the information from my research and illustrations to explain how the past and present of the culture I studied are connected
  • I can organize my ideas clearly in a well-written text with some help from my teacher and friends, showing cause-and-effect relationships in the cultural history
  • I work on my project by planning, revising, and using technology to share my findings.
  • I can critically think and solve problems by researching a culture's past, present, and future to understand cause and effect relationships, and I can present this information clearly through my interactive exhibit, using illustrations and multimedia to support my ideas.
Deeper Learning Competencies
Effective Communication
  • I can share information about a culture in a clear way by using pictures and words together in my project
  • I try to listen and respond to questions from my classmates, teachers, or visitors.
  • I can explain my topic to others using clear sentences and simple illustrations, making sure I include important information about the culture I am studying
  • I use feedback from my teacher to help make my writing better, and I am learning to use technology with help from my teacher to share my work.
  • I can share my research findings at the Culture Fair by using clear writing and drawings to explain how the culture I studied has changed over time
  • I use technology to create a presentation, and I make sure my work is organized and interesting for my audience.
  • I can confidently communicate my research findings by organizing and presenting clear, informative texts about the past, present, and future of a specific culture
  • I use pictures, maps, and other visuals to help explain my ideas and can connect historical events in a way that shows how one leads to another
  • I work with my classmates and teachers to make sure my writing is easy to understand and uses technology to share my learning with others.
Deeper Learning Competencies
Content Expertise
  • I can collect and sort information from a few sources about a culture and organize it with help to make a simple display that includes one or two facts
  • I can use pictures or maps to show what I learned and need some reminders to explain how events are connected.
  • I can gather information from books and digital sources about a culture's history and write an organized report with facts about its past, present, and future
  • With the help of my teacher or classmates, I can explain how different events in the culture are connected and present them with clear examples that show cause-and-effect relationships.
  • I can create a well-organized and clear exhibit about another culture by gathering information from books and online sources
  • I can tell a story about the culture's past, present, and future using interesting displays and explain how different events relate to each other
  • With some help, I revise and edit my writing, use technology to make my work look professional, and work together with my classmates to make sure all parts of our exhibit are engaging and informative.
  • I can create an engaging and comprehensive exhibit for the culture fair that clearly demonstrates my in-depth understanding of a specific culture's past, present, and future
  • I use a variety of sources, including virtual exchanges and digital tools, to gather information and present my findings through interactive displays, cultural artifacts, and multimedia presentations
  • I ensure my exhibit clearly illustrates cause-and-effect relationships within the culture's journey, and I use logical connections and sequences to organize the information I share.
Deeper Learning Competencies
Academic Mindset
  • I can share what I find interesting about another culture with my class
  • I use colorful pictures and simple sentences to show my favorite facts
  • With some help, I can use these pictures and words from my project to tell simple stories about how things have changed in that culture over time.
  • I can identify key cultural events and describe their order using cause and effect relationships with some guidance
  • I can share my ideas clearly and write about different cultures using facts and details learned from my virtual tour and research
  • With support, I can organize my writing to present a clear summary and make basic connections between historical events and current cultural practices.
  • I can confidently explore a culture's journey through time by organizing my ideas into a clear and well-thought-out exhibit, showing how historical events are connected using cause-and-effect language
  • With guidance, I can share my findings creatively, using writing and technology to express my understanding and highlight the importance of cultural diversity.
  • I confidently explore and research various cultures to understand their history and traditions, clearly explaining how events are connected and showing empathy for different viewpoints
  • I skillfully organize and share my findings through creative exhibits and writing, using feedback to improve my work and actively participating in discussions to deepen my learning.
Deeper Learning Competencies
Self Directed Learning
  • I can independently choose strategies to start my research on a culture, asking for help when I need it
  • I can find information from books or the internet with some guidance and use my notes to organize what I've learned into categories
  • I can begin writing informative texts about my culture's past, present, and future with support from my teacher
  • I can explain how events in the culture's history are connected by using words like "because" and "so."
  • I can organize my research and ideas with some help, using notes and technology to create a clear presentation about a culture, and I use feedback from my teacher and friends to make my project better.
  • I can use teacher and peer feedback to effectively plan and improve my cultural exhibit, demonstrating my understanding by organizing my research findings in a clear and engaging way using both writing and technology, and I can explain how historical events are connected over time through my presentations and displays.
  • I independently plan and organize my research about a culture's past, present, and future, using a variety of sources to gather information that helps me clearly explain cause-and-effect relationships
  • I create a multimedia presentation that shows my understanding of the culture’s history and future possibilities, ensuring my writing is clear and well-organized
  • I reflect on feedback from my peers and use it to improve my project, showing how I can take charge of my learning and make informed decisions about my work
  • I confidently share my findings in an engaging and interactive way while connecting with others' cultures through my personalized passport, highlighting global connections.
Learning Journey
Empathize Define Ideate Prototype Test/Present
Empathize
Students will explore various cultures through virtual tours and exchanges, interviewing international partners to conduct multi-source research on cultural traditions and changes over time.
Days 1 - 2
1120 min over capacity (90 min available across 2 days)
Guided Virtual Culture Tour & Observation
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Guided Interviews with Global Partners
Knowledge/Skill Building 50m
Document Culture Research
Deliverable
Culture Interview Prep and Partner Planning
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Virtual Tour Debrief and Source Sorting
Knowledge/Skill Building 50m
Exploring Causes of Cultural Change Over Time
Knowledge/Skill Building 40m
Drafting Explanations with Evidence for Culture
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Passport Reflections & Peer Feedback for Travel Fair
Knowledge/Skill Building 50m
Interview Prep for Cultural Research
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Virtual Exchange: Culture Snapshot
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Past-Present-Future Culture Timeline
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Cause-and-Effect Culture Mapping
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Culture Travel Agency Fair Rehearsal
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Note-Taking from Virtual Culture Tours
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Develop Interview Protocols for Culture Partners
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Analyzing Past, Present, and Future Artifacts
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Mapping Cause-and-Effect of Cultural Change
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Culture Fair Exhibit Outline and Evidence
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Preparing Culture Interview Protocols and Etiquette
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Gathering Multisource Cultural Evidence from Partners
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Causes and Effects Timeline of Traditions
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Passport Reflection Draft and Sharing
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Time Travel Culture Fair Planning
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Final Culture Fair Showcase and Reflection
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Define
Students will collaboratively synthesize their research to create a clear problem statement that captures the essence of their chosen culture's historical progression and its impact on modern society, preparing to present this at the travel agency fair.
Days 3 - 9
History Detectives
Deliverable
Fact Finding
Deliverable
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Ideate
Students will brainstorm and sketch a variety of creative displays and interactive experiences for the culture fair, considering diverse cultural elements and cause and effect relationships, and selecting the most compelling ideas to develop further.
Days 9 - 13
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Prototype
Students will create preliminary models of their cultural exhibition booths, incorporating feedback from peers and community partners, while refining their understanding of cultural narratives and cause-effect relationships to prepare for the final showcasing event.
Days 14 - 19
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Test/Present
Students will present their cultural research and findings at a travel agency fair, showcasing their understanding of past, present, and future cultural aspects while engaging with classmates, peers, and parents to validate their knowledge and learn from community feedback.
Days 20 - 25
No activities have been added to this phase yet.

Edit Phase

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Plan
Empathize Days 1–2
Day 1
Guided Virtual Culture Tour & Observation
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 2
Guided Interviews with Global Partners
Knowledge/Skill Building 50m
Define Days 3–9
Day 3
Document Culture Research
Deliverable
Day 4
Culture Interview Prep and Partner Planning
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 5
History Detectives
Deliverable
Virtual Tour Debrief and Source Sorting
Knowledge/Skill Building 50m
Day 6
Fact Finding
Deliverable
Exploring Causes of Cultural Change Over Time
Knowledge/Skill Building 40m
Day 7
Drafting Explanations with Evidence for Culture
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 8
Passport Reflections & Peer Feedback for Travel Fair
Knowledge/Skill Building 50m
Ideate Days 9–13
Day 9
Interview Prep for Cultural Research
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 10
Virtual Exchange: Culture Snapshot
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Day 11
Past-Present-Future Culture Timeline
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 12
Cause-and-Effect Culture Mapping
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Day 13
Culture Travel Agency Fair Rehearsal
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Prototype Days 14–19
Day 14
Note-Taking from Virtual Culture Tours
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Day 15
Develop Interview Protocols for Culture Partners
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Day 16
Analyzing Past, Present, and Future Artifacts
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Day 17
Mapping Cause-and-Effect of Cultural Change
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Day 18
Culture Fair Exhibit Outline and Evidence
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Day 19
Preparing Culture Interview Protocols and Etiquette
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Test/Present Days 20–25
Day 20
Gathering Multisource Cultural Evidence from Partners
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 21
Causes and Effects Timeline of Traditions
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Day 22
Passport Reflection Draft and Sharing
Knowledge/Skill Building 45m
Day 23
Time Travel Culture Fair Planning
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m
Day 24
Final Culture Fair Showcase and Reflection
Knowledge/Skill Building 60m

April 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
6 Day 1
Empathize
Guided Virtual Culture Tour & Observation
7 Day 2
Guided Interviews with Global Partners
8 Day 3
Define
Document Culture Research
9 Day 4
Culture Interview Prep and Partner Planning
13 Day 5
History Detectives
Virtual Tour Debrief and Source Sorting
14 Day 6
Fact Finding
Exploring Causes of Cultural Change Over Time
15 Day 7
Drafting Explanations with Evidence for Culture
16 Day 8
Passport Reflections & Peer Feedback for Travel Fair
20 Day 9
Ideate
Interview Prep for Cultural Research
21 Day 10
Virtual Exchange: Culture Snapshot
22 Day 11
Past-Present-Future Culture Timeline
23 Day 12
Cause-and-Effect Culture Mapping
27 Day 13
Culture Travel Agency Fair Rehearsal
28 Day 14
Prototype
Note-Taking from Virtual Culture Tours
29 Day 15
Develop Interview Protocols for Culture Partners
30 Day 16
Analyzing Past, Present, and Future Artifacts

May 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
4 Day 17
Mapping Cause-and-Effect of Cultural Change
5 Day 18
Culture Fair Exhibit Outline and Evidence
6 Day 19
Preparing Culture Interview Protocols and Etiquette
7 Day 20
Test/Present
Gathering Multisource Cultural Evidence from Partners
11 Day 21
Causes and Effects Timeline of Traditions
12 Day 22
Passport Reflection Draft and Sharing
13 Day 23
Time Travel Culture Fair Planning
14 Day 24
Final Culture Fair Showcase and Reflection
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