American Cultures





     Pick two different groups.  The groups can be racial, cultural,

     national, or ethnic groups.  Use these groups to meet requirements

     1, 2, and 3.



1.  Do TWO of the following, choosing a different group for each:

     [a] Go to a festival, celebration, or other event identified with

     one of the groups.  Report on what you see and learn. [b] Go to a

     church, clubhouse, school, or other institution identified with one

     of the groups.  Report on what you see and learn. [c] Talk with a

     person from one of the gourps about the heritage and traditions of

     the group.  Report on what you learn. [d] Learn a song or dance or

     poem or story which is traditional to one group, and teach it to a

     group of your friends. [e] Go to a library or museum to see a

     program or exhibit featuring one group's traditions.  Report on

     what you see and learn.



2.  Imagine that one of the gorups had always lived alone in a city or

     country to which no other groups ever came.  Tell what you think

     the city or country might be like today.  Now tell what you think

     it might be like if both groups lived there at the same time.



3.  Tell about some differences between the religious and social customs

     of the two groups.  Tell about some ideas, or ways of doing things,

     which are almost the same in both groups.



4.  Tell about a contribution made to our country by three different

     people, each from a different background such as black American,

     white American, native American, Hispanic American, Asian American,

     or any other background of your choosing.



5.  Do one of the following: [a] Give a talk to your troop or school class

     on how people from different groups have gotten along together.  Lead

     a discussion on what can be done to help various groups understand one

     another better. [b] Tell about some achievements and some problems of

     the United Nations caused by people of many cultures and beliefs

     working in one organization.