Nursery Rhyme/Children’s Story Guidelines:
Studies have shown that the stories we learn and hear when we are children shape our perceptions, values, and beliefs. For this assignment, you will select TWO nursery rhymes OR TWO children’s stories from different cultures and analyze their messages. You will explore and explain the broader cultural values and norms and discuss how these are reflected in the nursery rhymes.
You have been reading about cultural contexts. Be sure to use concepts and themes from the text and chapter PPT’s to help put together this assignment. You will submit a PPT with your information. Normally, PPT’s should only have a few words/phrases. You may ignore that particular “presentation rule” and provide more text to help you accomplish your purpose.
- Select TWO children’s stories or nursery rhymes from TWO different cultures.
- Provide a summary of the plot of the stories/rhymes. If they are short enough, simply provide the text. If not, see if you can provide a link to the text or perhaps a youtube clip.
- Provide an overview of the cultures.
- Compare the stories/rhymes. How are they similar? How are they different? What “kind” of stories/ rhymes are they? For instance, do children learn them in school, in church, at home? Are they primarily educational (teach children to count? Learn the alphabet?) Are they bedtime stories?
- How do the stories/rhymes reflect the values/attitudes/beliefs of their cultures? What lessons do they teach?
- Finally, summarize what you’ve learned! Did you hear these when you were young? Will you teach them to your children? Did you like them?
- You should use a minimum of 6 sources for the assignment.
Holiday Ritual/Comparison/Contrast Guidelines
During the time of this course, we will celebrate holidays that are culturally and spiritually significant for some people. For this assignment, you will compare/contrast two different cultural approaches to celebrating one of these holidays. You may use your primary culture as one of the groups you study; however, your other culture should be one with which you are not intimately familiar.
- Select TWO holidays from TWO different cultures.
- Provide a summary of the holiday. Use the PPT on holiday rituals to help you define “ritual.”
- Provide an overview of the cultures.
- Compare the holidays. How are they similar? How are they different?
- How do they reflect the values/attitudes/beliefs of their cultures? What lessons do they teach?
- Finally, summarize what you’ve learned! Do you celebrate the holiday? Did you find similarities between the way you celebrate and the way others celebrate?
- You should use a minimum of 6 sources for the assignment!