A Lesson Plan from Life Planning Education: A Youth Development Program (Chapter Two)

NOTE:  Life Planning Education (LPE) is currently being revised. The printed/for-sale version includes an older version of this lesson plan. Please make sure you have looked at the PDF of Life Planning Education before purchasing - that is the version that is available to buy.

Purpose: To identify valuable components of cultural heritage.

Materials: Index cards; pens/pencils

Time: 30-40 minutes

Procedure:

1. Tell participants they will spend a few minutes thinking about what is most important to many people of their racial/ethnic and/or cultural background.
2. Ask participants to imagine themselves in the following scenario:
   Our group has been invited to represent Earth at a gathering of adolescents from around the universe. We will only be gone for about two weeks of Earth time. Because of intergalactic time, we will feel like we were there for a day. A space shuttle is coming in one hour to pick us up and transport us to the next galaxy where we will join other groups of adolescents.
   
   Without much time to prepare, we need to identify objects and information that will represent the different peoples of Earth. (Don’t worry: we can create anything we might need by using the replicator on the shuttle.) Each of us needs six objects that will help us to display your culture and what it values most. Our goal is to accurately portray the diverse values of people on Earth.
3. Go over the instructions for this activity. Say that space-age technology will safely transport any item, no matter how large or small. Some items you may want to take include:
• An item that portrays your culture’s beliefs about nature;
• A symbol of your religious or spiritual beliefs;
• Something that shows how your culture treats different groups of people, such as children, women, the elderly, and/or people with disabilities;
• A representation of the work of a great artist or musician from your culture;
• A saying, myth, song, or story that has been passed down for generations and has great meaning in your culture;
• An item that symbolizes a struggle for your people throughout history; and/or
• Photographs or representations about a particular place that has special importance to your culture.
  
  On your index card, write down the six items you would take. Be prepared to share with the group.
4. Distribute index cards and form small groups of four or five to brainstorm things for this imaginary journey.
5. Allow about 10 minutes for participants to work in groups. Then ask for volunteers to share one or two of the items they have chosen to take on the journey, and to explain their choices.
6. Conclude the activity using the discussion points below.

1. What would it be like to explain to people from another galaxy just what sets your people apart from other people on Earth? What has been important to your people throughout their history?
2. What is important to people of your cultural heritage?
3. What would you want to hear from the extraterrestrials represented at this conference?
4. Why might it be valuable for people from Earth to visit with those from other solar systems and galaxies? What could we hope to learn from them? What might they learn from us?