Overview
This lesson is designed to teach about the universality of fun and games, to identify the similarities and differences between games in Afghanistan and the United States, and to offer students the opportunity to learn new games.
Connections to Curriculum
- Social Studies
- Language Arts
Connections to National Geography Standards
- The Characteristics, Distribution, and Complexity of Earth's Cultural Mosaics
Materials
Student Handouts (download PDF handouts)- "Fun and Games in Afghanistan"
- A Word Puzzle to check reading comprehension
- Venn Diagram worksheet
- "Afghan Hopscotch (Juz Bashee)"
Objectives
- To introduce the idea of the universality of play and sports
- To appreciate cultural diversity
- To introduce the vocabulary of unique sports
Suggested Procedure
OPENING
Students read the Fun and Games Student Handouts with the teacher. Words and ideas are clarified in informal dialogue.
- Students fill in a fun and games puzzle in pairs for vocabulary reinforcement (see "Word Puzzle and Clues").
- Students fill out a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting fun and games in Afghanistan and the USA. American students can include unique American games and sports from their own experience ("Venn Diagram").
- Students go outside with chalk and markers and try Afghan hopscotch (juz bazee) (see "Afghanistan Hopscotch").
SUGGESTED STUDENT ASSESSMENT
Students share their Venn diagrams with the class. The teacher draws a large Venn diagram on the board or the overhead. The teacher debriefs with a class discussion underscoring the fact that there are universal fun and games that we all enjoy and that even when games are different from ours we can make comparisons and find similarities.
Students write to their city government asking for new playground equipment for a local park.
