Multiculturalism and Children Literature

Analysis of multicultural elements in a children’s story…

“Multicultural children’s literature is about the sociocultural experiences of previously underrepresented groups. It validates these groups’ experiences, including those occurring because of differences in language, race, gender, class, ethnicity, identity, and sexual orientation.”

The 18th and 19th centuries saw travel and adventure stories as people began to discover new lands, foray into new fields, and communicate with new cultures and peoples. Hence this era saw books for children such as Gulliver’s Travels and the Grimms’ Fairy Tales, collected and written by the brothers Grimm, two German brothers, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, whose collection is largely about central Europe and life during that time.

The idea of teaching children literature,  however, advocates for an approach that integrates multicultural children’s literature throughout the day, throughout your degree,  the school year, and at all times, for all types of lessons. 

Answer the following questions according to your teacher’s notes.
1. What is “culture”?
2. What is “ethnicity”?
3. Explain how every person has a culture and an ethnic background.
4. Give examples of your own individual cultures.
5. Describe how every person has an varied ethnic background and that nobody’s heritage is boring
or insignificant.
6. Discuss how culture is a personal thing, and that one’s culture can and will change over time.
7. Explore and describe similarities and differences in the ways groups, societies, and cultures
address similar human needs and concerns.
8. Describe ways in which language, stories, folk tales, music, and artistic creations serve as
expressions of culture and influence the behavior of people living in a particular place.
9. Identify and describe ways families, groups, and communities influence the daily lives and personal
choices of individuals.

You will discuss your answer with the whole group when you finish this work. 

- Now you are going to watch a special video about multiculturalism. Take the best one and redo it according to your own culture.