CultureGrams kids' section

Midwest Collaborative for Library Services MeL Training Materials

CultureGrams

Version for Kids

10/11 SR

This was added to MeL effective October 1, 2011.

CultureGrams is a great database for children on up through adults. It includes statistical AND cultural information on every country recognized by the United Nations. Originating from Brigham Young University, it uses local experts to document the unique, intimate details of each country's customs, traditions, and daily life. This information is not easily found anywhere else.

For the countries, there is a World Edition (for adults) and a Kids Edition (for elementary through middle school). There are also two sections that cover all of the states in the U.S. and all of the provinces of Canada. These are great for geography reports.

Users first need to select which "edition" they are going to use. For high school on up, the World Edition is probably the best.

We will use the Kids version for this demo.

Look at the top dark blue banner and click on Kids Edition.

Once again we can select a country from the drop down menu or the map. Using the map is a great "teachable moment" for a quick geography lessons on continents and countries. Click on the map on Asia, then click on Japan.

In the middle of the page are some important facts, plus the map and the flag (printable versions available.) At the bottom we could click to listen to the country name out aloud, or we could hear the country's national anthem. We won't take time in class to do this.

Point out the left side green column with the colorful boxes. This is similar to what we have seen, with live links to subtopics. Scroll down to the purple box and click on "A simple hello." This is the equivalent of the greetings section in the adult version. Give the class time to read about greetings in Japan.

Next, click on "schools" in the Lifestyle box (light blue). Give the class time to read this section -- American students would probably be quite surprised to learn that it is very common for students to stay after school to clean the buildings and grounds! Because of the pressure to get into good high schools then into good colleges, the idea that students attend extra "juku" schools at night and also attend school on Saturday would also seem "odd" to American students.

Click on the "return to Japan home" link in the upper left corner (looks like small house). Point out that the right side of the screen has the same type of information available that was on the adult version - except that there is no link to Interviews. There is no interview for Japan for some odd reason. To see a child interview, go to the top dark blue banner and click on interviews, then select any interview of a child 12 or younger. Point out that the questions are a bit streamlined from the adult interviews, but they still provide a really nice insight into the culture.

Close the small window, then click back to the home page. Remind the class that there are 2 other sections that we have not covered: U.S. States and Canadian provinces.