Ask children to research their heritage and pick one culture to focus on if their families come from more than one country. Children will then research the country's traditional dress using the library and the Internet. Have the children present their findings through a quick oral report, telling the class about the function the traditional dress had in the culture and why it is the traditional dress. Children may draw pictures, bring in pictures or wear a "costume" if they are able. Alternately, children can talk about the style of dress people in that culture wear today and how it is similar or different to the traditional outfits.
Food tells visitors a lot about cultures, including the local flavors and ingredients. Have students research recipes within their culture and write them up for the class. You can then make copies for each of the students and create a book of recipes for the different cultures represented in your classroom. Additionally, you can ask students to bring in a dish from their ancestors' home country or younger students can draw a picture or describe a dish in their ancestors' home country.
Have students list the countries their families are from on a piece of paper and place it in a hat. Ask other students to choose a piece of paper out of the hat at random. Each student will then have to do a report on a culture chosen from the hat. If the child chooses a culture of which he is part, he must pick another piece of paper. Older students can write more detailed reports about the history of the culture, traditions, food, clothing and general history of the people. Younger students can research one or two aspects and deliver a short oral speech about the culture.
Music and dance play big parts in many people's lives. Virtually every culture has developed its own style of music and dance, which has been handed down from generation to generation. Have students pick a culture and learn about the history of music and dance within it through research on the Internet and in the library. Students can give presentations to the class by singing a song, playing music on a CD or through the computer, showing clips of a traditional dance or performing a traditional dance. Children should state the significance of the song or dance within the culture.