Gather a list of 20 countries and the names of their currency. Set up a worksheet as a matching game where students have to draw a line from the country to the proper currency name. Another option is to set it up like Jeopardy. Break the students up into two groups and have them rotate who gives answers and chooses the point value. There are free websites that create Jeopardy boards for you if you choose to use them.
Choose a traditional fairytale to read in class such as Cinderella. Explain the TPS (Think, Pair, Share) teaching strategy to the class if they are not familiar with it; the students are asked a question and must think silently until they are cued to share their thoughts with a partner. Asking some of the partnerships to share with the class keeps the students on task. Then read a cultural adaptation of the fairytale such as "The Egyptian Cinderella" by Shirley Climo. Using TPS, ask questions comparing the two stories. Have the students write their own adaptation of another fairytale to a different culture.
This works well when comparing and contrasting two different cultures. Develop a list of attributes such as beliefs, art and symbols from the two cultures. Divide the class into two teams and give each team a fly swatter. Clear the desks and put tape on the floor about eight to ten feet from the board. Write the name of each culture on the board next to each other. Say the detail describing the culture and then say "Go." The student who races to board from the tape and swats the correct culture first gets a point.
Although "pick up sticks" is a commonly played game, many many not know it is Chinese in origin. Give each student five sticks or straws and have them place all of their sticks into one large messy pile. Have the first student try to pick up one stick without disturbing the pile. Then she can pick up another stick, not disturbing the pile, using the first stick and her hands and continue until she disturbs the pile and then the turn goes to the next student. Once all the sticks are picked up, the person with the most sticks wins.