A how to guide on the database Culturegrams available through many schools and public libraries.

1. WHO IN THE
WORLD IS…
L I V I N G O N O U R D I V E R S E P L A N E T

2. H A S Y O U R C H I L D
E V E R S A I D
S O M E T H I N G L I K E T H I S
T O Y O U …
o I have a biography (or
country) report due at school
but I don’t know who (or
what) I want to do.
o What are the people like in
(name of a country)?
o Why does _(person)__ do
_(cultural activity)__?
Picture source:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=world+children&FORM
=HDRSC2

3. OR HA VE Y OU
WA NT ED Y OUR
C HI L D T O…
Learn about the customs and
beliefs of people in another
country?
Learn about famous people--
from all around the world and not
just the US?
Come to a greater understanding
of how we are alike and different
as world citizens?
Do this and much more using
CultureGrams!
Picture source:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=connected%20world&
qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=connected%20world&sc=8-13&sp=-
1&sk=

4. WHAT IS
CULTUREGRAMS?A N D C A N I T R U S T I T ?

5. CULTUREGRAMS: THE RUNDOWN 1
• What is it?
– It’s an online database (with World Edition, Kids, States and Province editions) with lots of
easy-to-access information on cultural aspects of all sovereign countries recognized by the
United Nations plus some foreign dependencies and U.S. territories. (The kids world edition
is still in development and includes fewer countries based on requests/interest.)
• Who is it made for?
– World edition– middle school students and up
– Kids (world) edition– grade school/middle school students
– States or Province edition– upper elementary students and up
• How can I access it?
– Available through many schools and public libraries (more on this later)

6. CULTUREGRAMS: THE RUNDOWN 2
• What information is included?
(World Edition)
– Flag info
– Anthem
– Country Data Quick Facts (area,
population, GDP, etc.)
– Land and Climate
– History
– Population Statistics
– Language
– Religions
– General Attitudes
– Personal Appearance
– Customs & Courtesies (Greetings,
Gestures, Visiting, Eating)
– Lifestyle (Family, Dating and Marriage,
Gender Roles, etc.)
– Housing
– Life Cycle
– Diet
– Recreation
– The Arts
– Holidays
– Government
– Transportation and Communication
– Education
– Health

7. CULTUREGRAMS: THE RUNDOWN 3
How is information presented?
Plus, other features!

8. C A N I T R UST WHO
I T ’ S P R OD UCED B Y ?
Culturegrams is
currently owned by a
company called
ProQuest. ProQuest
is a well-known name
in the
education/library
world -- widely used
and reputable.

9. C A N I T R UST WHO
WR I TE S I T ?
The process of creating a country report:
1. A collaborative team of a
native/long-term resident
(specially selected for their
related education and
qualifications) and a
Culturegrams editor write a
draft.
2. The draft is reviewed by
several other cultural insiders
from diverse backgrounds
within the country.
3. After a final look over by the
editor the report is published
online.
Note: The process for creating kid’s reports and
state/provence reports works off the same model but is not
identical.
Picture source: https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=process&qs=n&form=QBIDMH&pq=process&sc=0-15&sp=-1&sk=

10. C A N I T R UST T HA T
I T ’ S
UP - T O- DATE?
• Report history timelines and
political information are
updated weekly as needed.
• Statistical information is
updated once or twice a year
as new info is released.
• Editors review entire report
annually.
• Expert cultural insiders
review reports at least every
five years.
Picture source: https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=clock%20and%20calendar&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=clock%20and%20calendar&sc=8-
17&sp=-1&sk=

11. USING
CULTUREGRAMS:
PART ONE
A C C E S S I N G I T U S I N G Y O U R C H I C A G O
P U B L I C L I B R A R Y C A R D

12. ARE WE THERE YET?
• Step 1: Find a computer and navigate your way to chipublib.org
• Step 2: Login using your handy dandy library card number
• Step 3: Click Browse in the main bar along top of page
• Step 4: Under By Audience click Kids
• Step 5: On left side bar look for and click on Online Resources for Kids
• Step 6: Scroll down and discover *gasp of excitement* CultureGrams – click wildly
• Step Anytime: Ask a librarian at your local branch for assistance
Note: The main link will take you to the page giving you the option to explore the World,
Kids, States or Provinces
Picture source note: All pictures in rest of presentation retrieved from
http://online.culturegrams.com.gatekeeper.chipublib.org/world/index.p
hp

13. It looks like this… Explore! (click it, do
it!)
And begin your
journey!

14. USING
CULTUREGRAMS:
PART TWOF I N D I N G T H E I N F O Y O U W A N T

15. WAIT, WHAT ARE WE DOING?
• Where you go on the site will depend on what information you are looking for…
Captain Obvious wrote that but he’s right! There is lots of info here and it’s easy to
peruse– if you are looking for something specific or just browsing.
Let’s imagine I’m a super amazing, conscientious sixth grader who
has
been hearing about Syria on the radio and is really interested in
what led
up the refugee crisis and war as well as how most people dress
and
behave in Syria. I will start in World Edition….

16. On the World Edition home page,
your first screen will look like this…
Click an area on the world map or scroll down and choose an area of the
world from an alphabetical list.
OR if you do not know what area of the world your country is in simply type
the name of the country in the search bar on the top right....

17. On the World Edition home page, you also have the option of jumping
straight to content by format type (photos, slideshows, videos, etc.) or topic
(famous people, recipes, flags, etc.). By clicking on the tab at the top you
have an alphabetical listing by country for that type of content.

18. Since I’m interested in Syria I click on Asia and gaze about curiously until I spot *bingo*
Syria….

19. Wow! There’s a ton here! Text content is accessed using the left side bar … knowing you want info on
the history of Syria you might look under BackgroundHistory and for clothing and behaviors you
might explore The People General Attitudes and Personal Appearance.

20. --Notice on the right side, you can get all the info in a one stop shop by clicking Print Report or View Full Report.
(If you are working somewhere other than home you can also email it to yourself!)
--If you want to have your socks knocked off check out the multimedia materials like the Photo or Video Gallery,
Slideshows or Interviews! (Parents if you are having trouble getting your child interested– you might want to start
here!)

21. Content on left side bar continues… lots of information on a variety of topics. Audio sound bites of the
country name and national anthem can be found in the middle of the page.

22. Useful tools are on the right side bar– notice the glossary, world time clock, currency converter and
more!
(See next slide for info on Graphs and Tables Tool.)
Stuff for parents and teachers is there too! (Activities and Curriculum Standards addressed.)

23. If you click on Tools  Graphs and Tables you arrive at a screen that allows you to create
your own tables or graphs comparing up to 10 countries in up to four areas!

24. Our conscientious sixth grader made this one comparing the United States and Syria in the areas
of Urban Populations, Population under 15 and Human Development Index. Interesting!

25. S O MUC H T O S E E S O
L I T T LE T I ME
There is obviously much more that
we could cover but I hope that this
presentation has helped:
--Provided a beginning level of
comfort in exploring this resource
with a young student in your life
--Introduced features that might
have not been immediately apparent
--Given you a background in how
this resource is produced so that you
can feel confident using it
I invite you to contact the children’s
librarian at your local Chicago Public
Library if you have any questions. We
would love to talk to you!
Picture source:
https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=child%20and%20world&qs=n&form=QBIRM
H&pq=child%20and%20world&sc=8-13&sp=-1&sk=

26. CITATION
CultureGrams. (2016). Accessed March 21, 2016.
http://www.chipublib.org/resource/culturegrams/