This document discusses culturally responsive teaching and presents an example of a 6-week cross-curricular unit on urban planning that incorporates these principles. The unit involves lessons in multiple subjects like math, science, social studies, literacy, photography, and music. It aims to educate students about diverse cultural perspectives and validate different cultural experiences. Oral history interviews and analyzing communication styles help promote cross-cultural understanding. Ensuring all students feel included through approaches like differentiated instruction and heterogeneous grouping is also discussed.

1. Culturally and Educationally Responsive TeachingUrban Planning as a Bridge to Culturally Responsive EducationDenisse Cabrera, Paul Dunlap, Ingrid Irons, Susie Weetman, Jinny Yi, and Candice Young / EDUC625 Spring 2011 / Mercer UniversityCritical Thinking Questions for Teachers About the Culture of their ClassroomsIntroductionCross-Cultural Communication through Oral HistoryCulturally and educationally responsive teaching consists of strategies aimed at educating today’s diverse student population. Cross-curricular, thematic units can provide a scaffolded learning experience through strategic variety and technology. We offer this research to you as proof that urban planning is an effective and relevant choice for this model. The tenets and dimensions of multicultural education and the principles of culturally responsive teaching are incorporated throughout this poster. Oral history interviews are excellent tools for demonstrating cross cultural communication and behavior. In the urban planning unit, social studies and/or literacy teachers could use oral histories as a way to learn about the people and the culture that already exists in the area. Quotes from these interviews would be excellent additions to the animoto music project from the cross-curricular unit. Other than the history of the future urban development, what could students learn from oral history interviews? Understanding cultural communication styles are integral to culturally responsive teaching and this is one way to introduce that to your class. Bank’s Cross Cultural Behavior Matrix outlines six areas of understanding and behavior by which we can evaluate cross cultural styles: Values and Behavioral Styles: Expressing behavioral styles and values that are normal within the ethnic group.