This document discusses culturally responsive teaching and provides examples of how to incorporate culturally responsive practices into an urban planning unit for 6th grade students. It proposes using cross-curricular lessons across subjects like math, science, literacy, and more to teach about urban planning. Examples of lessons include estimating land use, sustainable water sources, cultural demographics, and more. The document also provides guidance on ensuring instruction is culturally responsive through practices like content menus, oral history interviews, and considering multiple cultural perspectives.

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.