This document discusses the concept of culture as being similar to an iceberg, with most aspects of a culture existing below the surface and not immediately visible. It notes that only about 1/8 of an iceberg and culture are visible above the surface, while the majority remains below. The document guides students through an activity where they identify visible and invisible aspects of culture and determine how the invisible aspects often influence the visible ones. It emphasizes that culture is one of many influences on behavior.

1. THE CULTURAL
ICEBERG

2. DIRECTIONS:
• Work with a partner to complete
worksheet #1: Features of Culture
• Think of one example common to people
in the U.S. or the country where you
were born
• You will have 8 minutes and then we will
share

4. REMEMBER:
• CULTURE IS A
COMPLEX CONCEPT
• EVERYONE HAS A
CULTURE
• CULTURE SHAPES
HOW WE SEE THE
WORLD,
OURSELVES, AND
OTHERS.

5. WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT
AN ICEBERG?
(Discuss with your group)
• What do you know about the
size and shape of an iceberg?
• How much of an iceberg is
above the water?
• How much of an iceberg is
underwater?

6. Only about 1/8 of an iceberg
is visible above the water.
THE REST IS
BELOW

7. CULTURE IS VERY SIMILAR TO
AN ICEBERG.
• It has some aspects that
are visible and many others
that can only be suspected,
guessed, or learned as
understanding of the culture
grows.
• Like an iceberg, the visible
part of culture is only a
small part of a much larger
whole.

8. DIRECTIONS:
• In groups of four
look at the
features of
cultures on the
sentence strips
• Decide if the
features are visible
or invisible
• You will have 5
minutes

9. 1. Use the
information in the
graphic to re-
examine your
choices
2. Determine if
changes need to be
made
3. Once your decisions
are final, use tape
to place your
answers on the
glacier model

10. CHECK YOUR ANSWERS
ABOVE THE WATER - VISIBLE
Styles of dress
Ways of greeting people
Paintings
Literature
Gestures to show you understand what
has been told to you
Holiday customs
Music
Dancing
Celebrations
Foods
Greetings
Facial expressions and hand gestures
Religious rituals
BELOW THE WATER - INVISIBLE
Beliefs about hospitality
Importance of time
Values
Beliefs about child raising
Attitudes about personal space/privacy
Beliefs about the responsibilities of
children and teens
Concept of fairness
Nature of friendship
Ideas about clothing
Concept of self
Work ethnic
Religious beliefs
Concept of beauty
Rules of polite behavior
Attitude toward age
The role of family
General worldview

11. • In most cases the
invisible aspects of
culture influence or
cause the visible
ones.
• Ideas about modesty
might affect styles
of dress
• Religious beliefs
might influence
holiday celebrations,
paintings and music

12. CULTURE IS JUST
ONE OF NUMEROUS
INFLUENCES
ON BEHAVIOR.

13. REFERENCES
• http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws/educators
/lessonplans/
• http://www.languageandculture.com/en_us
/about_culture/cultural_iceberg.html