This lesson plan falls within Cultural Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology and Human Geography strands.

Understand the purpose and function of fashion and adornment in society; identify the factors that influence types of clothing; explain the ways fashion reveals cultural details about an individual and a society.

Clothing reveals much cultural information, such as gender, occupation, type and level of education, status in society, and climate and environment. Over time, in many areas the styles of dress have changed dramatically. This is particularly true in urban settings. Western culture has not undermined the preference for traditional dress in places like Nigeria, whereas in Columbia, clothing is basically the same as would be found in any urban area of the United States and Europe. Cultural codes or religious beliefs can define how to dress correctly in public, such as the Afghani chadari or burqa.

2 class periods

• Student Activity Sheet
• Main Idea and Details Chart Graphic Organizer
• Newspaper Article Rubric

Students will have the opportunity to write a research report (see Extension below).

What cultural information is revealed through fashion? How do societies encourage or discourage certain types of dress?

Point of View Students will write a magazine article for a Western Teen magazine based on non-western ideas of fashion. Students will research the factors that influence fashion around the world.

A Ghanaian woman at a festival wearing traditional cloth and metal and bead bracelets; her arms and face are adorned with body painting.

To start students thinking about the nature of fashion, have them examine the illustration.

Key questions students should answer are:

• How would you describe the clothing and adornment this woman is wearing?
• Why is it useful to know that this photograph was taken at a festival?
• What does her clothing reveal about the culture in which she lives?

Divide the class into groups. Assign one of the following topics to each group member. Distribute the Student Activity sheet. Tell students that they will act as magazine reporters and write articles explaining how their assigned topics describe cultural ideas of fashion. Articles should include details about how these topics influence fashion.

• Occupation
• Education
• Gender roles
• Marital Status
• Social Status
• Religion or Ritual
• Westernization

If time allows, students in each group will compile their articles and assemble a magazine.

Use the Newspaper Article Rubric to assess students' performance.

Have students reflect on their performance and use the list of expectations to judge how well they met the criteria.

Narrow the focus. Have students use World Cultures Today to conduct research and write a research report on ceremonial clothing.