Poverty and Politics

1. Review: What is the difference between partisan and bipartisan mean? You can draw pictures…

  

2. Next to the people below, I want you to put whether you think they would vote for a Republican or a Democrat based on what you know about them.

Older, white man=

Young Hispanic woman=

Middle age black woman=  

Star-bellied Sneetches Video1. What was happening in this video?     2. How does this clip relate to real life?

  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh1qWZWNGGE

I. Diversity Diversity=when a group or

collection of items has different pieces in itEx: A diverse meal would have

vegetables, meat, fruit, and dairy

1. What would a diverse classroom or school look like to you?

II. Diversity TheoriesThere are 2 main theories of how diversity

works in American society a. Assimilation Theory=process where

all the different people in America come together as one nation (no matter their age, sex, race, religion, etc.)

-America is a melting pot 

-Evidence: We all speak English, pledge to the American flag, celebrate the same holidays

2. Can you think of any other examples of the US that sounds like Assimilation

Theory?

b. Multiculturalism Theory=different cultures and people in America don’t blend together, but each one’s unique characteristics shapes American culture.

 -The American tossed salad

 -Evidence: Directions are often printed in Spanish and English, people tend to hang out with people with similar backgrounds

3. Can you think of any other examples of the US that sounds like Multiculturalism

Theory?

4. Discuss: What theory do you think is MOST true (Assimilation or Multiculturalism)? Why do you

think this? .

III. PovertyMany people believe that we are more of a multicultural

society and not an assimilated society because Americans have different life experiences based on their race, gender, and socioeconomic status

a. Socioeconomic status=your social status based on your job and how much income you have

How does your job influence how people think about you?

How does that amount of money you influence your power and voice in society?

5. Circle who you think has a higher socioeconomic status. a. Doctor OR Bank Teller b. Lawyer OR Teacherc. High school dropout OR College Graduated. US Congressman OR Insurance Salesman

7. Based on the chart, which racial groups have the highest socioeconomics status? Which ones have the lowest?

b. Poverty line=the minimum amount of money a person or a family must have in order to have a an “adequate” or “okay” standard of living

 If you make less money than the poverty line, you are technically considered “poor”

8. What is the poverty line if…a. If you have one person in your household and live in North Carolina? 

b. If there are 5 people in your family and you live in California? 

c. If there are 8 people in your family and you live in Hawaii?

9. Do you think the poverty line number is high enough? For example, do you think you actually need more than $10,890 a year to support just yourself? Do you need more than $22,350 to support a family of 4?

10. Why are people poor? What causes poverty?

Poverty Data

What do you see? What do you think?

Document #2