What does culture mean to you?

September 8th, 2007

This question will set off our journey to DEFINE the idea of culture and what it means to us.

Use this forum to post your ideas, and question the ideas of others. Remember to justify your ideas – give reasons. You can use hyperlinks, or pictures/video insertion to assist you. To insert a link use the toolbar symbol that looks like a joined chain link.

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109 Responses to “What does culture mean to you?”

  1.   room29space on September 10, 2007 12:56 am

    I think culture to me is some thing that is to do with where you come from and what things your country does that no other place does, It may be simular but it will not be the same.

    from Tessa

  2.   room29space on September 10, 2007 12:58 am

    Hi Tessa – I moved your work to here. You posted it on the welcome page :)
    Please give some examples of what you mean. What culture do we have in New Zealand? What do you mean by similar but not the same?

    Thanks – Andrew

  3.   bianca on September 10, 2007 1:28 am

    culture to me is
    lots of countries religions beliefs values and traditions.
    eg in China they have a diffrent date for chritmas as it is part of thier tradtion on that date.

    bianca spence

  4.   Jock on September 10, 2007 3:16 am

    I think culture is about what people do and how they feel – they do the same thing – like people may do the same dance that means something to them like the ‘haka’. Different cultures can have different languages such as English and French. They also can eat different things like the French eat snails and frogs’ legs and we eat roast lamb and whitebait. Some people have different traditions which are part of their culture like special marriage ceremonies or Samoan boys grow their hair and then have it cut off at a special celebration when they turn into men.

  5.   Louisa on September 10, 2007 3:48 am

    I think culture is different people who are from different countries. I also think it is to do with traditions e.g how a culture may celebrate an event. Culture to me is where you come from and also your ancesters. There are many different cultures in our world and they all have different customs have their own beliefs.

  6.   room29space on September 10, 2007 3:56 am

    Great comments so far. My feedback to Louisa and Bianca for improvement is to give clearer examples … give us a real example that you have seen or experienced. Jock I enjoyed your comment, it seemed well thought out.

    For all posters – answer the question and think about what is your own culture? Is culture a big thing or can it also be small? For example, if I am involved in a chess club and we have certain expectations and practices – does this mean we have our own culture as part of a bigger culture? Think about it and make a post.

  7.   room29space on September 10, 2007 4:01 am

    Hi Andrew – I think that culture is what they do in that country e.g like there language or there race or maybe what they believe in . E.g if i were to be maybe researching about Bali and there way of life you might say it is culture. From Gray. See you tomorrow bye.

    Gray – I moved this due to you posting it on our welcome page.

  8.   Louisa on September 11, 2007 12:05 am

    Hi this is adding on to above,

    I think that Eskimos are part of a culture. They live in igloos. Another culture is the Zulus because they have special dances e.g the gumboot dance. Cultures also have different languages and express their feelings in different ways. Maoris do a powhiri.

  9.   frankie on September 11, 2007 12:06 am

    Culture to me is what different people believe in. For example the maoris believe that maui pulled new zealand up out of the sea when he was fishing. These types of stories are called myths because some people believe them and some don’t. I also think that mostly each country has a different culture/religion that expresses their beliefs. This applies to nearly everyone apart from India because they have all sorts of religions this also applies for China.

  10.   room29space on September 11, 2007 12:20 am

    Frankie – nice comment.

    Does NZ not have a range of different religions? See if you can list or find out what cultures and religions we have in our country.

  11.   Oliver B on September 11, 2007 1:06 am

    I think culture is about events and activities that show where you come from. Such as, Samoan tattoos clearly show they are from Samoa; People who celebrate Christmas show they are from a Christian country and share the same beliefs. Following your country sport like the All Blacks, shows we are kiwis.

  12.   Jacob on September 11, 2007 1:25 am

    I think that culture is what different people believe in and think about. For example, the things that people think about in culture are God; how the earth began; what people did before time was recorded.

    Culture can depend on lots of different things, eg Muslims don’t eat pork. And the people from the southern hemispere have lots of myths.

  13.   room29space on September 11, 2007 1:46 am

    Culture to me is somewhere I came from or something in my culture which I respect e.g when i went to vist my Grandmothers grave, who is Maori, my mum made me sprinkle water over me to keep away the spirits.This is part of my mum’s culture.

    Eden.

  14.   Jock on September 11, 2007 2:09 am

    Just adding to above I think that culture does not only mean that one person has culture some famlies have tradtions and some tribes or villages might have a culture they might have like the moari tribe might have a differant tradition or culture than another.

  15.   Jennifer on September 11, 2007 2:20 am

    I think that culture is something really important that means something to a country. I think it’s important because it kind of repersents a country

    Culture is also something people to respect. Like for example my country China do different things than people who come from New Zealand. And other countries would have to respect that. That means different culture has different traditions

    Also culture is all different compared to the others. Culture doesn’t just recommend to countries and tribes, as Jock said Families and 1 person can also have a type of culture.

    Jennifer

  16.   Ella on September 11, 2007 3:41 am

    WHAT DOES CULTURE MEAN TO YOU?

    Culture to me is something I have got from my family and their heritage.
    Culture is generally religious or about your believes, for example in the Muslim Culture they shave their babies hair of weather they are a boy or a girl before they are 40 days old.
    In New Zealand our main Culture comes form our Maori or European backgrounds but New Zealand is becoming more and more multi cultural with influences coming from the Pacific Islands and Asia.

  17.   room29space on September 11, 2007 3:48 am

    Fantastic comments Jennifer, Ella and Jock. I am really glad that Jennifer has refered to another post and also that Jock has added more than once to our discussion. WELL DONE!

  18.   bianca on September 12, 2007 12:06 am

    Hi Andrewjust going to reply to all the other comment – like jocks first one says that you speak diffrent languages in diffent places and I agree with that, also I think that it effects what you eat as well to,and what you do like when some one dies in India they put them in a cofen and put it on a boat.

  19.   frankie on September 12, 2007 12:18 am

    Hi andrew I searched “New Zealand religion” on Google and it came up with the site
    http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com. On it it said that 55% of the New Zealand population are Christians which is made up of Anglicans, Roman Catholic, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptist, Morman and Ratana. I also found out that 1% of the population is Hindu and same with the Buddhist.

  20.   olivia on September 12, 2007 12:47 am

    culture is something that people in one
    country do and people in
    other countries don’t
    e.g in N.Z we have the haka.There can be more than one culture in
    a country as well

    olivia

  21.   Jennifer on September 12, 2007 12:56 am

    Nice researching Frankie. I’ll do that as well.
    And I’m here to write something else.

    Culture can be big and small. It just depends on what culture your talking about, but no matter how big or how small some cultures are, they are still really important and should be respected.

    Like as Andrew said in class our class can have our own culture and tradtions, but It’s still important. Also all culture is unique.

    Population isn’t important for culture. Me and my sisters can have out own sibling culture and it doesn’t have to be popula to be important. Culture is important no matter how is it. Even a one person culture is important, eventhough only one person has it.

    -Jennifer

  22.   Jennifer on September 12, 2007 1:06 am

    I know I just posted a comment, but I have just found something out.

    The word culture have alot of different meanings. There is also no limit to Culture, more and more culture form every second of your life.

    Here is something I found on google about Culture:

    1.
    communicating with a verbal language consisting of a limited set of sounds and grammatical rules for constructing sentences

    2.
    using age and gender to classify people (e.g., teenager, senior citizen, woman, man)

    3.
    classifying people based on marriage and descent relationships and having kinship terms to refer to
    them (e.g., wife, mother, uncle, cousin)

    4.
    raising children in some sort of family setting

    5.
    having a sexual division of labor (e.g., men’s work versus women’s work)

    6.
    having a concept of privacy

    7.
    having rules to regulate sexual behavior

    8.
    distinguishing between good and bad behavior

    9.
    having some sort of body ornamentation

    10.
    making jokes and playing games

    11.
    having art

    12.
    having some sort of leadership roles for the implementation of community

    13. Alot of other things

    (Below is my work not what I found from Google)

    Also there doesn’t always have to have rules in culture, unless the rules have something to do with their tradtion

    No one on earth knows all the culture on earth. Of course there are lists that some people have listed, but not all of them are discovered.

    -Jennifer

  23.   olivia on September 12, 2007 1:08 am

    Oliver I have a question for you. I dont watch the All Blacks. Does that mean I am not a kiwi?

  24.   Louisa on September 12, 2007 1:31 am

    Hi

    I agree with Jennifer about what can form a culture. I think that a culture has a different way of doing things e.g rules and communication.

    I also think that a culture is usaully a big group of people for examle a country. I think that small groups of people is just called a group or team and they sometimes do simmilar things to cultures but it will not be the same. This is because I think a culture means a whole big group of people. It is sort of like beliefs. Normally heaps of people share one importent belief.

    In a culture I think the rules and traditions stay the same.

  25.   room29space on September 12, 2007 1:42 am

    This is excellent work Room 29.
    I think that the ideas are really starting to come together and I also think that we are starting to see that culture is many things.
    I enjoyed reading the comments that have been added as responses – research is great, so well done to Frankie and Jennifer for their additional info. I would like someone to repsond to Louisa, as her ideas are very clear and well thought out, although some of you may disagree with them.

    Nice work to you all!

  26.   Jennifer on September 12, 2007 1:45 am

    Hi guys.

    Olivia, I think that the answer for your question is that you don’t have to watch the all blacks if you’re a kiwi. (Eventhough I’m not Oliver)Also I agree with Louisa. Beliefs is a big part of culture well depending on which kind.

    Even if people are in the same culture they don’t have to like the same things and do the same things. That’s what makes people unique, each person on earth do different things and like different things.

    People in the same culture do have things similar, but that doesn’t mean they are completely the same.

    Does that answer your question Olivia?

    -Jennifer

  27.   jack on September 12, 2007 1:53 am

    I agree with jenifer about something really important that means something to a counttry. I think calture has a diffreent ways of doing stuff and something that poeple do in this country does but the other country wouldnt/cant do the same as the outher country does.

    My example:the nz does the haka but in china they cant because they werent taught to do.

    Your student Jack

  28.   Louisa on September 12, 2007 2:06 am

    Hi

    I have just thought of something.Do you have to be the same to be part of a culuture? e.g do you have to be Maori to be part of a Maori culture. I think that someone may believe in the same thing as Maoris but then they may be English. Usally I see all of the same nationality in one culture.

  29.   bj on September 12, 2007 2:15 am

    i think that culture is peole repersenting there own culture eg like the maori culture peole sometimes cry becouse of the queen died and every stared to cry becouse that there culture and its efithicks the maori culture

  30.   Jennifer on September 12, 2007 2:49 am

    Hi Louisa.

    To me I don’t think you need to be maori to be in a maori culture. Since some people from other countries might believe in the same thing as maori people, this means that they’re part of the maori culture

    Like our school cultrual group, any one from any country can join. What country people come from doesn’t always matter. If it is, it would be quite exclusive to me not to let people from different countries to take pert.

    But Louisa, you do have a point there ‘Usally I see all of the same nationality in one culture.’

    does that answer your question? Oh and Andrew, are we allowed to answer questions? This is the 2nd one I’ve answered. I hope it’s not breaking the rules.

    -Jennifer

  31.   gabbie on September 12, 2007 2:54 am

    I think culture is different countries, that have different religions to represent their culture and there religion on what they think is the right culture to stick to.

    Gabbie.B

  32.   gabbie on September 12, 2007 3:02 am

    cltures are their religion and some people have family religion so they might pray to god or do things that other families don’t do in their house.there are also different cltures and religions like a class religion because one class does different things than another class because the teachers work differently and the children also work differently than the other childeren in other classes.

  33.   jock on September 12, 2007 3:02 am

    I am just adding on to louisa I totally agree. also It does not matter on how much people are in a culture there mite be a 100 people in one or maybe even 23 but they have tradtions to do and beliefs like adding off frankies that maui pulled up new zealand by fishing that is just what they believe in. They might have traditions like they might have to grow their hair before they become men they also might have to dance at a ceremony as a celebration for when they turn into men. And so many people have different culture some are english and others are muslims and all the other people that might have inportant cultures. OH!! I just thought of something some people might think their cultures are important and other cultures are fun and games so some people in different cultures have different thoughts like one guy is english and one is maori and it was when the english came to new zealand and they were going these people have quite alot of land and they are like losers and maoris were saying that the english were smelly geeks and then they would just get into a fight that is a response.

    by jock.

  34.   room29space on September 12, 2007 3:25 am

    Jennifer you can post as many times as you wish. All of your comments are relevant and I am happy to see this type of communication between you all.

    I enjoyed the comment that you don’t necessarily have to be of the same ancestory to be part of a culture. For example an Indian person can become a part of Maori culture or Japanese culture and so on.

    It seems that traditions and beliefs are a reoccuring theme.

    Jock’s comment touches on respect for other cultures – well done Jock. This may not explain the definition of culture but is a well made point. This idea opens up acceptance and recognition of cultures other than your own and this is what will occur next term as we look more closely a Maori cultural practices, traditions, roles and responsibilities.

    Keep it up Room 29!!

  35.   Louisa on September 12, 2007 3:43 am

    Hello

    I think that a culture can repersent someone and they carry their culture with them. People do not always count their culture as todays world but others do. I agree with Jock that every culture is different by some beeing fun and some being serious.

  36.   Jennifer on September 12, 2007 4:39 am

    I also agree with Jock just like Louisa, some cultures are serious. Cultures are normally the main reason of wars. Because another country might disrespect another culture then they start to fight, just like the example Jock did.

    Somepeople don’t uderstand other culture and tease others because of that.

    So Culture has Positive points and megative points

    -Jennifer

  37.   Hamish on September 12, 2007 1:21 am

    I think that culture is anouther way of saying
    trodition this makes me think that it is something that hppens on and on.Reffering to Jacobs 2nd Paragragh
    I agree with this.

  38.   Brittany on September 12, 2007 4:30 pm

    hi everyone

    Culture to me is where you come from and your beliefs such as… Maori people have a hangi where they cook food under the ground and Mexican people may wear big hats to celebrate. Lots of different people have different ways of doing things and we all have to respect that things may be different to how we think.

    Brittany

  39.   Oliver RD on September 12, 2007 4:47 pm

    Culture to me is something that makes your country, school, or maybe even class room unique. for example some apes might use sticks to eat ants and others might use grass. Or one class room might be used to getting a game when others might be used to early lunch. I think this because it is what makes us different because thats what I think culture is.

  40.   gabbi L on September 12, 2007 4:54 pm

    To me culture is a group of people that share something from different countries, for example cultural group. It is a group of people dancing and representing a countries tradition.
    Sometimes cultures have different beliefs and traditions, for example the haka is a tradition for rugby players in New Zealand.

  41.   Ella on September 13, 2007 12:14 am

    Hi Jennifer,
    with the one that you did to Louisa on the 12th about the school being multi cultural I think that you are totally right about that and I think that a lot more schools could accept that as well.

    -Ella Strack.

  42.   Ella on September 13, 2007 12:16 am

    Brittany,

    i was wondering about the Mexicans what do they celebrate????

    -Ella

  43.   BJ on September 13, 2007 12:34 am

    Every culture in the world have different race,
    they eat different food they have different
    dance towards other countries. e.g india
    they wear those hindu dress to do their indian
    tradition dance, but like my island samoa -
    we do dance’s such as
    1. sasa
    2. manu samoan haka
    3. malu

    Some countrys have traditional have different date like Europe.

    Billy

  44.   Louisa on September 13, 2007 12:41 am

    Hi

    I was woundering whether everyone is part of a culture. Some people may not know that they are in a culture. If you are from NZ but do not do the same things as a NZ culture does, would you still be counted as that culture?

    Louisa

  45.   Hannah!! on September 13, 2007 12:51 am

    Hi,

    Culture to me is a range of different things. One is: Culture is something that represents one countries background. That means that it is unique for one country and is different to all other cultures, for example: cultures can be original for one place/country. It can have traditional dances, foods, clothes, languages etc. but no other place will have the same.
    It is like I said earlier, the countries original background until other people from different cultures claimed the land to be their home. That means the countries first people etc. E.G Natives.
    For another definition, I think it also links in with peoples beliefs and religions, for example: Gods or royal family. Country religions and beliefs are important to respect. E.G if someone disrespected someones belief in their god, they could badly offend them and their countries laws.
    Another definition is that traditions are important too. They could go back centuries and are part of peoples custom and practise. It is important in culture because it plays a big part in keeping culture and culture is built on your historical beliefs and traditions.

    Sorry if it’s to long!

    Thanks for reading if you did!

    From Hannah

  46.   Hannah!!!!!!!! on September 13, 2007 12:58 am

    Hi Louisa,

    I completely agree with your question ( is everyone part of culture). I think that some people may be in more then one culture. I mean they may belong to two. It would be difficult to have two cultures and traditions.
    Do you think maybe people make up their own cultures. As a family or a community!

    Hannah.

  47.   Jennifer on September 13, 2007 1:02 am

    Hi everyone!

    Louisa, I’m not so sure but I’ll answer your question with what I think.

    I think you do get counted as that culture, because no matter what you do, you’re still from that country and that culture is still part of you. To me I don’t think you have to know what a country does to be part of their culture.

    Maybe you will be treated differently if you don’t know what they do. It depends on what the culture is and how strict the rules are

    -Jennifer

  48.   Hannah!!!!!!!! on September 13, 2007 1:03 am

    Gabbi L I agree with your statement that was sent on the 12th. But what if other people from other countries have the same belief? Or someone in the same country had different?

    Hannah!

  49.   Oliver on September 13, 2007 1:03 am

    can culture be realated but similar? for example the australians like rugby and so do we but they like a different team.

    Oliver RD

  50.   Ella on September 13, 2007 2:09 am

    Louisa,
    I was wondering if you now what New Zealands culture is because I have completly forgotten.

    (this one was from Louisas one on the 13th)

    -Ella Strack-

  51.   Jennifer on September 13, 2007 3:15 am

    Hi guys!

    I just thought of something. Culture isn’t just for humans, it can also be animals( someone already said about this for apes but I forgot who)

    I think that anything that is living, humans, insects animals or anything else alive will have their own culture, like the girl spiders might like spinning webs in different ways than the boy spider.

    -Jennifer

    P.S Also some people in the class still haven’t posted yet

  52.   Jennifer on September 13, 2007 3:18 am

    To Oliver rd

    hmmm. Yeah, culture can be related but also similar. Some cutures are different from another but similar in a way and they bond to make something else. For example New Zealand culture and Maori culture are different but they can both and form another culture with both rules and traditions

    -Jennifer

  53.   erik on September 13, 2007 4:13 am

    i think that you can’t make a culture if you don’t have a tradition to go with it. A tradition is an organised event that you or your family or your country even does like in the muslem culture there tradition is ‘Ramadan’. like you can have a family culture, within your family but, you need to have tradition to go with it. like you might have a perticular day of the year when you go to a perticular place e.g. the kaiiwi lakes or Australia.

  54.   Brittany on September 13, 2007 4:41 am

    Ella

    This information may answer your question. I had researched this on Google:

    Every 16th of September, Mexicans celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule. The date actually marks the start of the Independence War, which lasted for 10 years. In the early hours of September 16, 1810, Father Hidalgo and a group of conspirators rang the bell of his small church and called everyone to fight for liberty. Today, the story is re-enacted in every plaza in Mexico. Flags wave from every structure. Lighted decorations are put up, and people of all ages join in Mexico’s biggest fiesta.

    Brittany

  55.   room29space on September 13, 2007 4:51 am

    Its great to see more well thought answers and questions. I found Jennifer’s thoughts on animals, including insects, having their own culture an interesting one. Also Erik’s, stating that a culture cannot be without traditions.

    It would be great for someone to have a think about this – Is it possible for bugs to have culture or are they only just acting out their actions by instinct?
    Is culture also a thinking process or an identity that someone relates to? Is culture a way of life? Does it need to have traditions?

  56.   ruby on September 13, 2007 5:24 am

    Culture to me is something other people have that i don’t have. But now that i am thinking about it….i do things with my family that might be different to other families. Like when i visit my dads mum i might say hello to her in french because she comes from France. So to me culture is something that we all have that is different to each other.

    Ruby.S.

  57.   Louisa on September 13, 2007 3:26 pm

    Hello Hannah Ella,

    I think that the New Zealand culture is the same as the maori culture e.g marae. There is also the Captain Cook story.

    Hannah I think that a family can not form a culture because I think a culture is where you are from. A family can be part of a culture but they will not have one of their own.

    I think that a community is where you live so It will not effect culture but then a community might act like a culture.

    Louisa

  58.   Jennifer on September 13, 2007 4:17 pm

    hi guys!

    Theres alot of explainations for culture as I said in another topic, so it’s still a mystery to find everything out about culture, eventhough you might be in alot.

    I don’t think anyone on earth will know every explaination for culture, maybe not even Albert Ianstein. (did I spell it correctly?)

  59.   Joe on September 13, 2007 4:55 pm

    I think culture is like christmas day, because its for lots of people. Culture is for lots of people and is for children and adults.

    Joe

  60.   Arahina on September 13, 2007 4:57 pm

    I think that culture is some thing when some 1 is a different tradition

  61.   Jennifer on September 13, 2007 11:20 pm

    Culture can be anything within your imagination. Any thing is culture as long as you believe in it. There is always something special about culture

    -Jennifer

  62.   BJ on September 14, 2007 12:15 am

    hey my room

    culture can be any thing like jennifer comment any thing is culture and as long you beliven in it.

    bj room 29 is cool

  63.   Gabbi L on September 14, 2007 12:58 am

    Hannah,

    i was just saying that that is what New Zealand does i didnt say only New Zealand does it. i know for a fact that other countries do the Haka before their rugby games.
    not every person in New Zealand knows about cultural groups and not every person is in a cultural group but the people that are, represent their country or a different country.

  64.   Tessa on September 14, 2007 1:10 am

    I agree with Bj and Jenifer, culture can be almost any thing as long as you beleve in it.

    Also I agree with Bj that room29 is cool!

    Tessa

  65.   Tessa on September 14, 2007 1:19 am

    I also agree with GabbiLs second comment,not all people in NZ know about cultural groups.

    I also think that other places have cultures too.

    Are you saying GabbiL, that only NZ have a culture and that some people dont have cultures???

    Tessa

  66.   Jennifer on September 14, 2007 1:31 am

    Culture is also about expressing your own feelings and sharing it with someone you trust.

    Also if this world had absolutly no culture, it would be sooo boring. Imagine it. A world with no love, no feelings only a plain world, that would be so boring.

    I wrote the above paragrah to make a point, which is that Culture is more important than some people might think and that it’s fills up more than half the world

    -Jennifer

    P.S, Andrew, I have a question. Do we have a new question every week for homework on this blog? Cause I’ll actually like it that way

  67.   room29space on September 14, 2007 1:59 am

    This blog will be used to enhance and support our learning. Even though not every child has posted in here the thinking and learning that are happening is fantastic! I see that some of you are more philosophical in here than when we share ideas in class – this is why this type of communication is so awesome – it gives us all more of an equal share to speak.

    I really enjoy reading the different explanations of culture and we will use this information next term to help us look further into what culture is and its importance in human life. Culture – like Jennifer said – is obviously quite difficult to give one single definition, which is why this blog is so valuable – it gives you all the chance to explore what culture means to you and also others around us.

    Yes – this blog will continue with further additions in the future.

  68.   room29space on September 14, 2007 2:38 am

    Hi class – if you would like to see another example of an edublog check out this Australian one http://allstars.edublogs.org/ you may even like to post a message to something there – invite them to see our developing info.

  69.   Hannah on September 14, 2007 7:47 pm

    Hi Louisa,

    I am replying to your comment that you sent to me and I realise you do make a good point and I agree. But can countries today make new cultures and traditions? Just say in the south island they wanted to create a new racial group. Could they do that?

    Yours sincerely,

    Hannah

  70.   Hannah on September 14, 2007 7:54 pm

    To Gabbi L,

    I am replying to your comment that you recently sent. I also agree. But do you think maybe some people in NZ have different cultures and traditions?

    Yours sincerely,

    Hannah

  71.   Hannah on September 14, 2007 8:18 pm

    Hello,

    I think that culture needs traditions because they make cultures unique to each country and are important to have. They are important to have because most are very sacred and some traditions to some countries are even famous. For example the Chinese new year is a famous traditional event that many countries now celebrate because of the Chinese tradition in their culture. There is another example I have, which is the Spanish running of the bulls which is a very well known tradition. Also traditions represent their countries and some may be important events. Some may even be centuries old.

    Back to culture. I believe there is cultures within cultures. There is family cultures, school cultures, neighbourhood cultures, community cultures and country cultures. Also I believe that culture can sometimes express feelings. Like the Hakka shows courage and proudness.

    sincerely,

    Hannah

  72.   Hannah on September 14, 2007 8:35 pm

    Hi Jennifer,

    I agree that culture is more important than people may think. It plays a big part in society and without it the world wouldn’t be as interesting. It would, as you said, be rather plain and boring.

    I’ve also got a question. Do you think that family traditions should also be respected?

    (I do!)

    Also are family traditions important to you?

    Yours sincerely,

    Hannah

  73.   Jennifer on September 15, 2007 5:15 am

    Culture is created by a group of people’s minds, so culture doesn’t have to be real, it can be imagined. (I’m not sure if it’s true though, just popped into my head)

    -Jennifer

  74.   Hannah on September 16, 2007 3:38 pm

    Hi,

    This just popped into my head:

    1. Can people change a culture?
    For example: can they change a cultures traditions or their beliefs?

    2. Can people move into a different culture?
    For example: could someone from the Moari culture change to the malasion culture?

    Yours sincerely,

    Hannah

  75.   Tessa on September 16, 2007 4:23 pm

    Hannah,

    I would like to comment on your last comment.

    I think that yes people can change thier belief for example, one day someone beleves in god and mabe some time they feel that they dont beleve in that any more but beleve in another belef.

    Also people can not realey change things if they know how to do something in one culture allready but they can learn another culture or langwage.

    I also think that family traditions should be respected because people like and do different things. There will never be someone the same as you. We should all respect that.

    Tessa

  76.   Tessa on September 16, 2007 4:26 pm

    I also agree with Jennifer how she said that culture is created when a group of people get together and do things in a serton way.

    Tessa

  77.   BJ on September 16, 2007 5:42 pm

    This just came in my head,

    Culture has to be things that you have to REPRESENT things such as the haka; the all blacks do the haka for some reason. I think to repersent our world.

    Balmoral kids are cool!

    BJ

  78.   erin on September 18, 2007 7:39 pm

    Culture to me is. Somthing important to the people that belives their own culture. Cultur dosen’t have to be a big amount of people. It could be your family culture.

    Erin

  79.   sophia on September 19, 2007 9:12 am

    Culture to me is where someone is born or where someone lives. It is also how a whole group of we share ideas,beliefs,values and ways of doing things eg languages ,how people drees,where we live,how we grow, what we eat,how much money we have and last of all there music we play.

  80.   Arahina on September 19, 2007 1:44 pm

    I think cultrue is when someone is a different cultrue
    and when they speak other luanguage

  81.   Arahina on September 19, 2007 1:52 pm

    I think cultrue is when other person speaks other lauguage and when they are a different cultrue.

  82.   Jorja Strack on September 19, 2007 6:34 pm

    Culture is
    - Someone from a different country.
    -They might speak a different language.
    -They might believe in a different religion.

  83.   Micaela on September 20, 2007 7:40 am

    culture to me is a group of people from a country that have their own belie’fs,traditions and ideas. There are many different cultures from asians,indians,africans and polynesians. They all have their seperate ideas and religions handed down from many generations. Some cultures have similar traditions as others. They all have their own dances and songs of the past.

  84.   room29space on September 20, 2007 6:09 pm

    I would like you to consider the idea of classroom culture and school culture. Do we have a classroom culture that is unique to our class? Give reasons for your agreement or disagreement. If you agree discuss – what is our culture and what makes it what it is?

  85.   Louisa on September 20, 2007 7:28 pm

    Hi Andrew

    I do not think that there is such thing as a classroom culture. Our classroom is just a big group of people that work together. Our class is different to every other class and classroom. Our class learns in different ways and everyone in our class contributes into who our class. Nothing is the same as anything else so nothing is the same as Room 29!

    Louisa

  86.   Room 29 Balmoral School on September 20, 2007 7:39 pm

    Louisa – You do have some interesting ideas and well done for your clear statement.

    I do personally believe that we have a classroom culture and school culture. I agree with your statement that ‘nothing is the same as Room 29!’ We are unique due to who we are and the way that we work together.

    I would like to hear more ideas about this.Keep up the good work.

  87.   Jennifer on September 21, 2007 8:44 am

    I agree with Louisa, our class is unique, not only that but our class is the best! If you ever hear someone say something opposite to that, we are sure that they’re out of their minds.

    It does not need to be big.

    -Jennifer

  88.   Oliver RD on September 21, 2007 1:54 pm

    I think that culture is like what is what everybody does and for example, if there was a new restaurant in a town then they would learn from what other people are selling and then they would sell that to and they would be part of the restaurant culture in that town.

    Oliver in Malaysia

  89.   room29space on September 21, 2007 3:43 pm

    Hi Oliver – Can you let us know about the cultures that you have noticed while you have been in Malaysia? What cultures are there? What makes them the same or different than what we know in NZ?

  90.   Oliver RD on September 21, 2007 11:03 pm

    Well there are three main cultures in malaysia, they are malay, chinese, and indian. these add to the local culture and even though the malaysians were the first people here the chinese and indian people came as immagrants and became part of the first culture to make a new one with different foods, language, and religions. Even though these poeple are very different there is something unique about this culture and there is something that relates all these people. They are simalar to New Zealand people because they are used to living in a multicultural society but they are different for example scince they live in a equatorial inviorment they would eat rice for breakefast while we probly wouldent.

    Ill continue this tommorow seeya.

    Oliver in malaysia

  91.   Hannah on September 22, 2007 1:40 pm

    Hi Louisa,

    I disagree with you. I think classrooms can be a small culture. Because like I said ages ago, “there are cultures within cultures”.
    I do agree that our class is different to every other class and that is one of the reasons why there are small cultures.
    Smaller cultures also may not actually be named cultures, they may be named something else to other people but even if it is another thing, it is very similar.
    What makes our classroom culture would be how we work together, how we start off the day, we may even do different things at the start and end of terms then other classes. For example, we might play games at the last day of the term, and another class could be tiding up, while another has a shared lunch.
    Room 29 is a small culture within many cultures.

    Yours sincerely,

    Hannah

  92.   Louisa on September 23, 2007 9:09 am

    Hi Hannah

    I think that a culture is just where you are from. In a culture everything is already built such as rules, traditions and appearance. I don’t beleive that someone could say “do you want to start up a culture today?” because every culture has already been created.

    Louisa

  93.   Oliver RD on September 25, 2007 8:15 pm

    Hi guys,

    Louisa I disagree with you. Not every culture is made. There could be a new soccer club starting and they could form their own new culture. If a new school started then each of the new clasess could have a different culture to every class in the world. it might be simalar cultures but they would be different from every other one.

    Oliver RD in Malaysia

  94.   Olga on September 27, 2007 7:35 am

    Hello, all together! :)
    My name is Olga, I am psychologist, and originally I came from Russia. But now I’m living in Norway with my family. I love these countries a lot, and especially because of their reach and strong culture traditions.

    Here, in Russia, we like to remember and to keep our own special culture. North and south of Russia is very diferent, because (as you know) Russia is a very big country. People like to collect folk music, clothes, fairytales etc. Also we like to celebrate our main holidays: Christmas (07 january), the Victory Day of World war 2 (09 may), Independence Day (12 juny) and Constitution’s Day (12 december). Also the very big days for us are a first school day – 01 september, and the last school day – 25 may. We use to celebrate it! And, we have several small holidays (for instance – Doctor’s Day, Teacher’s day etc). I think it’s very nice!

    In Norway we also have several main holidays (Christmas, Easter, Independence Day and more). It’s amazing! The difference between Russia and Norway is that norwegian people use their national clothes in very special cases (christening party, wedding, etc). It’s far from usual in Russia.

    And it’s always so nice, when you see that a lot of people are together, they are united by their culture!

    So, for me, culture is something that makes us stronger. It’s our past and future!

    I wish you all the best!! :) )
    With love, from Russia and Norway
    Olga

  95.   Dylan on September 28, 2007 10:26 am

    In scotland our famous food is hagis.

    Hi Room 29 – Dylan is a student from Aberdeen in Scotland. Ask him some questions about his country and culture – maybe he can tell us a little more?

  96.   Louisa on September 28, 2007 12:28 pm

    Hi Dylan,

    Do you have any well known traditions in Scotland? Do you think your culture is simmilar to any other culture? I don’t know anything thing about Scotland so it would be interesting to find out.

  97.   night:pstalker on October 4, 2007 2:33 am

    Hello my name is Raymond and I am a student here at I.S.180 in Brooklyn, New York. I think culture is a pretty cool thing. You can be interested in many different types of culture that have many different celebrations such as eating special foods and honoring people wearing different types of clothing. It also means doing things with the people you love.

    I am an American who was born here in America but my grandparents were born in Puerto Rico and Italy, so I usually celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s day and Halloween.

    I would like to know what traditions you celebrate as well. When you have the time, please comment back to us, and thank you for your time.

  98.   ladyhistory on October 4, 2007 2:35 am

    Hi,My name is Ying. I am from Brooklyn, NY and am a student from I.S.180. I am 12 1/2 years old. I was born in China. In China, we celebrate New Year(families gather around for a new year), Full Moon festival(which we eat moon cake) and many others. People in China wear robes in old times. They eat things such as rice, dumplings(Wonton), tea(red tea, green tea) and many others.

  99.   Gabriella on October 5, 2007 3:18 am

    Hi I’m Gabriella from a school in Brooklyn. My family is from Trinidad, Puerto Rico and Guatemala. I live in New York. I have 2 sisters and 1 brother. I think culture means a way of life. What I mean by a way of life is that it is like your tradition. Hows’ life in New Zealand?

  100.   Dannyc995 on October 5, 2007 3:23 am

    Hey I’m Daniel I go to a school in Brooklyn. I think culture is a way of life and traditions that we follow.
    I like it a lot. I have many friends here, my family is from Italy. I have two older brothers and a little sister. I start school at 8:00 A.M and I leave school at 3:00 P.M. I’ve always wanted to visit New Zealand. How’s it like on the other side of the earth? One last thing how did you guys find our website Spotlight4.edublogs.org?

  101.   Dontae on October 5, 2007 3:28 am

    Hi I’m Dontae from a school in New York called P.S/I.S 180.I go to school at 8:37am and end school at 3:00pm.I am Italian, Chinese,Guyanase,and Spanish. A lot of people don’t believe that I’m all of these races.I think culture is who you are and how you celebrate. I would also like to know how its’like over there in New Zealand. What kind of things do you guys do out there that are fun? Also, what kind of things do you learn there? If you want to visit our site,it is spotlight4.edublogs.org

  102.   room29space on October 5, 2007 7:44 am

    Hi – First of of all thank you to the children from Brooklyn for visiting our website. My name is Andrew and I am the classroom teacher of Room 29. Great comments from New York! Just a reply to Danny – I actually found Spotlight4 from the main edublogs site … you are often on the ‘Blog of the Hour’ there.

    As you may have read in the ‘Holiday Happenings’ post, the children are on a two week break from school, but will be back this coming Monday. They will be sure to reply to your comments and I am sure they will pay a visit to your wonderful blogs.

    Room 29 – make sure you reply to our New York visitors – there are many things to learn about culture in America and the cultures of the children that have sent us messages. They want to know about your lives, your country and your cultures too!

    Make sure to visit their site – check your spelling, there are many errors creeping in from some of you.

  103.   Tessa on October 5, 2007 11:53 am

    Hi Dylan,

    I agree with Louisa, my friend. I really want to know if you think that your culture is similar to any other culture.

    I really don’t know much about Scotland’s culture and if it was similar to a culture I know more about then it may give me a better idea of Scotland’s culture.

    Also please tell me if there is a culture similar, how they are similar?

    What things make Scotland unique from any other country?

    From Tessa in room 29

  104.   Tessa on October 5, 2007 11:58 am

    Hi Olga,

    Just wanted to know a bit more on how in Russia you celebrate things like Christmas. Do you have traditions that people in Russia have that no other countries would have?

    From Tessa in room 29

  105.   Louisa on October 5, 2007 6:01 pm

    Hi Gabriella,

    In New Zealand we have the Maori culture. The Maori culture have their own traditions and beliefs such as in different gods. They also have a marae. In a marae different tribes meet. In New Zealand the haka is our dance.

    Is your culture counted as a big part of your life?

    Bye Louisa

  106.   room29space on October 7, 2007 6:27 pm

    This is actually from Sammy – it was posted in the wrong section.

    I think culture is a different kind of people that have different celebrations and occasions for different country’s and religions that belong to other peoples families.

    From Sammy

  107.   Louisa on October 8, 2007 8:06 am

    Hello Dontae,

    In New Zealand we start school at 9:00am and end at 3:00pm. Are there any traditions at you school? In New York is there one culture or are there many? Do you think that it is possible to change culture?

    From Louisa

  108.   ladyhistory on October 25, 2007 4:24 am

    Hello Louisa,
    In New York there are many different cultures and it is possible to change cultures out here in United States.I am from 4 different cultures, Puerto Rico,Guyana,Chinese, and Italian.
    From Dontae

  109.   Gabriella on October 25, 2007 4:24 am

    Hi Louisa,

    Culture is counted as a big part in my life. I am from three different places. I’m from Puerto Rico, Trinidad, and Guatemala.My cultures are very important to me and my family.

    Gabriella in Brooklyn

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