Exploring Cultural Identity
You will learn to explore identity through stories and reflection.
Learning Intentions
How Identity Is Shaped
You will learn how identity is shaped through experiences, relationships, and personal choices.
Stories Build Empathy
You will learn how stories build empathy by connecting us to others' lived experiences.
Culture and Context
You will learn how culture and context influence who we become and how we see ourselves.
Silent Starter
Your Turn to Reflect
Take a moment to write down three words that describe who you are. Be honest. Be thoughtful. There are no wrong answers here.
Consider these questions quietly as you write:
  • Which word comes from your family?
  • Which comes from society?
  • Which is only yours?
Identity as Layers
Is identity fixed or changing?
Who shapes identity?
Can identity be chosen?
Real-Life Scenarios
Read these scenarios quietly. Think about what identity means in each situation.
Moving to a New Country
You leave behind familiar places, language, and friends. Everything feels different.
Being Judged Before Speaking
Someone makes an assumption about you based only on how you look.
Family Traditions vs Personal Choice
Your family expects one thing. You feel drawn to something else entirely.

Reflect: What part of identity is affected in each scenario? Who has power here?
Personal Stories
What Can Stories Reveal?
What can personal stories reveal that facts and statistics cannot? Consider how someone's lived experience offers something different from data alone.
Listen
Truly hear what others share
Reflect
Connect their story to your understanding
Question
Wonder about perspectives beyond your own
Film Viewing
Before We Watch
Take a moment to consider these questions. You don't need to answer aloud—just let them guide your attention as you watch.
Expectations
What do you expect a personal story to show about someone's identity?
Representation
Can one story represent everyone from that culture or background?
Reflection Time
Your Thoughts Matter
Take five minutes to write quietly. This is your space to process what you've learnt today without judgement.
"One thing I realised about identity today is…"
Let your thoughts flow freely. There's no right or wrong way to finish this sentence.
Inquiry Questions
These questions have no simple answers. That's what makes them worth exploring together.
Why Is Listening Important?
Think beyond the obvious. What changes when we truly listen to someone else's story?
What Happens When We Assume?
Consider the impact on both the person making assumptions and the person being judged.
How Do Stories Create Empathy?
What is it about hearing someone's personal experience that shifts our understanding?
Exit Ticket
Choose One to Complete
Before you leave today, take a moment to respond to one of these prompts. Your thinking helps us understand where our learning journey might go next.
Complete the Sentence
Identity is shaped by _______ and _______.
Ask a Question
One question I have about identity is _______.