Junkanoo is a Bahamian Festival that takes place in December. The festival was started by slaves who were restoring some of their native customs that they left behind in Africa. Junkanoo is a nice example of artistic expression communicating aspects of a culture. This lesson introduces the historical, geographic, and social aspects of Junkanoo. It also deals with the concepts of group cooperation and factions.

We compare and contrast the beliefs of the three cultures explored in lessons 1-4 to one's own family traditions - similarities and differences. 

Participants read about the philanthropic traditions of early African-American culture and place the values of giving in a hierarchy circle.

In this lesson, participants read quotes and background on European Americans that exemplify their giving traditions. They listen and summarize passages, and then illustrate one person's view or experience and place the illustration and quote on a classroom timeline in relation to the others' illustrations and quotes (and historical context). They each report on their person in timeline order and discuss similarities across European American views.

The groups wear their headdresses and perform a Junkanoo-like parade first internally and then to entertain a group that needs cheering or to teach about cooperation and respect for cultural expressions.

In this lesson, groups work together to make their headdresses based on a common design. Each person makes their own headdress that fits the group theme but has their own style or cultural uniqueness. The groups compete against each other, so the group benefits from working together internally with a strong unifying theme.  Participants reflect on the idea of factions forming in a community, like a classroom. 

Jackie Robinson is a baseball player whose perseverance and strength changed racist attitudes and laws. Participants reflect on Mr. Robinson's actions and make connections to personal actions and to the people they admire today. 

Participants will survey members of the community (school or local area) to determine a need, write proposals to satisfy the need, consider doing an optional one-day fundraiser to help fill that need, serve on a board of directors or a youth advisory committee to determine how such funds will be spent, and evaluate the project.

Participants identify and compare the different roles of the four sectors of the economy (government, business, nonprofit, and family). They identify which sector does what and observe how they approach differently the sometimes overlapping responsibilities. Participants describe the work of foundations and state the purpose of an organization's mission statement.