Interviewing Cultural Representatives

Curriculum Connections

Ontario Social Studies, Grade 6 (2023)

Overall Expectation: B2. Social Studies Inquiry and Communication
Specific Expectation: B2.1 - Use appropriate social studies terminology and concepts when communicating information, ideas, and opinions orally and in writing.
Specific Expectation: B2.3 - Construct and answer questions to guide inquiries, and locate and select information relevant to their questions.
Specific Expectation: B2.4 - Interpret and communicate findings and conclusions orally, in writing, and visually, using various formats and digital tools.

Learning Goals

I can...

Plan and conduct an interview with a family or community member to gather stories about culture.
Use a structured interview template to guide my questions.
Share at least three key insights or learnings from my interview with others.

Success Criteria

I can ask open-ended questions that encourage detailed responses.
I can record or write answers clearly using an interview template.
I can report three important insights from the interview.
I use respectful language and show curiosity about different cultures.

Materials

Structured Interview Template (printed or digital) – includes example questions and space for answers
Audio recording devices (tablets, phones, or voice recorders)
Graphic organizer for summarizing insights
Sample interview transcript or audio (dyslexia-friendly, simple language)
Whiteboard and markers
Headphones (for reviewing recorded interviews)

Lesson Timing & Activities

1. Introduction & Activating Prior Knowledge (5 minutes)

Quick class brainstorm: "What kinds of questions help us learn about people’s culture?"
Write student responses on the board (e.g., family traditions, food, celebrations, language).
Introduce the “Interviewing Cultural Representatives” activity—explain how personal stories help us understand global communities.

2. Modelling an Interview (10 minutes)

Play a short recorded example of an oral interview or read a simple written transcript aloud.
Discuss as a class: What questions did they ask? How did the interviewer listen carefully?
Highlight respectful and curious questioning.
Show how to complete the structured interview template.

3. Guided Practice: Developing Questions (10 minutes)

Work together to fill out the first few questions of the template on the board.
Encourage students to think of questions they can ask family or community members related to culture.
Provide sentence starters like:
- "Can you tell me about a special tradition in your family?"
- "What holidays do you celebrate and why are they important?"

4. Independent Planning & Differentiation (15 minutes)

Students choose a cultural representative to interview at home or in their community.
Use the structured interview template to prepare questions.
Allow students with reading difficulties to use an audio or visual version of the template.
Support learners with IEPs by pairing with a peer buddy or using simplified templates.
Provide prompt cards with questions or use visual aids for autism-friendly support.
Use noise-cancelling headphones or quiet zones to reduce distractions for students with ADHD.
Oral recorders available for students who struggle to write answers.

5. Wrap-Up & Sharing Plans (5 minutes)

Invite a few volunteers to share one question they plan to ask or one insight they expect to learn.
Remind students the interview will be done as homework and they will report back next lesson.
Explain the extension: students interested can create a podcast episode from their interview for extra challenge.

Differentiation Strategies

Structured templates & sentence starters to scaffold question writing.
Oral recording option for students with dyslexia or writing difficulties.
Peer support and small group planning for students with IEP requirements.
Visual supports and clear routines for students with autism spectrum diagnoses.
Reduced distractions and movement breaks for students with ADHD.

Extension Activity

Students with advanced skills or interest can use free audio recording software/apps to create a 2-3 minute podcast episode based on their interview. They can add introductions, music, and share their cultural learnings with the class or school community (pending permissions).

Assessment

Formative assessment through observation of students’ participation in discussion and planning.
Review completed interview templates to check question quality and clarity.
At next lesson, assess oral or written sharing of the three key insights from the interview, according to success criteria.
Provide feedback, highlighting curiosity, respectful listening, and clear communication.

Dyslexia-Friendly Supports

Provide a dyslexia-friendly written interview sample with simple fonts (e.g., OpenDyslexic), short sentences, and high contrast.
Offer audio samples and recordings for modelling.
Allow oral responses to be recorded instead of written.
Use colour-coded templates to visually separate question categories.

Teacher Reflection:
How did students respond to the interview preparation? Were the structured templates effective scaffolds? Note adjustments needed for supporting diverse learners in oral communication, and consider expanding the podcast extension for broader creativity.