1. Government and Diversity
SOL 2.12

2. What is diversity? Diversity means being different.
People are diverse when they have different:
ideas
traditions
customs
beliefs
ethnic origins

3. What are ethnic origins?
Ethnic is your family’s background
Origins is where your family is from
So….
Ethnic origins is where a person or their family is from.

4. Why are ethnic origins important?
Ethnic origins help us learn about our family’s beliefs, customs and traditions. They help us learn more about who we are and where we came from. They can tell us:
the food we eat
even the words we say!
pop
coke
soda
the holidays we celebrate
the way we celebrate them

5. Customs
A way of doing something that is specific to a particular culture.
For example, American customs include:
Shaking hands when you meet someone
Saluting the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance or the Star Spangled Banner
Walking and driving on the right side
Cutting all your food before you eat

6. Traditions
Traditions are ways of thinking or doing something that are passed from generation to generation.
For example:
Decorating a Christmas tree with a star or an angel on top
Eating turkey and stuffing on Thanksgiving
Making Christmas cookies
What are some traditions your family has?

7. So, what unites us as Americans?
Even though our country is diverse, we are all united as American citizens by sharing the same principles.
Principles are the basic values and beliefs of a culture.
Common principles include:
Protecting the rights of others
Self-discipline, self-reliance, honesty, and trustworthiness

8. Government
With so many different people in the United States, how do we make decisions as a group?
First, we vote to elect government officials like mayors, governors, and presidents.
Then, the people we elect help make decisions for our country.