Placemakers: Mapping Culture and Identity

Students research world cultures to understand how lifestyle, traditions, and identity are shaped by geography, climate, and natural resources. They examine the factors that influence a culture—including religion, food, economics, and social structure—and explore the symbols used to represent cultural identity such as flags, currency, and language. As part of this project, students boarded and worked on the Annis Water Research Vessel on Lake Michigan and toured the local museum to learn about the impact of culture and climate in their local community.

Using the "GREASE" framework (Geography, Religion, Economics, Adaptations & Achievements, Social Structure, Environmental), students conduct research on a chosen culture or region. They analyze how people have adapted to their physical environment and how human activity has modified the land over time. Students connect this learning to local context through a field trip to the Muskegon area, exploring how water and geography have shaped their own community.

The project culminates in student groups creating representations that compare past and present versions of their chosen culture's environment, demonstrating how geography influences daily life and how humans have shaped the land. Groups present their research, with each member responsible for explaining specific connections between the GREASE elements and the cultural symbols represented in their model.

This project fosters empathy toward other cultures by helping students understand why certain practices and symbols hold importance. It also builds community awareness—recognizing that while we are culturally different, we all contribute to one shared community.