UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS | MODULE 4

LESSON 4: THE SYMBOLIC NATURE OF

__ _____ 8. You use pedestrian lane when crossing
CULTURE certain roads. The pedestrian lane is a
_____, while using it when crossing a road is
Most Essential Learning Competency: a _____.
Analyze the significance of cultural, social, political A. Cultural symbol, cultural practice
and economic symbols and practices. B. Political symbol, political practice
C. Economic symbol, economic practice
Objectives: D. Social symbol, social practice
At the end of the lesson, learners are expected to: _____ 9. When the national anthem is being played,
● explain the meaning of symbols and practices; it is expected that people will stand up to
● identify the different cultural, social, political and show their respect for the anthem and the
economic symbols and practices; and flag. Which statement below is TRUE?
● appreciate the significance of different symbols A. The flag is a symbol, while standing up
and practices in the society.. is a practice.
B. The flag is a practice, while standing
Pretest up is a symbol.
Directions: Write the letter of the correct answer that C. Both the flag and the act of standing up
best completes the sentence or answers the question. are symbols.
D. Both the flag and the act of standing up
_____1. What refers to words, gestures, pictures, or are practices.
objects that carry a particular meaning by those _____10. Which statement explains the connection
who share a particular culture? between symbols and practices?
A. Values C. Practices A. Symbols are created because of
B. Symbols D. Community practices.
_____2. Which of the following is NOT an example of a B. The society cannot exist without
symbol? cultural symbols and practices.
A. gesture C. language C. Symbols are imagined ways of
B. sign D. practices understanding societal practices.
_____3. Which word can complete the statement, “The D. Practices are the results of widely
Philippine national flag is a __________. accepted and understood symbols.
A. symbol C. value
B. culture D. folkway Recall: Using emojis to convey meaning
_____4. Which of the following CANNOT explain why Draw a happy emoticon if the statement is TRUE
language is an example of symbol? about the concept of culture. If not, draw
A. Each word is a symbol. an angry emoticon.
B. Language allows culture to exist.
C. Language allows human experience to be 1. Gestures are examples of
cumulative. symbols in the society. It is also
D. The meaning of language varies that makes an example of material culture.
culture unique.
_____5. Which of the following represent the culture of our 2. Symbols in the society can be
Muslim brothers? learned and taught.
A. Cross C. Star and Crescent 3. Cultural practices are the
B. Stars D. Aum manifestations of a culture or
_____6. Which of the following symbols represent the subculture, especially
Filipino nationalism? concerning the traditional and
A. Baybayin C. Philippine flag customary practices of a
B. Amihan D. Pintados particular ethnic or cultural
_____ 7. All human cultures evolve over time. Which group.
statement can explain such reality?
A. Culture is cumulative.
B. Culture is instinctive. What is your favorite emoticon?
C. Culture has an adaptive mechanism. Can we consider emoticons or emojis as symbols?
D. All of the above. Why?

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UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS | MODULE 4
Unlocking of Difficulties: A. Cultural symbols
● Symbols are objects, words, or actions that
stand for something else with no natural 1. 3 Stars and a Sun
relationship that is culturally defined. Symbol: Philippine pride and Philippine
● Cultural Symbols are physical ancestry
manifestations that signifies the ideology of a
particular culture.
● Social Symbols relate to human society and ___________________
its modes of organization. ___________________
● Political Symbols represent a political ___________________
standpoint.
___________________
● Economic Symbols are used in the
production, distribution, and consumption of ___________________
goods and services in the society. ___________________
___________________
Discussion:
The symbolic systems that people use to
capture and communicate their experiences form the
2. AMIHAN - Mythical bird
basis of shared cultures. A symbol is any object,
Symbol: Peace, freedom, redeemer
typically material, which is meant to represent another
(usually abstract) object, even if there is no meaningful
relationship.
Symbols—such as gestures, signs, objects,
signals, and words—help people understand that
world. They provide clues to understanding
experiences by conveying recognizable meanings
that are shared by societies.
The world is filled with symbols. Sports
uniforms, company logos, and traffic signs are
symbols. In some cultures, a gold ring is a symbol of
marriage. Some symbols are highly functional; stop
signs, for instance, provide useful instruction. As
physical objects, they belong to material culture, but
because they function as symbols, they also convey 3. ARAW - Sun god
nonmaterial cultural meanings. Some symbols are Symbol: Power, eternal, looking forward,
valuable only in what they represent. Trophies, blue determination.
ribbons, or gold medals, for example, serve no other
purpose than to represent accomplishments. But __________________
many objects have both material and nonmaterial
symbolic value. __________________
A police officer’s badge and uniform are __________________
symbols of authority and law enforcement. The sight __________________
of an officer in uniform or a squad car triggers __________________
reassurance in some citizens, and annoyance, fear, or
anger in others. __________________
___________
Types of Symbols:

1. Cultural Symbols are physical

manifestations that signifies the ideology of a 4. BAYBAYIN - Tagalog alphabet
particular culture. Symbol: Pinoy pride, Pinoy writing
2. Social Symbols relate to human society and
its modes of organization.
3. Political Symbols represent a political __________________
standpoint. __________________
4. Economic Symbols are used in the
__________________
production, distribution, and consumption of
goods and services in the society. __________________
__________________
__________________
Activity 1: Give the meaning of the following symbols. ___________

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UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS | MODULE 4
5. PINTADOS - Tattooed warriors
Symbols: Valor, status and pride in the
_________________
Filipino race
_________________
_________________
__________________ _________________
__________________ _________________
__________________ _________________
__________________
__________________
__________________
D. Social Symbols:
B. Political symbols:
_______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
________ _

_______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________
_______________ _______________

C. Economic Symbols

_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________
_______________

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UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS | MODULE 4
Activity 2: Draw two examples of symbols that _____ 5. What was regarded as a mythical bird
emerged in the society because of COVID-19 believed to be one of the first beings to
pandemic. Write one sentence that will explain the inhabit the earth, apart from the sky-god
practice that was developed by the people in the Bathala and the sea-god Aman Sinaya?
society because of that symbol. A. Maria Makiling C. Amihan
B. Amaya D. Daragang Magayon
_____ 6. What is the meaning of Araw or sun-god in
the Philippine culture?
A. Power, looking forward, and
determination
B. Power and Spanish influence
C. Hope and Energy
D. Energy and Life
_____ 7. Which statement explains the connection
between symbols and practices?
A. Symbols are created because of
practices.
B. The society cannot exist without
cultural symbols and practices.
C. Symbols are imagined ways of
Generalization: understanding societal practices.
The existence of symbols that are widely used D. Practices are the results of widely
and understood is a manifestation of a society with accepted and understood symbols.
members who are conscious enough of their own _____ 8. Which of the following CANNOT explain
culture. Symbols that are recognized and being why is language an example of symbol?
followed by the people tend to establish practices that A. Each word is a symbol.
are acceptable in the society. B. Language allows culture to exist.
C. Language allows human experience to
Posttest: be cumulative.
Directions: I. Write the letter of correct answer in D. The meaning of language varies that
each item. makes culture unique.
_____ 9. Wearing face mask at this particular time is
_____ 1. What type of symbol is used in the an example of social practice.
production, distribution, and consumption of A. True C. False
goods and services in the society. B. Maybe D. Undefined
A. Cultural symbol C. Economic symbol _____10. A group of protesters burned the effigy of
B. Political symbol D. Social symbol the incumbent president. Which statement
_____ 2. What refers to the physical manifestation below is TRUE about the burning of the
that signifies the ideology of a particular effigy?
culture? A. It is a political symbol.
A. Cultural symbol C. Economic symbol B. It is a political practice.
B. Political symbol D. Social symbol C. It is a cultural symbol.
_____ 3. The Philippine national flag is an example D. It is a cultural practice.
of ____________.
A. Political symbol C. Social symbol
B. Cultural symbol D. Economic symbol References:
____ 4. Which statement can explain the symbol
and the meaning of pintados? Haralambos, Michael; Holborn, Martin. (2000).
A. It symbolizes valor and bravery during Sociology themes and perspectives. Collins
the precolonial times. Educational: London.
B. It symbolizes the creativity and artistry
of the early Filipinos. Schaefer, Richard T. (2013). Sociology: a brief
C. It symbolizes the pride of the early introduction 10th edition. McGraw Hills: New York
Filipinos to the cultural heritage before
the Spanish colonization. Dictionary of Filipino symbols
D. It symbolizes the bravery of military [Link]
men at present time.