This book, intended to be used in the middle and high school classroom, provides teachers with unique ideas and lesson plans for exploring culture and adding a multicultural perspective to diverse subjects. "Hidden messages" are the messages of culture that are entwined in everyday lives, but which are seldom recognized or appreciated for the powerful influence they have on the way people think and behave. All materials in the book have been field tested and are designed to encourage students to examine cultural myths, analyze the quality of information they receive about other cultures, and become aware of the cultural filters through which they perceive the world. Following the introduction, chapters in the book are: (1) "Seeing the Invisible: Exploring Culture through Objects" (Elizabeth K. Eder); (2) "Seeing through Words: Autobiography and Autobiographical Fiction as Vehicles for Cultural Understanding" (Barbara Finkelstein; Nancy Traubitz); (3) "Seeing through Images: Cultural Learning through Film" (Alan Chalk); and (4) "Seeing through Language: Preparing Second or Foreign Language Learners to Explore Culture" (Corinne Mantle-Bromley). (BT)