China
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/courses/edtec596/project1/China2.html
Unit Authors
This China unit was developed by Family E-1 and delivered to 6th graders at
O'Farrell Community School in several forms over the last year.
Content Areas
This unit covered the areas of language arts, computers, world history,
geography and mathematics.
Organizing Theme
China was the topic that tied the disciplines together.
Implementation
This unit was covered by one triad of a family. China was the last subject in
the social studies that the social studies teacher wanted to cover. They
thought that to increase the learning, that it would be beneficial to create
an interdisciplinary lesson on it. So in the geography aspect of the unit, the
students learned about the area of China and the climatic regions. In the
science part of the unit, the students discovered the animals that lived in
that part of the world. Also, they explored the topography of thf China. In
the language arts part, they broadened their vocabulary by finding out the
definitions of of words that were used in the text. They also explored Chinese
literature and poems. In the social studies part, they discovered the history
and philosophies of China. This lesson was taught over several weeks.
Outline of Activities
Since this unit went on for several weeks, I will outline a brief rundown of
the unit. In the first few weeks, they explored Chinese geography and gained
an understanding of Chinese history. In the weeks to come they explored
Chinese paper making and Chinese lettering. Towards the end of the project,
they use a vacant lot to simulate a Chinese emperor's burial plot. This served
to develop the student's awareness of how archaeologists discover and evaluate
artifacts.I
Student Products
There were many student products that wre created during this process. They
also used balloons to simulate the world and drew the world with emphasis on
China. Also, the students created the archaeological dig that represented the
emperor's burial plot.alive.
Thinking Skills Engaged
This unit encouraged critical thinking and creative thinking. It allowed for
the students to come up with some creative solutions to problems that were
placed before them.
Lessons Learned
The teachers felt that the lesson went well. They would have put some more
time in organization. Some of the interdisciplinary launches into science
could have been stronger.
This description was written by Paul Theodore.
Last updated on March 6, 1996.
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