Unit Overview
Culminating Activity
Vermont Standards
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UNIT SUMMARY

Unit Title:

Confrontation: China and its Population

Unit Author:

Craig Davis

Grade Level:

Grade 10, World History and World Culture
Unit Overview:
 This unit is designed to provide students with an understanding and comprehension of two major population issues confronting China today: the one-child policy and the Three Gorges Dam. These two initiatives have both the Chinese and the world watching to see what effect they will have and whether or not they will even succeed.

Essential Questions:
Why is population control necessary?  Can population control and modernization coexist in China?  

Culminating Task:
The class will be split into three different sections, chosen by the teacher: the Chinese government, representatives for the implementation of the one-child policy and representatives of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. After a day of introduction to the unit and an overview, each group will be given two full classes to research on the internet and work in their group to come up with arguments. The one-child policy group and the Three Gorges Dam group will both, on Day 4, present their argument as to why their issue is of utmost importance and should be given the full backing and attention of the government. In addition, the Chinese government will give their stance on both issues, both from their research and from the other groups' presentations. Day 5 will see discussions on how the simulation and presentations went and wrap it up by discussing what the Chinese government is doing and some of the facts from both the initiatives that were researched.

Vermont Standards

Vital Results:
1.3g:

Students demonstrate the ability to analyze, interpret and evaluate information, especially on the internet.
1.13c: Students demonstrate the ability to listen actively to others ideas and presentations, and respond through discussion.
1.14e: Students show the ability to critique the oral presentations that they have heard and make connections to the rest of the world.
1.15a-e: Students use verbal skills to express themselves effectively through their presentations to the rest of the class.
1.18: Students demonstrate the ability to effectively utilize technology in the form of the internet to research and gather information.
1.19a-f: Students show the ability to effectively analyze various sources, especially many websites on their topic, and recognize the most important and persuasive facts and arguments that can be utilized in their presentations.
2.2aa-dd: Students demonstrate the ability to solve complex problems, like China's population problem and their desire to modernize with programs like the Three Gorges Dam.
2.6 Students applly prior knowledge of what we have previously discussed on China, as well as bringing creativity to solving China's population and modernization problems.
3.7a-cc: Students demonstrate the ability to make informed decisions based on the research that they have completed.
3.10: Students performed effectively on teams that set goals, conduct research, solve problems and create solutions.
3.11: Students interact respectfully to other groups and their opinions, especially those with differences.
 
Fields of Knowledge:
6.1: Students show the causes and effects in human societies, especially in terms of overpopulation.
6.2: Students show the use of facts and data found in their research and share it in their presentation to the fictional Chinese government.
6.12: Students show the initiatives of China, especially the one-child policy and the Three Gorges Dam, are very controversial in terms of human rights.
6.13: Students understand how culture has produced a population crisis in China and how their culture is also uniquely working to control it. Also, in terms of modernization, students understand how China is changing its culture to bring its population into the 21st century.
6.16: Students understand how population and energy initiatives are rooted in economics.
6.17: Students understand how China is utilizing its resources to modernize the country, especially the Three Gorges Dam and the limitations of the one-child policy to the Han in large urban parts of the country.

 

Time to Complete Unit:  5 weeks

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