UNIT SUMMARY
Unit Title: China-Diversity Within Unity
Unit Author: Dotty Danforth, UVM Asian Studies Outreach Program participant
Grade Level: 3-5
Unit Overview
This standards-based unit about China focuses on its diversity and
unifying characteristics. Diversity
is exemplified by China's 56 ethnic nationalities. Students will
look briefly at the Han majority and then
investigate several of the other nationality groups. Several
unifying characteristics, such as language,
using chopsticks and money will also be investigated. The culmination
of this unit is for students to
choose a way to share their knowledge about unity and diversity in
China.
This unit is designed for students in grades three through five.
Investigations of religion and govenment
could be added to this unit to make it suitable for older students.
Essential Question
How has diversity and unity affected China?
Guiding Questions
1. How does the geography of China affect the people who live
there?
2. What are some of the nationality groups in China?
3. What characteristics unify each nationality group and unify
the Chinese?
4. How have these characteristics affected China?
Culminating Task
Students will have the opportunity to use the knowledge they
have gained about China. They will create a way to teach their parents
this information and make sure this information answers the essential question.
They will have access to research materials for those who would like to
authenticate some information or research additional information.
They may choose to work individually, in pairs, or in small groups.
Provide students with the Culminating Activity Rubric prior to beginning
this project. Parents will be invited into the classroom to view the products
that the children have prepared and to learn more about how diversity and
unity has affected China.
Vermont Standards
Vital Results
1.3 Students read for meaning, demonstrating both
initial understanding and personal
response to
what is read. This is evident when students:
c. Make connections between texts and other experiences in and out of
school
1.13 Students listen actively and respond to communications.
This is evident when
students:
c. Respond through discussion
2.6 Students apply prior knowledge, curiosity,
imagination, and creativity to
solve problems.
2.11 Students represent their ideas and/or the ideas of others
in detailed form.
Fields of Knowledge
6.7 Students use geographical knowledge and
images of various places to
understand the
present, communicate historical interpretation, develop
solutions for
the problems, and plan for the future. This is evident when
students:
e. Make and use legend/keys on a variety of thematic maps
6.14 Students understand the tensions between
the forces of unity and those of
disunity in their local community, in the United States, and in various
locations world wide. This is evident when students:
a. Identify the differences between homogeneity and diversity, and
explain
how each can cause community tensions and disunity, or can contribute to
harmony and unity.
6.16 Students evaluate the impact of economic
systems on the needs and wants of
people and on the environment in various times in their local community,
in
Vermont, in the United States, and in various locations worldwide.
This
is evident when students:
a. Compare the differences in lifestyles between their community
and
communities around the world.
Gao, Zongyu, ed. Selected Collections of Yunnan Nationality Museum,
China: Yunnan
Fine Arts Publishing House, 1995.
Goldstein, Peggy. Long is the Dragon, New York; Scholastic, 1991.
Hoobler, Dorothy and Thomas. Images Across the Arts Chinese Portraits.
Austin, Texan; Raintree
Steck-Vaughn, 1993.
Huang, Su-Huei. Chinese Cooking for Beginners. California: Wei-Chuan's Printing, 1984.
Kalman, Peggy. China - The Culture, New York: Crabtree Publishing Co. 1989.
Kalman, Peggy. China - The Land. New York: Crabtree Publishing Co. 1989.
Kalman, Peggy. China - The People. New York: Crabtree Publishing Co. 1989.
Kent, Deborah. China - Old Ways Meet New. New York: Marshall Cavendish. 1996.
Long, Jean. How to Paint the Chinese Way. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 1990.
Ma, Yin, ed. China's Minorities Nationalities. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 1996.
McElrath, William. Ways We Worship, New York: Barrons, 1997.
Simonds, Nina. Classic Chinese Cuisine. Burlington, VT: Chapters, 1994
Sivin, Nathan. The Contemporary Atlas of China. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1988.
Stepanchuk, Carol. Red Eggs and Dragon Boats. Celebrating
Chinese Festivals. California:
Pacific View Press, 1994.
A Tour to the Mysterious Land of Yunnan. China: The Yunnan Provincial
Travel and Tourism
Administration.
Wei, Xinglang. A Brocade of the Zhuang Nationality. Beijing: Dolphin, 1987
Videos:
Palin, Michael. Full Circle, "China".
Swartz, Leslie, prod. Jing, a Chinese Girl. Boston, Ma.: The
Children's Museum. 1990.
Music:
Baolin, Cindy and Ma. Sing Chinese. San Francisco: China Books and Periodicals, Inc., 1996. (cassette and song book)