China [microform] : Past and Present. A Supplemental Activity Unit on Chinese Culture for Grades 7-12 / Lynn Parisi

Designed as a supplement to the classroom text, this unit contains 14 lessons on Chinese culture and society. Students are encouraged to compare the cultures of traditional and modern China as well as those of China and the United States. Materials are divided into two sections. The first section contains lesson outlines, including teaching plans, student activities, student handouts, and teacher background information. Topics covered include Chinese geography, the impact of geography on Chinese society, China's traditional religions, a comparison of Chinese and American world views, the Chinese language, education in traditional and modern China, traditional and modern Chinese art, the relationship between art and politics, the Chinese social order, communes, and Chinese economy. Student activities, many of which revolve around educational materials from the People's Republic of China, include conducting role plays, translating Chinese words, playing ancient and modern Chinese children's games, reading Chinese children's stories, analyzing and creating propaganda posters, learning Chinese calligraphy, holding a Chinese banquet, and creating a collage. The second section contains readings to accompany the foregoing lessons. Five appendices consist of a guide to spelling Chinese words, changes in the Chinese language, examples of Chinese art and calligraphy, Chinese landscape paintings, and a list of suggested resources. (LP)