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ccpandaani1.gifConnecting to China

Student Level:

Created for a third grade classroom, Connecting to China can be adapted for use with second grade, all the way up to fifth grade.  Communities Around the World is the social studies theme for my third grade classroom. 

Since I try to focus on at least 2 different countries per year, I am limited to the amount of topics I can introduce within one unit.  A whole year can be dedicated to learning about China's history, cuisine, art, family structures, etc.  The topics that I chose to highlight, maps of China, China's flag, the  Giant Panda, and the Great Wall offer a broad overview of the country.  I also chose these topics because I was able to find materials and websites that would supplement what we would be doing in class. 

The lessons were created to be used together or individually.  You can even teach them in whatever order you like.  I personally always focus on the geography lessons first.

Major Goals:

Since I found that many third graders struggle with the concepts they are expected to learn, each year I challenge myself to find new ways to bring the curriculum to life.  Using the Internet has been a powerful tool in not just telling, but showing my students what they have learned. 

Through this unit, I hope my students gain a deeper knowledge of the world around them.  It is also important for students to realize and to appreciate, that no matter where they live in the world, we all share common interests as well as have our own unique cultures.

Instructional Objectives: 

Using a map, students will be able to locate places and answer related questions.

Students will be able to describe China's eight land regions.

Students will recall important facts about China.

Students will learn the symbolism of China's flag.

Students will use the Internet to find information.

        Students will produce a response to literature.

      

Time frame:

This entire unit takes approximately one month to complete with your class.  Each teacher and classroom situation is different.  Timing depends on the ability of your students, how much time you can dedicate to these lessons, and the availability of resources.  You can also use any of these lessons on their own to supplement what you are already doing in your classroom.

Setting:

This unit was created for third grade students of mixed abilities. We have 4 Internet available computers.  Activities can be modified to suit a variety of needs- whole group instruction, independent work, or cooperative learning.

Standards:

Knows the location of places and geographic features.

Gathers and uses information for research purposes.

Determines what characters are like by what they say or do and by how the author or illustrator portrays them.

Students write compositions that describe and explain familiar objects, events, and experiences.

 

Additional Resources:

*These resources are mainly for teacher background and support.  For instance, the China Institute provides a lending library of books, videos, and other materials to be used in the classroom.

AskAsiaŽ is a comprehensive website for K-12 Asian and Asian American studies, offers easy, 24-hour access to high-quality, classroom-tested resources and cultural information, engaging games and activities, and links to relevant people, places, and institutions.
 

The China Institute promotes the understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of traditional and contemporary Chinese civilization, culture and heritage, and provides the cultural and historical context for understanding contemporary China. Classroom teaching and seminars, art exhibitions, public programs for children and adults, teacher education and curriculum development, lectures and symposia and business programming are all available.

A S I A for E D U C A T O R S | Columbia University is a beautiful site that provides information on available workbooks, lesson plans, and videotapes, for elementary school through college, for teaching about Asia.

ArtsEdge The Kennedy Center provides a list of online activities for students in grades 2 through 5 to complete.  These activities were created to go along with the National Symphony Orchestra tour of China and Japan which took place from January 25-February 10, 1999.

 

Culminating Activity: 

You can plan your unit on China to end somewhere near the Chinese New Year.  In the past, we've celebrated the New Year, by having students either bring in home made or store-bought dishes of Chinese cuisine.  I read Sam and the Lucky Money
written by Karen Chinn, Illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu.  Other activities include making our own lucky money envelopes and discussing the Chinese zodiac.

A good way to bridge all that was learned and to touch on topics that you may not have been able to cover is for students to work together to create an ABC book of China.  Assign each student a letter and have them brainstorm a word that represents something they have learned about China.  Each student writes a paragraph on their word.  Compile each paper into a class book.