UCLA Center for
East Asian Studies
Asia-related Education Sites on the Web
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CEAS Resources
In addition to the internet resources list you've already discovered, we have an annotated list of curriculum materials, a guide to educational films on Asia, a catalog of Asian studies journals, a catalog of language programs and a statistics index. Teachers participating in our summer institute have prepared some useful curriculum units. Asia via the Web is our comprehensive annotated guide to Asia-related websites. For the latest news about or from Asia via web radio and television, click here. Click here for maps.
This company has compiled an extensive collection of China related education resources (lessons on holidays, calligraphy, and more). These are produced by a wide range of units, including the Indiana East Asian Studies Center and SPICE (cited elsewhere on this list). Click first on secondary school educators (in the top frame) and then under "Net Links."
This is an Australian initiative to train teachers in workshops and by providing on-line tutorials. The site is only now being developed, though it appears promising.
AskAsia
The Asia Society’s K-12 excellent education support site. Teachers will find some lesson plans and other useful information.
A site rich in information on videos and other resources available for teaching about Asia. There are also some reviews of these materials.
This United Nations sponsored site offers a variety of resources on population and environmental trends, national statistics, city profiles, and UN operations.
East Asian Studies: A Guide for Teachers
Compiled by Mara Pinto Oess of the Notre Dame Academy (Toledo, Ohio) social studies department. It is located at the Indiana University East Asian Studies website. This site includes a rich list of learning objectives for particular lessons, materials to be used and includes specific assignments and hints for teachers.
GlobaLearn HomePage
Some of the interactive international expeditions take middle school students to Asian sites. A recent expedition went to Hong Kong in anticipation of the the transfer to Chinese sovereignty. Teachers register and their students may join the internet expedition free of charge.
Indiana University East Asian Studies Center -- Resources for Teachers
Among the most useful sites aimed at teachers. These include lists of Asia-related themes to be addressed in K-12 courses as well as complete lesson plans. Note that the center also hosts the Association for Asian Studies site, which features the quarterly newsletter.
National Council for the Social Studies
The largest social studies education organization in the US, NCSS and its local affiliates work to help teachers equip students with the skills and knowledge they require to understand their world. The NCSS website includes a teaching resources section which offers background readings, links to useful websites, and lesson plans.
PIER Teaching Resource Collection
Based at Yale, this is a collection of audio/visual materials available for loan. There are shipping and handling charges and, given the demand, ordering ahead is recommended. As of early June 1997, the catalog was not yet available on-line. There is, however, an e-mail address to send questions and requests.
SPICE
- Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural EducationSPICE is well known for producing high quality K-12 lessons. The SPICE website includes samples of these lessons (including one on the silk road and another on Japanese picture brides) as well as detailed information about available units.
Think Global
-- Montana Center for International VisitorsThis site includes lesson plans on a range of topics including human rights, hunger, and housing. Teachers can also elect to participate in an electronic discussion of approaches. A four to five minute English video broadcast is also available.
USC East Asia On-Line -- teaching resource page
This is a rapidly growing resource, which includes an internet search engine.
Be sure to see other China related lessons and units under topics such as history, holidays, maps, and philosophy.
Curriculum Units
CEAS Summer Institute Participants
Jennifer Rice prepared this unit on Chinese perceptions of the United States. It is intended for use with high school students.
Peter Blake wrote this unit aimed sixth graders.
Kelly Royer prepared this unit with middle school students in mind.
Confucian Thought and Chinese Calligraphy
This unit was written by Steve Perez for use with sixth graders.
Contrasting Chinese Ideas With the West
Jono Mitchell created this unit for high school students.
Joel Marzan wrote this high school unit, which focuses on the Opium War and discusses the return of Hong Kong to Chinese control.
Designed by Melissa Mertz for seventh grade social studies.
China- elementary school introductory unit
Fourth grade teacher Samantha Sparks created this series of lessons for use in geography. It provides suggestions for stimulating student interest, student projects, and more. It also incorporates use of the internet via the National Geographic site and another about pandas.
The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project's
Golden LegacyGolden Legacy is the name of a 1994 curriculum guide developed by the project. Three sample lessons are available via their website, others are available in the print guide. The sample lessons include foot-binding, the abacus, and the lunar calendar.
Children's Literature on China
-- Stories to read and tellThis page summarizes the plot of several children's books dealing with Chinese subjects.
Part of a Web Exhibits.org site on calendars, this web page offers a comprehensive look at the Chinese lunar calendar and dating system.
Xiang Qi: The Art of Chinese Chess
, plus the Art, Literature, and History of Its Mother CountryThis site includes much more than information about xiangqi (go in Japan). There is information about various Chinese dynasties, notables, literature, calligraphy and art (including a large selection of images on architecture, painting and more). Recommended.
China During the Middle Ages
This is an elementary school unit designed by Cheryl Jefferies and Jane Moss of Richmond, Indiana. The unit is housed at the Core Knowledge website and includes an extensive reading list which includes topics not addressed by this set of lessons.
Daily Life in Ancient China
A site created by the prolific middle school teacher Don Donn. (Mr. Donn has created support sites on Egypt and other regions as well.) This site includes "Who's Who in Ancient China", timelines, information on Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism, and other features.
H-Net Teaching Page
Most h-net (history net) postings address research issues or college level teaching, but there are also discussions of the national history standards and secondary school teaching issues. A search engine allows one to look across the regional, temporal or topical fields to find appropriate posts or to narrow in on just those posts featuring the sought after words in H-Asia (for example) posts.
In Celebration of the Silk Road
Middle school teacher Gail Desler of Placerville, California developed this unit which includes links to appropriate sites. Be sure to scroll down to the teacher notes at the end of the initial page.
World History Standards
These standards were developed at UCLA at the National Center for History in the Schools. An electronic version of the standards (over 500 pages in length, the electronic version is divided into fast loading pieces) is available. The NCHS website also permits the ordering of the full print edition (which has features not available on-line), as well as a set up materials entitled Bring History Alive!
See East Asia-related sample activities for grades 5-12.
Calendar/Holidays
Part of a Web Exhibits.org site on calendars, this web page offers a comprehensive look at the Chinese lunar calendar and dating system.
This collection of holiday-oriented lessons was produced by the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project and is housed at the KQED (San Francisco public television) website.
Curriculum Units
Asia Society: AskAsia, For Educators
Several Japan-centered lesson plans are available, including "American and Japanese Cities," "Environment and Conservation: Japan," "Japan and the West: A Comparison," "Noboru's Family Tree," "Noh and Kabuki," "Kite Making," and "What Makes Japanese Laugh?"
AskERIC Lesson Plans
Created by Jo Ann Schultz and intended for grades 1-2.
Created by Laurie Herman and intended for first graders.
The Story of Sadako and the Art of Origami
Created by Nancy Strand and Kim Duke and intended for grades 4-6.
CEAS Summer Institute Participants
Designed by Melissa Mertz for seventh grade social studies.
Linking Story to History:Sign of the Chrysanthemum
Created by Jennifer Haan for use with seventh graders.
Created by Samantha Wohl to meet the seventh grade California social science and history standards.
Written by Sheila Calpin and intended for seventh graders.
(Florida) Geography Education and Technology Program
Created by J. Marie Holland and Jeffrey D. Potter and aimed for early elementary grades.
Created by Kay Lynn Knapp and intended for middle school students. Includes activities on trade, earthquakes, and more.
Japan Studies Leadership Program
These units were prepared by teachers participating in workshops sponsored by National Consortium for Teaching about Asia centers at the Five College Center for Teaching about Asia (Massachusetts), the University of Colorado, and the University of Washington. Elementary units are designated with an (E), middle school units (M), and secondary school units (S).
- All Aboard Shinkansen: A Lesson in Geographic Interaction (E - M)
- The Art Connection: The Great Wave (E)
- The Atomic Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Necessary or Not? (S)
- Communities Near and Far: Japan (E)
- A Comparative Bilingual Portfolio Lesson About Japan and Latin America (S)
- Comparing the Travel Literature and Art of Chaucer, Basho, and Hiroshige to Explore the Human Experience (S)
- Cross Cultural Perceptions in Historical Context: Japanese and American (S)
- Experiences in African American-Japanese Relationships (S)
- Haiku ・It's More Than Just a Formula! (M)
- Haiku and Beyond: Exploring Genres of Japanese Literature (E)
- Here and There: Children in the United States and Japan (E)
- I Dream of Castles: A Comparative Study of Castles in Feudal Europe and Japan (M)
- Incorporating the Japanese Perspective into a U.S. History Unit on World War II (S)
- In Perfect Harmony: Teaching the World to Sing (E)
- Integrating Japanese Folk Tales into the Classroom Using Japanese Kamishibai (E)
- An "Inspirational" Look at Japan: Using Inspiration Software to Organize Observation About Japan (E)
- Japan: The Geography of a Nation (M)
- Japan: A Pacific Rim Neighbor (E)
- Japan: Perceptions, Images, and Myths (S)
- Japan: A Regional Study (S)
- Japan: Yesterday and Today (M)
- Japanese Folk Art (S)
- Japanese History and Culture: A One-Semester Course (S)
- Japanese Objects as Cultural Artifacts: A Model Lesson Using Textiles (M)
- The Japanese Way (E)
- Journey to Japan: An Elementary Geography (E)
- Standards-Based Unit on Japan (S)
- Knight/Samurai and Lord/Daimyo: Should We Compare Europe and Japan? (S)
- The Life of an Amorous Woman (1686), Moll Flanders (1722), and Memoirs of a Geisha (1997):
A Comparison of Three Prose Fiction Accounts of Female Survivors (S)- Lifestyles of the Young and the Restless: A Comparison of Life in Japan and the United States (S)
- Meiji Japan in the Context of 19th-Century Nationalism and Imperialism (S)
- The Meiji Restoration and the Emergence of Industrial Japan (S)
- Origami Paper Fun (E)
- The Pacific Century Videos: A Tool for Teaching About Japan (S)
- Pre-Renaissance Japan: A Study of Cross-Cultural Connections (S)
- The Shaping of Daimyo Culture, 1185-1868: Understanding History Through Art (S)
- Ship of Joy Visits Japan: Comparing Japan and China (E)
- Teaching Cooperation and Social Responsibility Through Principles of Hansei (E)
- Traveling on the Sea of Gold: An Adventure in Japan Through Literature (E)
- Using Japanese Traditional Performing Arts, Shakespearean Drama, and Modern Film to Explore the Nature of Revenge (S)
- Using Japanese Traditional Performing Arts to Explore Conflict Resolution Strategies (S)
- Volcanoes in Japan (M)
- We Are Alike, We Are Different: A Focus on Japan (E)
- Women in Meiji,Taisho, and Imperial Japan (S)
McGraw-Hill Social Studies
Tied to a lesson on the rise of industrial Japan. Intended for sixth graders and linked to their text, Adventures in Time and Place.
(U.S.) National Archives and Records Administration: "Teaching with Documents"
"A Date Which Will Live in Infamy": The first typed draft of FDR's war address
Tied to the National History Standards, focusing on the background of World War II. Also tied to the National Standards for Civics and Government.
New York Times Learning Network
Bringing Up Baby: Exploring government attempts to influence birth rates
Focuses on Japan's declining birth rate, its causes, and impact and how the government has responded to this demographic trend.
"I" Witness to History: Writing first person accounts of historical events
Illustrating the approach with a Pearl Harbor diary.
In the Global Ballpark: Debating the globalization of baseball
Emphasis is on American teams playing exhibition games elsewhere, including Tokyo.
Vaulting into History: A geographic history of the Olympics
This lesson uses an article on a Japanese gymnastics hopeful to learn about the history of the Olympics.
Scholastic (requires free Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Japanese Calligraphy Counting Book
Takes students to a junior high school in Nagano (site of the 1998 Winter Olympics).
Schools of California Online Resources for Education (SCORE) Units
Aimed at seventh grade students. Created by Freda Kelly, Fontana Unified School District.
The Selling of the Taj Mahal or Osaka Castle
Aimed at seventh grade students. Created by Bill Dyer, Rialto Unified School District.
Aimed at seventh grade language arts students. Created by Dan Fickett, Bonita Vista Middle School, San Diego County.
A Japanese Version of Simon Says
Created by Thad Schmenk and used by teachers of many languages to pound home the names of body parts.
Created by Thad Schmenk. Compares English and Japanese proverbs.
Created by SuzAnne Payseur and intended for first graders (it's about more than sushi).
Web Quest
Sadaka and the Thousand Paper Cranes
Pat Duhon wrote this unit for grades 3-5.
Others
Includes a Japanese version of "paper, rock, and scissors." Intended for early elementary grades.
This is a wonderful resource providing concise and solid descriptions of Japanese customs, politics, and beliefs. Bilingual site.
The Educational System in Japan: Case Study Findings
This is an electronic book prepared by the U.S. Department of Education in June 1998. It contains considerable information about the system in general as well as details drawn from interviews and observations. Among the more interesting sections are those on educational standards and "why become a teacher."
Horace Mann Webpage on Traditional Japanese Art
Wonderful annotated page of links to art-related websites.
General interest site which also includes a collection of “for kids” pages.
Kyoto National Museum Dictionary
The pages at this site are written and illustrated at a level students can understand. Pages on archaeology, ceramics, sculpture, paintings, calligraphy, textiles, lacquerware, metalworking, and architecture are available. Both English language and Japanese language versions of the pages are available.
Curriculum Units
Laura Shin prepared this unit for use with middle school students.
University of Texas Perry-Castañeda Library
The Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection at the University of Texas has put many maps, primarily contemporary U.S. government maps on-line. This link takes you to the FTP site for Asia. Many countries or regions in this list have map links as well (e.g. China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea).
6th Graders Create Posters on Chinese Philosophy
6th graders at Urbana (Illinois, US) Middle School studied early Chinese philosophy and created posters to convey key concepts.
Women in the World History Curriculum
Lyn Reese's project includes biographies of several East Asian figures available on line. Lesson plans are available for purchase.
CEAS resources page CEAS home page
This page and the others in this Asia via the Web series
are maintained by Clayton Dube.
Send comments and suggestions to him at the UCLA Asia Institute.
Copyright ©1997-2000 by the UCLA Asia Institute