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Bodhidharma/Daruma Doll Lesson
Students investigate the historical Bodhidharma and focus upon the founding of Buddhism in China. They create two-dimensional Daruma dolls and define the term of enlightenment using simple language. Students read about the legend while...
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Spontaneous Britishstrokes
Students are introduced to Chinese painting and they examine how Daoist phiolosophy influenced artistic style. They discuss how art and artistic technique as a reflection of Daoist culture. Students discuss how art is a reflection of...
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Folktales Reflect Daoist and Buddhist Traditions
Tenth graders compare three Chinese folktales for their "messages" and literary techniques to see how they reflect Chinese Confucian and Taoist values. They discuss how folktales share certain subjects, characters, plots and themes.
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Two Major Feasts of Islam
Students explore two major feasts of Islam. They discuss the day of Idul-al-fitr. Students discuss the importance of the festivals to Muslims. They discuss the ways in which Muslims celebrate on these occasions. Students discuss what...
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Arabia Before Islam
Students explore the geographical, socio-economic, political, and religious background of Arabia before Islam began. They discuss why the rich merchants of Mecca opposed and oppressed Muhammed. Students discuss the influence of geography...
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Beliefs/Teachings of Islam
Students listen to a guest speaker lecture on the beliefs of Islam while taking down notes and complete a KWL chart in their notebook. They then discuss in pairs the differences and similarities they note etween Islam and their own...
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Fighting Back
Students identify different methods of resistance used by Jews during the Holocaust and classify them as either passive or active forms of resistance. They create a role play of a husband and wife on whether they should hide a child of...
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Diwali
Students participate in the retelling of a story. After reading the story Diwali, students working in groups retell the significant events in the story through role play. In addition, they discuss the significance of the Hindu elements...
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Ways of Giving
Students are introduced to two basic Jewish religious terms. As a class, they are read background on the role of Jewish women's societies. In groups, they are given texts of various speeches made by women and answer discussion...
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The Jewish Community in America, Past and Present
Pupils examine the beginnings of the Jewish Community in America. Using the internet, they examine the role of Jewish organizations and resources that are available to them. They compare and contrast the view of the community they...
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Pioneering Spirits: A Personalized History of Our Jewish Community
Students travel in groups to various stations to discover the history of the Jewish community. At each station, they read primary source documents about the history of their community and research their own family history. They mix...
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Three Jewish Women In Mourning
Students conduct an investigation into the life cycle observing the effects of death upon loved ones. They conduct research about the Jewish traditions surrounding the issue of death and then write reflectively about the culture and...
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Ray Frank on The Importance of Belief
Students compare Ray Frank's biography and sermon to the importance of belief. They work in small groups to discuss their beliefs about Judaism and write letters describing their beliefs and incidents that have changed their beliefs. ...
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Religious Intolerance in Afchanistan
Students, as a group, examine and discuss the destruction and planned demolition of Buddhist artifacts in Afghanistan by the Islamic Taliban government. They further research the issue and then hold a simulated summit with Buddhists,...
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Misplaced Blame
High schoolers, after researching a variety of resources, paraphrase examples of how it feels to be wrongly blamed or accused of an incident today, yesterday and in the future. They list the consequences of such actions. In addition,...
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The Medium And The Message
Students compare and contrast Buddhist sculpture in varying materials through in-class discussions and small cooperative learning groups. This lesson plan includes possible lesson plan extensions.
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Iconography: Art and Literature
Students discover the main subjects and objects of Buddhist art and how symbolism in the Arts can enhance the artistic elements. The lesson concludes with the creation of student works using iconography.
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What is Me?
Learners use the internet to research the different meanings of their names. In groups, they discover their astrological sign and share their opinions about whether they believe in them or not. Individually, they use this information...
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Lao-tzu Riding On An Ox
Students discuss expressions of Daoism in Chinese art in this lesson plan for the high school Social Studies, Humanities, or Asian Studies classroom. The philisophical elements of Daoism are emphasized.
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The Clothing of the Buddha
Young scholars discuss the idea of cultural diffusion by examining how the sculptural portrayal of the Buddha's clothing evolved in Japanese and Chinese art. This activity concludes with a group project and presentation.
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The Daoist Immortals
High schoolers discover the basic principles and beliefs of Daoism through investigation and in-class discussion in this High School activity for a Social Studies, Humanities, or Asian Studies class.
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The Perils of Translation
Students discover the challenges of translating poetry written in a character-based language through the study of Lao-tzu's work, Daodejing. This lesson includes possible extensions and evaluations.
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Buddhist Art - Lost In The Landscape
Students explore new objectives for art and examine how Chinese painting reflects Buddhist principles. This lesson includes a vocabulary list and possible lesson extensions for various student levels.
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Pure Land Buddhism in China And Japan
High schoolers investigate the Pure Land sect of Buddhism in an attempt to better understand how Buddhism has adapted itself to fit into the constantly changing
religious, cultural, political, and economic climates of China and Japan.