Curated OER
American Transcendentalism and Buddhism:
Students study American transcendentalism through readings of Emerson and Thoreau. They make cognitive connections to the similarities to Buddhism in these writings. The connection of the literary movement is explained in the art of the...
Speak Truth to Power
Dalai Lama: Free Expression and Religion
How is religious freedom connected to the conflict between China and Tibet? After reading an online passage of background information, your learners will divide into groups and both read and view an interview with the Dalai Lama. They...
Core Knowledge Foundation
Early Asian Civilizations Tell It Again!™ Read-Aloud Anthology
Eighteen lessons make a read-aloud anthology all about early Asian civilizations. Scholars listen to and discuss stories about the Indus River Valley, Hinduism, Silk, Buddhism, the Great Wall of China, Diwali, and more, alongside stories...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Lu Shih — The Couplets of T’ang
Writing poetry in ancient China was the modern equivalent of sending a greeting card. Scholars learn about the ancient Chinese poetic form called the lu shih. They read about the context of poetry during the T'ang Dynasty and complete a...
Curated OER
The Three Doctrines & Legalism
Sixth graders imagine themselves to be, in turn, a follower of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Legalism. They are given a handout that lists seven questions. Direct students to write down how they feel an individual would answer...
Curated OER
The Lunar Calendar
Young scholars examine the Chinese calendar and Zodiac signs in this early elementary lesson on calendars and culture. Discussions on cultural beliefs and values are emphasized and could be controversial.
Curated OER
Guidelines for Governing: Utopia and The Prince
Pupils explore the power of the Church in government. In this literature lesson, students read Sir Thomas More's Utopia and Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince. Pupils respond to questions regarding the works and discuss them.
Curated OER
Korea's Literary Tradition
Students read a text about Korea's literary tradition. In this literary tradition lesson, students read the multiple page text to learn about Korea's literary tradition.
Curated OER
"For The Birds" [part II]
Students examine how Chinese and Japanese artists used different kinds of birds
as representations of ideas that were important in both cultures and create their own birds using the technique of origami.
Curated OER
Sharing Beliefs and Ideas
Students examine how cultural ideas and thought were exchanged as travelers and traders of the Silk Road met, interacted, and traded with different peoples from different regions and cultures along the Silk Road.
Curated OER
Creative Writing and Analysis
Students read and analyze poems by Li Po and Wang Wei. They answer discussion questions, identify the elements of the poems, examine and discuss Chinese landscape paintings, write an original poem, and write a comparison/contrast essay.