Grade 7: Understanding Culture and Society

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

• describe their school and community traditions, and compare them with those of Chinese cultures
• identify elements of Chinese cultures in the world

To view the prescribed learning outcomes for Understanding Culture and Society in other grades click on an icon below.

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

• As a class, brainstorm and chart activities and traditions that form the culture of the school (e.g., school rules, dances, special events, sports teams) and compare them with those of a Chinese school. Follow a similar process to identify the traditions of the local community (e.g., parades, sports events, community services). Add to the lists throughout the year.
• Introduce students to Chinese festival customs and then ask them to bring pictures and other items related to a selected festival (e.g., Chinese New Year goodies). When possible, engage students in activities related to the festival (e.g., making lanterns for Mid-Autumn Festival). Have students compare similar Chinese and Canadian holidays (e.g., Mid-Autumn Festival and Thanksgiving Day). Seek out local opportunities for students to participate, in a variety of ways, in an actual Chinese festival.
• Using a map, indicate areas around the world where Chinese cultures are present and discuss. Show various historical routes by which other cultures came in contact with Chinese people (e.g., the Silk Road).
• As a class, compare and contrast Chinese and First Nations styles of beading.
• Invite students to choose cultural topics to research in groups (e.g., Chinese inventions) and present their findings to the class. Encourage the use of a wide variety of resources (e.g., print, videos, CD-ROMs, the Internet).

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

• When students compare school or community activities and traditions with those of Chinese counterparts, look for evidence that they are able to:
  • accurately identify local activities and traditions
  • find out about comparable Chinese activities and traditions
  • show respect for Chinese traditions and customs
  • identify similarities and differences
• Work with students to develop expectations about their participation in cultural festivals. Provide prompts such as:
  • How might you demonstrate that you have learned important cultural information from participating in the festival?
  • What aspects should everyone try to learn about?
  • What evidence might demonstrate that you participated respectfully and were open to new experiences?
• Develop criteria that students can use to guide their research presentations. Criteria might include:
  • detailed and accurate
  • relevant and focussed on the topic
  • engages the audience (includes interesting or unusual details)
  • drawn from a variety of appropriate sources
  • supported by visual aids or other media
  • clearly presented

• Ancient China
• The Ancient Chinese
• China
• China's Bravest Girl
• Chinese Designs and Symbols, Second Edition
• Chinese New Year
• Coming to Gum San
• Early China
• Favourite Folktales of China
• Five Heavenly Emperors
• Focus on China
• Introducing China - A Teacher Resource Book
• A Little Tiger in the Chinese Night
• Long is a Dragon
• Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts
• The Mouse Bride
• Notes on Things Chinese
• Old Tales of China
• Oxford History Study Units
• Red Eggs and Dragon Boats
• West Coast Chinese Boy

• The Dragon's Tongue Series
• Jing: A Chinese Girl
• Pandas in the Wild

• Chinese Folk Songs
• Chinese Mandarin Resource Book - Volumes 1, 2, and 3
• The Chinese People
• Out of the East Horizon
• Zhongguotong

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