Grade 8: Understanding Culture and Society

PRESCRIBED LEARNING OUTCOMES

• identify elements of Chinese cultures that are different from or similar to their own
• identify ways that culture can influence opinions

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

SUGGESTED INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES

• Provide a list of value statements (e.g., "We should always respect our teachers and elders.") and ask students to decide which ones they agree or disagree with. Invite students to work in groups to make their decisions, then compare lists and poll similarities and differences. The class could discuss how culture influences opinions or views.
• Suggest that students research the contributions of contemporary Chinese-Canadians (e.g., David Lam, Alexina Louie), using a variety of resources (e.g., books, videos, CD-ROMs, electronic magazines, indices).
• Have students demonstrate literary skills in various languages by bringing in examples of print materials and sharing them with the class.
• Demonstrate how to make Chinese and English tea and, as a class, note and discuss cultural similarities and differences.

SUGGESTED ASSESSMENT STRATEGIES

• When students compare views on a series of value statements, look for evidence that they:
  • respect and value diversity of opinion
  • are willing to share their views with others
  • recognize similarities and differences of opinion
  • state their views tactfully and respectfully
  • are aware of some of the factors that influence opinion
  • are able to separate their views of another's opinions from their views of the person
• Prompt students to compare some Chinese values and traditions with those of another culture, using Venn diagrams as graphic organizers. Look for evidence that they are able to identify:
  • a wide variety of cultural values and traditions
  • similarities and differences between the two cultures
• Provide prompts such as the following to encourage students to reflect on what they have learned about culture:
  • Three features, elements, or values that seem common to many cultures are ____________ .
  • One feature, element, or value that often varies among different cultures is ____________ .
  • Two views I have that are strongly influenced by my culture are ____________ .
  • Something that puzzles me about culture is ____________ .

• Ancient China
• The Ancient Chinese
• Chinese Designs and Symbols, Second Edition
• Chinese New Year
• Coming to Gum San
• Favourite Folktales of China
• A Little Tiger in the Chinese Night
• Mooncakes and Hungry Ghosts
• Notes on Things Chinese
• Old Tales of China
• Oxford History Study Units
• Red Eggs and Dragon Boats
• West Coast Chinese Boy

• Childhood of Wang Mian
• The Dragon's Tongue Series
• 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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