These 33 lesson plans were designed to accompany "Contemporary China: A Teaching Workbook," a collection of class activities, primary source selections, student readings, and role-play exercises. The lesson plans are based primarily on materials in the "Workbook," although materials from other sources also are recommended. Some…

Argues that the inclusion of literary texts in social science courses can strengthen both pedagogy and interest. Illustrates how the addition of literary texts can raise cultural and historical consciousness in a course on the Vietnam War. Provides suggestions for using Western and non-Western literature to provide a balanced view of the Vietnam…

This packet accompanies a slide series that introduces students to the art of Thailand. The packet includes maps, a chronology of Southeast Asian history, an essay introduction to the influences on Thai art, a 15-item bibliography for further research, illustrations of Thai ceramics, the slide list, slide descriptions, and slide script. (EH)

This eight-lesson unit introduces students to developments in Tokugawa, Japan, from 1630-1867. Students explore art, literature, and other primary sources to compile a picture of the stable, hierarchical society that the Tokugawa rulers sought to establish and maintain; students then draw on these sources to analyze social, economic, and cultural…

This packet accompanies a slide series designed to introduce students to the clay pottery works of Japan. The packet includes an essay introduction to the early influences on Japanese pottery, maps of the region, a time line of the chronology of Japan from 2000 B.C. to the present, illustrations of types of kilns, a 18-item bibliography for…

This packet accompanies a slide series designed to introduce students to Japanese painting from the 12th century to the late 19th century. The packet includes an essay introduction to establish a historical framework, maps of the region, a time line of the chronology of Japan from 2000 B.C. to the present, illustrations of various art forms, a…

This guide is designed for teachers who wish to teach about Marco Polo and his travels to China during the 13th century. The guide was originally developed for use with a television series about Marco Polo; it can successfully be used independent of the series, however. A prologue gives the reader a basic introduction to what is known of the life…

Intended for elementary, secondary, and college level teachers of Asian studies, this directory describes resources on Asia. The directory has two major sections. The first section describes "National Resources." Included are professional organizations, resource guides and bibliographies, periodicals, and film guides and sources.…

This paper, intended as lecture material for university students or as background material for teachers of social studies and world history, assumes that students already have some knowledge about the origins, practices, and beliefs of Islam, but that they have no prior background about Indonesia or its history. The paper describes the diversity…

This packet accompanies a slide series designed to introduce students to the changes in the arts of India over time. The packet includes an essay introduction to the early influences on Indian life, maps of the region with classroom activities, a time line of the chronology of India from 2300 B.C. to the present, stories and illustrations of the…

"Tora no Maki" or "Scroll of the Tiger" is a teacher's guide designed to aid in teaching appropriate standards for social studies content and skills, using a contemporary focus on Japan's culture and economy. The 19 lessons are divided into three grade levels: elementary school, middle school, and high school. Topics of the…

While the art of Buddhism has an enduring tradition throughout Asia, this teaching guide focuses on the cultures of three countries in which the Smithsonian's Freer and Sackler Galleries' collections are particularly strong: India, China, and Japan. The guide identifies grade level appropriateness for some lessons and activities. It contains 15…

During the age of agriculturally based empires, various conquerors from the western Mediterranean to East Asia brought large population areas under their own centralized authority. Gradually many of these conquerors came to realize that, although military might was necessary to gain control over an area, sheer force of arms was not sufficient to…

Presents a lesson on the Gulf of Tonkin incident during the Vietnam War and the resulting Tonkin Gulf Resolution. Recommends using the resolution as a way of studying the war making powers of the U.S. presidency. Includes excerpts from the Tonkin Gulf Resolution as student readings. (CFR)

This teacher's packet accompanies a slide presentation on the arts of Cambodia and those nations on the Indochina peninsula. The packet contains: (1) a slide list describing the art depicted on each slide with time period and dimensions of the piece; (2) an introductory essay describing the geography, people, religion, art and history of the area;…