The 1997-98 Asian financial crisis and its aftermath have brought to light a number of crucial economic lessons. This curriculum unit focuses on some of the purported causes of the crisis, the workings of the International Monetary Fund, and the general nature of economies affected by financial turmoil. Lesson 1, "A Story of Boom and Bust in…

An activity book is designed to address problems and oversights in classroom coverage of Japan discovered by the Japan/United States Textbook Study Project. Activities which focus on Japanese religion, language, and geography address two important questions: what immediate application does the textbook study have for classroom teachers and how can…

This curriculum outline presents the components of an introductory course to French culture which focuses on the colonization of French Polynesia. First, the general goals and student objectives for the course, which focuses on different historical periods of French Polynesia, are discussed. Next, the pre-test to determine students knowledge of…

Reports on a teacher's eight-month sabbatical trip through south and southeast Asia. Asserts that the people of this area are accepting globalization and proceeding to participate successfully in the international marketplace. Describes political, social, and economic characteristics of the eight nations visited on the trip. (CFR)

This book aims to expose students of grades 4-6 to the language and culture of Japan. The unifying theme of all of the lessons is symbolism in Japanese language and culture. Lessons can be used as a unit or in sections and specific lessons can be presented in isolation. Each day's materials and format are described in detail with specific…

This video guide was developed by the Peace Corps' Office of World Wise Schools. The activities it describes are designed to supplement elementary and secondary students' exploration of South Asia and to enhance their correspondence with a Peace Corps volunteer. Used in conjunction with the videotape "Destination: Sri Lanka," the…

Four lessons in this inquiry unit introduce junior high students to the influence of geography on economics and way of life in Japan. Lessons are provided on the effects of overcrowding, the influence of space on Japanese farming, a Japanese product search, and Japanese cuisine. Each lesson includes time and materials required, rationale,…

This unit is designed to accompany a video presentation that focuses on India from the perspective of a participant in the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad Program. This unit can be incorporated with a study of India's land, history, and geography. The text provides a narrative as students view contemporary pictures of India and is intended to…

This curriculum outline introduces the components of a Japanese language and culture course which includes a module on understanding Japanese cultural code words. First, the syllabus for the introductory course to Japanese language and culture is presented, highlighting the course objectives, texts, criteria for grading, assignments, and…

This curriculum module presents information for an introductory course designed to develop a cross-cultural awareness and appreciation of the rich opportunities for growth in interior design and related fields that has resulted from the expansion of the global marketplace. First, the instructional goals of the course are outlined, suggesting that…

A cross-cultural approach is used to foster an understanding of modern China in this 8-part handbook of supplementary social studies materials for grades 5 through 12. Part 1 focuses on students' perceptions of China. Following a pretest, in which students consider their own stereotypes, three exercises help students gain a sense of the Chinese…

Teaching about Inner Asia in the context of today's world can be accomplished by presenting the historical relations among China, Russia, and Inner Asia. Present day China-Russia policies and relations date back to earlier unequal treaties forced upon China by the West. China has historically attempted to maintain an isolationist position against…

A collection of activities and teaching strategies provides a global approach to teaching about Japan at the elementary school level. Following a preface, material is divided into three main sections. The first section outlines interdisciplinary skill goals and attitudinal skill goals of global learning experiences. The second section, "For…

A collection of five activities for teaching about Japan at the elementary level is provided. An introductory activity is designed to elicit student perceptions of the Japanese through drawings and words. A second activity uses Japanese folk tales. The remaining three activities are presented by grade level (1-3) and provide strategies for…

This activity provides students with case studies of family life in Japan for them to make hypotheses about the traditions, social institutions, and values of the Japanese people. The case studies were written by teachers who spend 1- and 2-day homestays with both rural and urban families during a 3-week study tour to Japan in 1988. The case…