Ji-li Jiang's extraordinary memoir "Red Scarf Girl" transports readers to a tumultuous time in Chinese history--the first two years of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution. Caught between conflicting forces--joining the Revolution's call for rebellion, protecting her family, and fitting in with her peers--Jiang describes how her…

Recommends using fictional works about modern Asian and African history as supplementary reading in history courses to enhance student understanding of culture. Provides an annotated list of novels that have been used successfully in these courses. Outlines useful strategies for using fiction in college level history courses. (BSR)

Discusses objectives for college-level advanced history courses: to convey a general sense of history of the area studied, create a basis for the enjoyment of history as an intellectual pastime, and give the student a humanistic perspective on the processes of historical thinking. Provides description of history of modern China course. (Author/KC)

This teacher's guide will help secondary teachers teach about Japan using the best selling novel or television mini-series "Shogun." In preparing the guide, it was not possible to preview the television program before going to press. Therefore the lessons are keyed to the novel. The pages referred to in the lessons are in the paperback…

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…

This unit, intended for secondary students, provides a general introduction to Tibetan history and culture. The unit consists of this written text and a slide program. This text could be used alone as a source of background informational reading. The major objective of the unit is to give preliminary explanations encouraging further research on…

This unit, intended for use with secondary students, presents background information on the Chinese economy. The subject warrants serious consideration because Sino-American trade has grown remarkable in the last decade and economic events occurring in China have the capacity to affect events in this country. The unit contains a six part narrative…

Courses in Vietnam War history should incorporate Vietnamese, French, and English literary response to the war as complements to the history texts. Possibilities include an account of the French colonial experience, a required text in translation from the viewpoint of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and Vietnamese expatriate texts. (MSE)

Presents an art lesson for grades 4 through 6 based on the wooden sculpture entitled Daruma. Daruma was the founder of religion of Zen Buddhism. The lesson's goals are to introduce student to Buddhist legends and to cultivate respect for a culture different from their own. (BR)

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…