Windows on Asia
Introduction to Curriculum Resources

The Windows on Asia curriculum is divided into Units, Modules, and Lessons, which include detailed lesson plans, activities, and further resources. Each unit covers a major regional area.  Each unit is divided into thematic, disciplinary, topical, or country modules.  Each module is comprised of several lessons featuring learning activities.  The learning activities in each lesson vary in length of time needed for completion.  Consequently, each lesson will take between one and five standard 50-minute class periods to complete.  Teachers are free to mix and match lessons and learning activities or to complete all of the lessons in a unit.

Each lesson plan in our curriculum follows a carefully prepared format.  This format has been developed in accordance with standard lesson and module plans in middle and high school social studies.  The core of each lesson are teaching and learning activities that follow the “5 E’s” format:  Engage, Explore, Explain, Expand, Evaluate.  Each lesson also includes teacher background notes and guidelines designed to aid teachers in the most effective use of the learning and teaching activities.

Map of Curriculum

Unit One: East Asia

Module One: Why Study East Asia?
               Lesson One: East Asia & The World

Module Two: The Basics in Traditional East Asia
               Lesson One: Pronunciation & Names
               Lesson Two: Writing & Language
               Lesson Three: Rethinking Time, Age & The Calendar
               (Alternate Lesson Three: The Moon & The Calendar)
               Lesson Four: Confucianism

Module Three: Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern Japan
               Lesson One: The World of the Shining Prince
               Lesson Two: Who Were the Samurai?
               Lesson Three: The Mongol Invasions
               Lesson Four: The 47 Ronin - Honor and Murder in Early Modern Japan

Module Four: Art
               Lesson One: Ukiyoe- Powerpoint, Lesson Plan
               Lesson Two: Japanese Nationalistic Paintings of the late 19th/early 20th Centuries-
                    Powerpoint, Lesson Plan, Handout
               Lesson Three: Chinese Political Posters

Unit Two: Central Asia

Unit Three: South Asia 

Unit Four: Southeast Asia

 

Other Study Units:

Understanding Vietnam: Beyond the War

Nepal: Understanding the Rivers, Environments, and Culture