Objectives
Students will learn about Tibetan history and geography.
Students will understand the various facets of Tibetan Buddhism.
Students will examine the Middle Way approach, and discuss its components.
Students will analyze and discuss different perspectives regarding Chinese occupation of Tibet.
Students will examine current events in Tibet, and discuss their significance.
Students will examine the impact of Chinese occupation on Tibetan culture and environment.
Students will summarize information on Tibet, and then present this information to their fellow students.
Procedure
Introduction:
For the whole class, students will be given a guided note sheet, which includes a map of Tibet and the surrounding region. This brief introduction will provide students with background information about the history of Tibet, allowing them to better understand the more detailed information regarding Buddhism, the Middle Way, and the environment. (10 minutes)
Group work:
After students have completed the guided note sheet, arrange students in groups of three. Instruct students that each student will choose one of the three data sets from the folder. Each student will read his data set, take notes on it in the appropriate section of the data retrieval chart, and answer the questions that follow. (5 minutes)
After the 5-minute reading session is over, the teacher will instruct the students that they will be responsible for presenting the information from their data set to the other people in their group. The teacher will announce that data set 1 students have 5 minutes to present their information to the others in their group. While data set 1 students are presenting, the other two students will be recording notes in the appropriate section of their data retrieval charts. After 5 minutes, the teacher will then announce that data set 2 students will begin their presentations, with the other two students taking notes. Students with data set 2 have 5 minutes to present their information. After that 5 minutes, the data set 3 students will present their information for 5 minutes. (15 minutes)
After the last session is completed, the teacher will address the class as a whole, having them stay in their groups. Beginning with data set 1, the teacher will go over the key points with the class, going around the class asking different groups to volunteer information they have learned from data set 1. The teacher will write down the key points on an overhead or chalkboard. After going over data set 1, the teacher will move on to data set 2, following the same procedure, and then the same with data set 3. While going over the information from the data sets, the teacher will also engage the students in discussion regarding the nature of the information, focusing on the different perspectives offered by the data sets. After the class has discussed the 3 data sets, the teacher will use the rest of the period to explain the homework assignment. (10 minutes)
Assessment
For homework, students will look for a current article on Tibet, either from a newspaper, magazine, or a website. Articles should be no more than 2 months old, and the main focus should be regarding something about Tibet. Along with a copy of the article, students will write a brief description of the article on the handout given to them, including:
- The source of the article
- The date the article was published
- A brief summary of the article (1-2 paragraphs).
- How it relates to the information from the Tibet lesson. (1-2 paragraphs).
On the homework assignment sheet is a list of possible websites students can use. Students will have one week to complete the assignment. On the day the assignment is due, if the teacher chooses, some class time (10-20 minutes) can be spent asking for volunteers to tell the class about their articles. The class can then discuss not only the content of the articles, but their sources, and how the sources may affect the way the articles were written.
Homework Intro to Tibet
Duration
This lesson is designed for one 40-minute class period. If the teacher feels students need more than the allotted times to read and present the data sets, then those times may be lengthened, and the lesson may spill over into part of the next day's class.
Description
This lesson is designed for 9th and 10th grade global studies classes. The lesson will start with a brief overview of Tibetan history and geography, and will focus on Tibetan Buddhism, the Middle Way, and current issues surrounding the Tibetan environment.
Materials
Each student receives one Guided Notes sheet and one Data Retrieval chart.
Each group of 3 receives one folder, containing the 3 data sets- "Middle Way Approach" data set, "Tibetan Buddhism" data set, and "Tibetan Environment" data set.
Data Retrieval chartGuided Notes sheet and answer keyData sets
Authors
Mark Wales
