Lesson Draft

[Anonymous]

great lesson! I really liked your word wall, gallery walk, and overall comparison between the US sentiments and the Chinese. What about comparing/contrasting the threat of China and Russia on US safety? That could make a better comparison for reasons of the cold war, vietnam, etc. but overall, nice job!

(sorry, i am doing this review because I can't find the girls' lessons i was supposed to comment on, I think she just didn't do them)

[Anonymous]

I'm going to jump in here since I'm in the same situation as Emily (no posts from my group).
Your lesson plan looks comprehensive, and the videos are interesting. It's obviously outside of the time period your lesson covers, but will you touch at all on present-day issues? The guiding question of what we are willing to give up to feel safe is a major point of discussion in our nation today, with issues ranging from Guantanamo Bay to airport security and the Patriot Act.
Also, as it regards how people in China felt during the Cultural Revolution, have you read "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China"? It offers interesting insights into the time.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your feedback eisler and alevel. Eisler I did not really think of comparing/contrasting the threat of China and Russia on US safety but I feel I can easily include that after my three-day lesson. Alevel, although, my unit does not go into depth explaining how this three day lesson fits into the larger cold war unit, we do look at US history during the Palmer raids in the 1920s and the post-9/11 era. I felt the same about how relevant this essential question on safety is to our current situation here in the US. As for reading "Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China", as I was locating sources for my lesson I came across a synopsis on this book. I have heard great things about this book. Thanks, I will have to check it out so I can incorporate it into my lessons.

[Anonymous]

Nicely done, Elopez. I like the idea of connecting your lessons to larger issues in contemporary America today and think that this would be a great opening to a larger dialogue concerning what we, as Americans, are willing to sacrifice in order to feel safe. And not just within a post 9-11 context (i.e. larger issues such as terrorism), but in terms of things like the Occupy movement. Another idea would be to look at your curriculum project and have students compare Communist China in its nascency to modern day China and its "other" great leap forward - to Chinese-style capitalism.

[Anonymous]

Love the lesson. I never thought of comparing American censorship with that of China. I believe this will give students a real opportunity to grapple with projected fears of other nations and to demonstrate that communist censorship was not one dimensional. Great job on breaking down students’ tasks and drawing on students’ prior knowledge. The YouTube videos will add those much coveted visuals. I will definitely be using this lesson plan. Lets compare notes after we have taught this unit. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I liked the censorship lesson. Have you thought of censoring the students first? I mean, ahem, only as a way of activating schema! I'm jealous you have all those items to put up around the class. It makes for a lively and active lesson, with lots of saturation. Finally, the Essential Question is eternal. Do you return to it often? I think it would make a great theme for the year. Thanks for posting!

[Anonymous]

mcjones to answer your question, Yes, this essential question crosses through different time periods as previously mentioned and although it is not a year long question in my students' English class for this particular unit they do grabble with the same essential question. In their English course, students' will read excerpts from; The Giver, 1984, A Brave New World, and Catch 22.

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

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[Anonymous]

THis sounds like a good lesson plan. The Word Wall helps for the students to focus and also comprehend the important information in the lesson. The gallery walk will help the students to look at different views and I like that you incorporate the youtube clips because that is something visually stimulating that the students will appreciate and keep their interest going.

[Author]

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