[Tanish Fortson]

Food always catches my attention. The historical significance of fast food date back to the Edo period. There was a need for businessmen at the port to eat and cities were growing so along came the rise of a huge merchant class that sprang up to feed the newcomers with sushi and tempura. Soba and sushi grew in popularity as a kind of fast food that was inexpensive and tasty, and quick to prepare. Sushi has evolved since the Edo period and is a favorite for many people. I loved the sushi talk and will try some of the recommended restaurants.

A great lesson to do with student is making and eating sushi. My students have difficulties in fine motor skills so this would be great to incorporate chopsticks in this lesson so they can learn how to control them. Students will learn about some aspects of Japanese culture, food, and table manners. 

[Tanish Fortson]

The Cultural Revolution was a mass campaign that swept through China during the years of 1966-1976 and lead by Mao Zedong that aimed at reinforcing socialism with Chinese characteristics or Maoism. Capitalism and traditional Chinese culture were no longer practiced. Chinese propaganda was used to instigate the entire nation into believing that this was the way of life. I did not know that the characteristics and simplicity of the posters that was used was intentional to cater the educational level of the majority of the public and to deliver direct and clear information.  

Mao believed that powerful knowledge hindered the movement. Educated people were threats to his governance and tended to be rebellious. These type people were less likely to be controlled and tended to fight for what they thought to be right so they had to be reeducated. Several policies were reinforced to reshape the educational system. China went through political reform after Mao’s death in 1978. The youth in the countryside were allowed to go home. Universities were up and going again. Tourism became popular and helped the economy. Despite all the destruction and wiping out of historic sites and artifacts, China recovered and is now thriving. 

[Tanish Fortson]

Clearly this man went through a lot in his lifetime. I really could not scope the story in its entirety. I need to read it a few more times. But it was parts that stuck out to me like Lu Xun’s childhood experiences.  He speaks of being unable to erase certain things from his memory. His most disturbing memory is of that when his father passed. He remembers going to a pawnshop to sell things and using the money to go by medicine for his father. Only as he got older and started learning about medicine he soon realized why his father condition went from bad to worse until he eventually dies. As he thought back to the prescriptions of the physicians, Xun he realized that were frauds and taking their money. 

He is touching on the problems with traditional Chinese medicine and the problems with health care. His father dying with the use of traditional medicine was crucial in forming his psychological make up. 

 

[Tanish Fortson]

This is actually a great idea to do a lesson plan on soil pollution. We have focused a lot on air pollution but soil pollution is a huge deal as well. Soil pollution would be a great topic to introduce to my second graders. Since we cannot visibly see soil pollution we tend not to discuss it as much. This topic gets swept under the rug. Soil pollution in high concentrations is risk full for plants and animals as well. In humans it causes cancer, leukemia, central nervous system problems, headaches, fatigue, rash, and eye irritation. In soil pollution negatively affects the metabolism of organisms. If smaller animals consume harmful these harmful chemicals and are eaten by larger animals it may cause extinction. And in the environment, soil pollution is unable to support plant life. 

It is beneficial to teach our students about soil pollution how it occurs and how to prevent it. Discuss the impact it has on our quality of life and how underdeveloped countries maybe more at risk for this silent hidden killer. 

[Tanish Fortson]

I to enjoyed Simba’s presentation. His documentary was eye opening. I watch in awe as he dedicated his life to a dream he once had as a child. The documentary was informative in letting us know about the crisis with the lions. The population has declined by an estimate 43% over the last twenty years. Simba mentioned that It is estimated only 20,000 lions remain across the continent. The decline is due to habitat loss, poaching for bushmeat, and conflict with livestock owners are the primary source of the lions decline. Lions have become extinct in 26 countries. Simba introduced us to a Community Based Conservation Model, which simply states that if you help a community first then, the community will join them in saving the lions. He has been successful in his efforts. Simba left his family to live among the Maasi and his wife and daughter are completely understanding of his dream to do this. He gave up a good job with benefits to live in the wild that is brave thing to do. I have also infomed my students of his bravery and hope it will inspire them to follow their dreams. 

[Tanish Fortson]

I actually missed this session with Professor Sam Yamshita. I looked up a bit of information on my own about the Han Dynasty and learned that Han Dynasty may have been the second dynasty of Ching (206BC-208AD). The Han period is considered golden age meaning that it was a better time in Chinese history and everything was somewhat pure still (before all the corruption). The emperor was Gaozu but shared power with the nobility of China and appointed ministers.  A lot of people refer to the Han Dynasty as the “true” Chinese culture and history because of its origins of certain aspects of Chinese culture. At the beginning of Han, it was ruled and controlled by separate lords but things gradually shifted as the Emperor began appointing his brothers, sons, cousins, and uncles to be the lords of those domains bringing territories under centralized control. 

The Han Empire was divided into sub-divisions. Confucianism was taught for education or was the foundation for training and guiding political philosophy of all scholars. Money was on the growth, so Han was an age of economic prosperity.  During this time many traditions were began and were coordinated. 

[Tanish Fortson]

China was divided north and south by the 5^thcentury. Northern China was populated of old family lines, Confucian traditions, elitist, state builders, tied to outside ideas from central Asia including Buddhism. Southern China in a way explored the arts, sought the good life, calligraphy and painting. Buddhism was translated into traditional Chinese would view. The generals of the northern and southern dynasties were founded by generals who were capable of holding the government together during their lifetime but not very assuring of a successful transfer of power to their heir’s surrounding to the Age of Division Article. Part of the difficulty was that a lot of families would only marry with other families of equivalent pedigree. 

[Tanish Fortson]

During our trip to the Huntington the bonsai trees really caught my eye. It would be great to do a lesson on these little trees with my students. During our visit to the Huntington I learned that the Bonsai is a Japanese term that means planted in a container. This art form comes from ancient Chinese horticultural practice. The bonsai is a miniaturized but realistic representation of nature in the form of a tree.. Growth is redirected and usually kept less than four feet.

If I was to do a lesson plan on the bonsai tree I would start by explaining that bonsai begun in China and was continued by Japan. We would next explore culture, art concepts, different pots and sculpture.  We would talk about bonsai symbolism, for example how we would reflect the same qualities in such a small tree. I would discuss balance. We cannot have a large pot with one little branch or vise versa. I would discuss harmony, which would reflect the overall flow. For the overall lesson we would of course make representations of bonsai trees, we wouldn’t use the real thing. 

[Tanish Fortson]

I don’t remember much about middle in high school history but I do remember learning about Genghis Khan and his Mongolian Dynasty. This leader was able to establish the largest land empire in history. He united the nomadic tribes of the Mongolian plateau he conquered huge chunks of China and Asia. I can also remember that he allowed his followers religious freedom and abolished torture. Some of his other accomplishments were the first international postal system and he encouraged trade. 

 

I will pick up this book as well because I’ve heard another teacher mention it as well and hopefully I will enjoy the read. I haven’t heard much about Genghis Khan’s childhood as well except that he comes from humble beginnings. His mother had been kidnapped by his father and forced into marriage. Then when he was 10, his enemies poisoned his father and his mother abandoned him. It will be nice to do a lesson on the Mongolian empire with my students because we could cover territory, traditions, and culture. 

[Tanish Fortson]

After the first read I thought the Fisherman had too much wine because I story kept referencing wine and him drifting off into a slumber. Next I thought he was dreaming. Then the story said The Fisherman opened his eyes to hundreds of blossoming peach trees lined in the river. He didn’t know where he was and had never been out so far into the river before. When the Fisherman reached the end of the river, the passage way turned narrow and dark and he had to squeeze through. Once the Fisherman walked for a bit he reached a village with friendly animals and people and animals of all ages.

 

The villagers said that they from the Qin Dynasty and had left when the wars broke out. They were living in peace and knew nothing of political regimes. In this utopian world is just regular people working together to live a nice life. There is no governor, ruler, or political system, just labor, harmony and farmland. This is a nice story of fantasy and inspiration during a time of civil unrest. 

[Tanish Fortson]

If my Father broke the law as a Mohists I would absoultly torn and terrible. The Mohists have a formed a highly structured political organization that preached, the writings of Mozi. Since they emphasize discipline and authority I would be scared for my father. He would suffer the conquences and I’d be left without a father. Like the Confucians, they hired out their services not only for gain, but also in order to realize their own ethical ideals.  Mohists people promotes a philosophy of impartial caring; that is, a person should care equally for all other individuals, regardless of their actual relationship to him or her. There should be no hierarchy. Depending on the severity of his crime, my family and I would stick by his side and vouch for him. I don’t think that under Mohists law they would be wasteful with his life. They would probably put him to work using him as an labors. Master Mo didn’t agree with any form of aggression, especially war between states so it is possible my father would be ok. 

[Tanish Fortson]

I have always wondered about customs in other cultures when it comes to elders. Different cultures have different attitudes and practices around aging and death. It seems like in Western culture we don’t celebrate our elderly as much as other cultures do. We seem quick to think of the burden that our aging population causes versus celebrating the aging process. I hate that we focus on youth and “looking young “Aging has become almost a shameful experience and looked at as such a negative thing. My mother has already expressed that she’ll go into a nursing home so my siblings and I will not need to take care of her. 

 

In Korea much of the aging is rooted in the Confucian principle of filial piety, in which the young members of a family have a duty to care for the aging members of the family. In this culture everyone is socialized to respect and show deference to older individuals as well as authority figures. Placing your parents in retirement homes does give one a stigma of being a bad or uncaring child and its considered dishonorable. I did read an article a while back stating that due to the one child policy, nursing homes are beginning to become a more socially acceptable option for elderly care. 

[Tanish Fortson]

I wrote about this article as well. I was intrigued and appalled all at once from this article. I will admit that I haven’t traveled that much and have been a bit sheltered but I had no idea that mail order brides are still popular in other countries. What I have noticed is that women from developing nations seek men in more developed nations. With the internet so popular now its probable an easier process. I’ve heard Southeast Asia has a large number of women participating in this process. What is bothersome is that these women do not speak the same language. How can you have a deep connection with someone so I do agree with you when you say that women are selling themselves and leaving their families for a more ideal social economic situation. What bothers me the most is that women want to be obedient to their families so they do things that they don’t necessary agree with. 

[Tanish Fortson]

While I was in San Diego my Husband and I went to a garden that has similar qualities as a few of the gardens mentioned above. It’s the Meditation Garden in Encinitas and entrance to this garden is free. This place is referred to as the Self-Realization Fellowship Temple. The garden sits on top of a cliff that overlooks the ocean. It features ponds with koi fish. The flora is absolutely amazing at the garden. Everywhere I turned, I could see great palm species, cacti, flowering plants, shrubs, and magnificent trees. There were also so many species of flowers and trees that I have never seen before.. After seeing all of the amazing flora and ponds, you take in the view of the Pacific Ocean and then you meditate. The meditation area has small benches (comfortable for one person but tight for two) that are scattered across the garden, with some being placed in inconspicuous spots that are good for some alone time. Most people who come here are pretty respectful and talk softly.

I think this is a great place to take older students (with younger students the high elevation could be a potential problem). Students can look up species of plants as a part of science standards. They can also compare and contrast this mediation garden to a Japanese garden. Another activity that you can practice with students is mindfulness and meditation to cleanse the mind. 

[Tanish Fortson]

I really love this lesson plan because it is simple enough to be done with my kindergarten and first grade students. You start off by introducing a map and land forms and bodies of water. For students with disabilities and ESL students you may need to introduce vocabulary related to land forms such as ocean, equator, north, south, east, west, key, and distance before starting the lesson. I like incorporating videos in my lessons to keep my students attention as well as for extra reinforcement. iPad usage will help my students with retention as well. I think its beneficial for students to think pair and share their ideals with each other before the directed lesson. 

 

Another extension of this lesson would be to take students outside to our schools we large world map painted on the concrete near my classroom. This would be a great evaluation method. Once students learn the continents and bodies of water. Students would be asked to go stand on the continent or ocean that corresponds to the one that they pick from my basket (students will need help reading). 

 

 

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