2004 Travel Seminar Project

 

Title:

 Southeast Asia Unit Plan: Skills of A Historian and Buddhism in Thailand

Participant:

E. Lupfer

School Name, City and State::

Glenbrook High School, Glenview, IL.

 

Project Description:

 

Grade Level:  Ninth Grade

Subject Area: World History

Expected Implementation Period:  August 2004

 

Learning Outcomes:

  • Students will frame and answer questions through historical research;
  • Using the methods and skills of historians, students will gather evidence in historical research;
  • Students will  take a position and support it with gathered evidence.

 

Proposed Project:

Lesson 1: “Where Did Ms. Lupfer Go on Summer Vacation?”

I used this on the first day of school as an introduction to me, the teacher, and the skills of a historian (our history class).  But I also did it to introduce some information and visuals about Vietnam and Thailand into my class.

 

It worked very well.  The students liked the different approach to the first day of school, and it captured their attention (most teachers on the first day of school share their class rules and talk a lot, so by the end of the day when I saw my students, they were tired and bored).  The students really liked the challenge of figuring things out.  I was amazed at all the things that they saw in my pictures.  I have included more details of my students’ insights on the back of my PowerPoint in order to help other teachers know what to expect from the kids.

 

I would make no changes.  Sixty students were reached by this lesson. My biggest insight was that my students were much more observant and insightful that I expected.

 

Lesson 2:  “Thai Buddhism” 

This is one way to get Southeast Asia into our World History curriculum.  It begins with Buddhism, then branches off to Buddhism in Thailand and the Buddhist practices there.

 

The teachers in my department really like having a PowerPoint on Buddhism provided for them so they have also used it.  I think that the question about “How many examples of making merit do you see in this picture?” kind of makes the students and teachers both interested and willing enough to finish the slide show, which also gives them more insight into Thailand. 

 

I would make no changes.  I really like this PowerPoint.  It works very well.  Over 600 students were reached by this power point.  Insights gained are that now I need to go to a nation that practices Mahayana Buddhism so I can add to this project!

 

Lesson 3: “Writing an Obituary for Siddhartha Gautama”

Using an example of an obituary from a newspaper and a worksheet provided, students are asked to write an obituary for Siddhartha Gautama.

 

This is a good assignment that helps students to review the important information they have learned about Buddhism.  It is also a quick check for a teacher to see what her students have learned.  Six hundred students were reached with this worksheet as I shared it with my colleagues.