World Geography: Asia and the Pacific: Teacher’s Guide Grade Level: 6-12
Curriculum Focus: Geography
Duration: 24 segments; 64 minutes
Program Description This library of videos contains segments on the geography, climate, culture, and history of Asia and the Pacific region. EAST ASIA Overview of Asia (6 min.) Overview of East Asia (3 min.) China (3 min.) Japan (5 min.) North and South Korea (3 min.) SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Overview of Asia (6 min.) Overview of Southeast Asia & the Pacific (2 min.) Vietnam (3 min.) Thailand (2 min.) Laos and Cambodia (3 min.) The Philippines (2 min.) Malaysia (2 min.) Australia (3 min.) New Zealand (2 min.) CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ASIA Overview of Asia (6 min.) Overview of Central & Southwest Asia (3 min.) Iran (2 min.) Iraq (2 min.)
World Geography: Asia and the Pacific: Teacher’s Guide
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Turkey (3 min.) India (2 min.) Israel (4 min.) Pakistan (3 min.) Saudi Arabia (3 min.) Central Asian Countries (3 min.)
Thematic Units Help your students evaluate and analyze what they view in the videos with the Essential Questions for each Thematic Unit.
History ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS •
Name some well-known Asian leaders, as well as their accomplishments or other feats.
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How have warriors been valued in Asian cultures? How are they regarded today?
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Give examples of economics that affect the growth or deterioration of a country in Asia.
SEGMENTS Saudi Arabia •
Pre-viewing question What is the predominant religion in Saudi Arabia? What holy shrines are found in this country?
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Post-viewing question What is the hajj? Why is it an important tradition for Muslims?
China’s Trade History •
Pre-Viewing Question Who was Kublai Khan? Where and when did he rule?
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Post-Viewing Question Who were the se-mu-jen? Why were they important in developing the economy of 13thcentury China?
Israel •
Pre-Viewing Question What are three of the world’s major religions? Which city is considered holy to all three?
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World Geography: Asia and the Pacific: Teacher’s Guide
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Post-Viewing Question Which structures in Jerusalem are significant to Christians, Jews, and Muslims? Why are they important?
Asoka’s Elephant Warriors •
Pre-viewing question Why were elephants a formidable military weapon in the third century B.C.? How did soldiers and commanders use them?
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Post-viewing question How did Emperor Asoka’s approach to dominating his kingdom change? What effect did the war itself have on him?
Australia’s Early Settlers •
Pre-viewing question Where is Australia? How is it governed? What is its history of colonization?
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Post-viewing question Why did the British set up a penal colony in Australia? How did the convicts contribute to the country’s modern-day development?
The Koreas and the Cold War •
Pre-Viewing Question Where is the 38th parallel? Why is it significant in Korean history and geography?
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Post-Viewing Question What role did fear play in the military decision-making of the United States and China during the Korean War? What role does it play today between North and South Koreans?
Suleiman and the Ottoman Empire •
Pre-Viewing Question When did the Ottoman empire reach its peak? Who was the sultan during this time?
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Post-Viewing Question Why was Suleiman considered magnificent? On what did he base his laws? How did his justice system inspire allegiance from his subjects?
China’s First Dynasty •
Pre-viewing question When did civilization begin in China? What was the first historical dynasty?
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Post-viewing question How was the Shang dynasty discovered? What has archaeology revealed about this ancient civilization?
China’s Last Dynasty •
Pre-viewing question When did the Opium Wars take place? Who fought them and for what cause?
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World Geography: Asia and the Pacific: Teacher’s Guide
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Post-viewing question How did cultural differences contribute to the failure of Britain’s diplomatic mission to China in 1793? What helped open trade between these two countries?
Culture ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS •
Give examples of the significance of religion in Asian cultures.
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Where are examples of Western culture and influence found in Asia?
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How have some Asian cultures managed to preserve traditions?
SEGMENTS Tokyo’s Skyscraper •
Pre-viewing question What is the capital city of Japan? Approximately how many people live there?
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Post-viewing question Describe Tokyo’s Sky City plan. What challenges do architects and builders face?
Hong Kong, Pearl of the East •
Pre-Viewing Question Where is Hong Kong located? What country colonized it? What country claims it now?
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Post-Viewing Question Describe the geography of Hong Kong. How does this city represent a meeting of East and West?
Jordan’s Monarchy •
Pre-viewing question Where is Jordan located? What countries does it border?
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Post-viewing question Describe the geography of Jordan. What role did ancient Petra play in the country’s history?
India •
Pre-Viewing Question What is a caste? Where did this social system exist?
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Post-Viewing Question What is a Dalit? How is the Indian government working to improve conditions for the Dalit?
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World Geography: Asia and the Pacific: Teacher’s Guide
Thailand Celebrates •
Pre-viewing question Where is Thailand located?
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Post-viewing question Name three annual Thai festivals and what they commemorate. How do people celebrate them?
Japan •
Pre-Viewing Question What type of society existed in Japan from the 1200s to the 1600s? Who was the shogun?
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Post-Viewing Question Contrast the feudal society of Japan to that in Europe during the medieval period.
Islam Past and Present •
Pre-viewing question Who was the prophet Muhammad? Where and when did he live?
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Post-viewing question What are the basic tenets of Islam? Describe some practices of this faith.
Afghanistan and the Taliban •
Pre-Viewing Question Where is Afghanistan located? What groups and countries have sought control of this country?
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Post-Viewing Question What is the Taliban? How did it exercise control over Afghanis?
Economics ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS •
Where in Asia has communism been in practice? Where has it been dissolved?
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What physical features in Asia are important to the economies of the nearby countries?
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What features are threatened so that they hinder the growth of the local economies?
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How have goods and cultures have been exchanged throughout history in Asia?
SEGMENTS China’s Trade History •
Pre-viewing question Who was Kublai Khan? Where and when did he rule?
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World Geography: Asia and the Pacific: Teacher’s Guide
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Post-viewing question Who were the se-mu-jen? Why were they important in developing the economy of 13thcentury China?
Central Asian Countries •
Pre-Viewing Question Where is the Aral Sea located? What country formerly governed this area?
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Post-Viewing Question Why is the Aral Sea drying up? How does this affect the people of Uzbekistan?
The Koreas •
Pre-viewing question When did North and South Korea split into separate countries? What is their relationship now?
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Post-viewing question What effects has communism had on North Korea’s economy? How have democracy and an alliance with the United States benefited South Korea’s economy?
Middle East Trade Routes •
Pre-viewing question Locate Jerusalem, Aleppo, and Istanbul on a map. What body of water are all three cities near?
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Post-viewing question What goods were traded along the Middle Eastern route that included Jerusalem, Aleppo, and Istanbul? What goods are in markets there today?
Academic Standards Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL) McREL’s Content Knowledge: A Compendium of Standards and Benchmarks for K-12 Education addresses 14 content areas. To view the standards and benchmarks, visit link: http://www.mcrel.org/compendium/browse.asp
This lesson plan addresses the following national standards: •
Geography—The World in Spatial Terms: Knows the location of places, geographic features, and patterns of the environment; Places and Regions: Understands the physical and human characteristics of place, Understands the concept of regions; Human Systems: Understands the nature and complexity of Earth’s cultural mosaics, Understands the patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth’s surface
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Language Arts—Viewing: Uses viewing skills and strategies to understand and interpret visual media
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The National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) NCSS has developed national guidelines for teaching social studies. To become a member of NCSS, or to view the standards online, go to http://www.socialstudies.org This lesson plan addresses the following thematic standards: •
Culture
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Time, Continuity, and Change
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People, Places, and Environments
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Power, Authority and Governance
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Production, Distribution, and Consumption
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Science, Technology, and Society
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Global Connections
Support Materials
Related Lesson Plans You can find hundreds of lesson plans online at http://www.discoveryschool.com. The following lesson plans work well with the video segments in this library collection. •
China: People and Places (grades K–5) http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/chinapeopleandplaces/
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Asia’s Global Influence (grades 6–8) http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/asiainfluence/
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Asia: Tradition and Culture (grades 6–8) http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/asiatradition/
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The Middle East: Land of Contrasts (grades 6–8) http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/middleeast/
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Asian and Other Cultures (grades 6–8) http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/travelers-asia/
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Exploring the World’s Geography (grades 5–8) http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/exploringgeography/
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World Geography: Asia and the Pacific: Teacher’s Guide
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Other Resources Develop custom worksheets, educational puzzles, online quizzes, and more with the free teaching tools offered on the Discoveryschool.com Web site. Create and print support materials, or save them to a Custom Classroom account for future use. To learn more, visit •
http://school.discovery.com/teachingtools/teachingtools.html
DVD Content This program is available in an interactive DVD format. The following information and activities are specific to the DVD version.
How To Use the DVD The DVD starting screen has the following options: Play Video—This plays the video from start to finish. There are no programmed stops, except by using a remote control. With a computer, depending on the particular software player, a pause button is included with the other video controls. Country Index— This DVD is divided into 24 country selections, grouped into three regional selections indicated by video thumbnail icons. Within each regional selection, you can select a submenu of video segments. Watching all the segments in sequence is similar to watching a video from start to finish; the total running time (TRT) is listed for each segment. To play a particular segment, press Enter on the remote control; on a computer, click once to highlight a thumbnail or menu item, and click again to start the segment. Thematic Units— This option groups the segments by curricular units. Videos that fall under the themes of History, Culture, and Economics are regrouped as such. Maps—Select an individual map or view all maps as a slide show. Standards Link—Selecting this option displays a single screen that lists the national academic standards the video addresses. Teacher Resources—This screen gives the technical support number and Web site address.
Country Index EAST ASIA Overview of Asia (6 min.) Asia, the largest continent on Earth, stretches from the Pacific Ocean to Europe and from the Arctic Circle to the equator. Its geography includes deserts, fertile river valleys, rugged mountains, and lush rain forests.
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World Geography: Asia and the Pacific: Teacher’s Guide
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Overview of East Asia (3 min.) China, Mongolia, North and South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan make up East Asia, the largest region on the continent. Life differs among the residents of these countries, due to the variety of geography, climates, and economies. China (3 min.) Desertification is a serious problem in China. With the largest national population in the world, the country needs arable land to grow food. The government is fighting desertification by building a wall of trees in its northwestern region. Japan (5 min.) From the 1200s to the 1600s, Japan was a feudal society where real power lay in the hands of military leaders. The warriors for the commanders were the samurai, who demonstrated mastery of military strategy and weaponry. North and South Korea (3 min.) North and South Korea have many differences. Separated after World War II, they have diverged ever since. Communist North Korea is very poor, while South Korea is one of the richest countries in the world. SOUTHEAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC Overview of Asia (6 min.) Asia, the largest continent on Earth, stretches from the Pacific Ocean to Europe and from the Arctic Circle to the equator. Its geography includes deserts, fertile river valleys, rugged mountains, and lush rain forests. Overview of Southeast Asia & the Pacific (2 min.) Southeast Asia is home to Angkor Wat, one of the largest religious structures in the world. Built in the 12th century to honor the Hindu god Vishnu, this masterpiece of Khmer architecture sits deep in the forests of Cambodia. Vietnam (3 min.) Located on the eastern coast of the Southeast Asian peninsula, Vietnam is a communist country. The Vietnamese people value tradition, family, and the moral teachings of Confucianism, even as Western practices are becoming more accessible to them. Thailand (2 min.) Thailand is a predominantly Buddhist country. And evidence of the country’s strong ties to Buddhism can be found throughout the capital city of Bangkok.
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World Geography: Asia and the Pacific: Teacher’s Guide
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Laos and Cambodia (3 min.) Laos and Cambodia share the Indochinese Peninsula in Southeast Asia. The region is rich in biodiversity, but poachers are threatening many indigenous species. The Philippines (2 min.) Comprised of an archipelago of 7,000 small islands, the Philippines is home to nearly 85 million people. Thanks to its history and geographic location, the country blends Eastern and Western influences. Malaysia (2 min.) Malaysia, located in the South China Sea, is divided into two regions. Both have a tropical climate and dense rain forests, but West Malaysia is more heavily populated. Australia (3 min.) An island, a continent (the world’s smallest), and a country, Australia has six states and two territories. The climates and geography of its regions vary, and they support different industries and lifestyles. New Zealand (2 min.) New Zealand is one of the least populated countries on the planet. Its natural beauty, including rugged landscapes and alpine mountains, makes it attractive to its citizens and tourists alike. CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST ASIA Overview of Asia (6 min.) Asia, the largest continent on Earth, stretches from the Pacific Ocean to Europe and from the Arctic Circle to the equator. Its geography includes deserts, fertile river valleys, rugged mountains, and lush rain forests. Overview of Central & Southwest Asia (3 min.) Most countries in Southwest Asia are considered part of the Middle East. This area is the birthplace of the world’s oldest civilizations and still has rich and dynamic cultures. Iran (2 min.) Known as Persia until 1935, Iran is now home to almost 70 million people, most of whom are Shi’ite Muslims. Its capital city, Tehran, experienced a decline following the 1979 revolution, but is a bustling metropolis today. Iraq (2 min.) Iraq is a country with a very long history. The area’s Fertile Crescent was the site of some of the world’s oldest civilizations. In recent years, the country has endured years of a harsh dictatorship followed by war.
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Turkey (3 min.) Istanbul, Turkey, is the only city in the world built on two continents—Europe and Asia. Evidence of the area’s rich history is visible throughout the city that serves as the gateway between East and West. India (2 min.) The Indian government has worked hard to overcome the obstacles of its longstanding caste system. Even though discrimination was officially outlawed in 1949, Indians of higher castes are learning how to treat the “untouchable” Dalits with respect. Israel (4 min.) Israel’s capital city of Jerusalem is holy for the world’s three major religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Its Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Dome of the Rock, and the Western Wall make it a place of religious and historical significance for many. Pakistan (3 min.) Poverty has had a negative effect on the educational system in Pakistan. Most children must attend public schools that are poorly funded, while a privileged few can afford the much better equipped private schools. Saudi Arabia (3 min.) Devout Muslims make a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia at least once in their lives. This journey is called the hajj, and it includes prayer, a visit to the Ka’bah, and other religious activities. Central Asian Countries (3 min.) Uzbekistan shares borders with Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Krygyzstan, and Tajikistan. The shrinking Aral Sea, bordering Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, was formerly Soviet property. Pesticides used to grow nearby cotton crops have depleted and contaminated the sea.
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