Study Units
The Windows on Asia curriculum is divided into Units, Modules, and Lessons, which include detailed lesson plans, activities, and further resources. Each unit covers a major regional area. Each unit is divided into thematic, disciplinary, topical, or country modules. Each module is comprised of several lessons featuring learning activities. The learning activities in each lesson vary in length of time needed for completion. Consequently, each lesson will take between one and five standard 50-minute class periods to complete. Teachers are free to mix and match lessons and learning activities or to complete all of the lessons in a unit.
Each lesson plan in our curriculum follows a carefully prepared format. This format has been developed in accordance with standard lesson and module plans in middle and high school social studies. The core of each lesson are teaching and learning activities that follow the "5 E's" format: Engage, Explore, Explain, Expand, Evaluate. Each lesson also includes teacher background notes and guidelines designed to aid teachers in the most effective use of the learning and teaching activities.
Map of Cirriculum
Unit One - East Asia
- Module One: Why Study East Asia?
- Module Two: The Basics in Traditional East Asia
- Lesson One: Pronunciation & Names
- Lesson Two: Writing & Language
- Lesson Three: Rethinking Time, Age & The Calendar
(Alternate Lesson Three: The Moon & The Calendar) - Lesson Four: Confucianism (PDF)*
- Module Three: Ancient, Medieval, and Early Modern Japan
- Module Four: Art
- Lesson One: Ukiyoe - Powerpoint, Lesson Plan (PDF)*
- Lesson Two: Japanese Nationalistic Paintings of the late 19th/early 20th Centuries - Powerpoint, Lesson Plan (PDF)*, Handout (PDF)*
- Lesson Three: Chinese Political Posters
Unit Two - Central Asia
Unit Three - South Asia
Unit Four - Southeast Asia
Other Study Units
