ASIA
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Asia: Continent of Contrast!

November 11-17, 2007 (Geography Awareness Week)

GAW 2007 Workshop

The Hawaii Geographic Alliance and the National Geographic Society invite you to join us in celebrating Geography Awareness Week.


GEOGRAPHY STANDARDS:

I. INTRODUCE THE THEME (Monday) "Asia:  Continent of Contrast"

     a.  Learn and sing songs written and composed by Benny Uyetake, teacher at Kalama Middle School. 

     b.  Map and study the regions of Asia using a variety of resources.  Students can map the countries by region.  Background information can also be found on the following websites.

Asia in General

1.     National Geographic http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/continents/continent_asia.html

2.     Asia Wikipedia - overall information  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia

3.     Ask Asia - for educators  http://www.askasia.org/

4.     Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education (SPICE) - offers curriculum publications for purchase    http://spice.stanford.edu/

Southern Asia http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/regions/region_southernasia.html

Eastern Asia http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/regions/region_easternasia.html

Central Asia  http://www3.nationalgeographic.com/places/regions/region_centralasia.html

Central Asia Unveiled http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/data/2002/02/01/html/ft_20020201.6.html?fs=www3.nationalgeographic.com&fs=plasma.nationalgeographic.com

For links to various resources, go to the NGS website.
http://nationalgeographic.com/geographyaction/

Kathryn Besio, former UH graduate student conducted research in northern Pakistan in a region called Baltistan.  For lessons, go to: http://www.hawaii.edu/hga/Pakistan/Pakistan.html

National Geographic Society's Magazine, September 2007 has focused on Pakistan.  A Companion Guide (includes full article, field notes, photo gallery, photography map, links to lessons, and more) can be found at:  http://www.ngsednet.org/community/resources_view.cfm?community_id=168&resource_id=7825

A unit based on Afghanistan and the book, The Breadwinner, by Deborah Ellis, is posted on the HGA website. If interested, check http://www.hawaii.edu/hga/GeoMatters/hstapresent/Breadwinner/Breadwinner.htm

What Is Asia? Lesson plan is at: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/05/g68/whatisasia.html

Other lessons from NGS website:
http://ngsednet.org/community/resources_category.cfm?community_id=7&category_id=710&subcategory_id=1281

For more information, go to:
http://ngsednet.org/ga Online Community will give educators a vast collection or resources to enhance students' understanding and appreciation of Asia.

II. READ AND WRITE ABOUT ASIA (Tuesday) 

     a.  Read and write about Asia (i.e. news article, literature book, current events, etc.)

     b.  Suggested Ideas:

          -Compare and contrast current events to Hawaii.

           -Read informational text about the different cultures of Asia.  Compare and contrast cultures, or write a reflection of what was read.

          -Write about a country (poetry, essay, photo essay, etc.)  You may use "The Important Book" as a model for writing a poem about the country.

          -Read what's happening in Asia.  Research to find possible answers to your questions.

    a.  Create art products from different countries (i.e., mosaics, calligraphy, shadow puppets, kites, batiks)

     b.  Compare and contrast different architectural designs from different countries (i.e., Taj Mahal, Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, Grand Mosque, Angkor Wat, Shinto shrines)

     c.  Listen to music http://worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic/view/page.basic/home

from different parts of Asia.  What generalizations can you make about the music?  Discuss, compare and contrast the type of instruments used.