Example of 1 lesson plan I developed for 7th Grade Social Studies.

1. Putnam County
Middle School 7th Grade Social Studies
Southern and Eastern Asia

2. Standards
• SS7G12 The student will analyze the diverse
cultures of the people who live in Southern and
Eastern Asia.
– a. Explain the differences between an ethnic group
and a religious group.
– b. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in
Southern and Eastern Asia: Buddhism, Hinduism,
Islam, Shintoism and the philosophy of Confucianism.
– c. Evaluate how the literacy rate affects the standard
of living.

3. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia

4. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
What Where
Religion ?
?

6. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia

7. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
• Ethnic Group
– a social group or category of the population that,
in a larger society, is set apart and bound together
by common ties of race, language, nationality, or
culture.
• Religious Group
– A set of individuals whose identity as such is
distinctive in terms of common religious creed,
beliefs, doctrines, practices, or rituals
Can they be the same? Are they the same?

8. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
Would Kurdistan be an
ethnic or religious group?
Wait how can both Buddhism and Shintoism be
dominant in the same locations?

9. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia

10. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
BUDDHISM Started by prince
Siddhartha Gautama
around 563 – 483? BC in
north eastern India
Buddhism is a philosophy, a moral code, and, for
some a religious faith which originated 2,500 years
ago in India. It offers a moral code based on
compassion and non-violence. Buddhism provides a
path to reach a deeper understanding of the nature
of reality. Buddhism offers a practical way to connect
with everyday life and with others. Today, an
estimated 500 million people follow one of the many
varieties of Buddhism.

11. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS
BUDDHISM The first truth is that life
always incorporates suffering
The second noble truth is that
suffering in its broad sense,
comes from desire
The third noble truth tells us
that if our attachment to
desire ends, so too will the
suffering
The fourth noble truth shows
the way to the ending of
suffering

12. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
BUDDHISM
THE EIGHTFOLD
PATH
Right
Understanding
Right Intent
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right
Concentration.

13. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
HINDUISM
The word 'Hinduism ‘ does not appear
anywhere in Hindu scriptures, The
proper name for Hinduism is ‘Sanatan
Dharma’
Sanatan = eternal Dharma = religion.
Hinduism is the world’s third biggest
religion. It has about 900 million
followers. About 20 million Hindus live
outside India. All the rest live in India,
where the religion was born.
Hinduism is one of the world’s oldest Hindus believe every living thing has a soul. They say
religions, but it has no founder. It grew that after death, each soul gets born again into a
slowly out of the beliefs and practice of different body. This is called reincarnation. People
ancient tribes. These tribes, the Indo- are rewarded for each good deed and punished for
Aryans, entered India around 3000 BC. each bad one this is called karma.

14. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
Hinduism has no
central book, like the
Bible. Instead, it has
many sacred texts.
Together, these
books are called the
Vedas. They contain
hymns and religious
instruction. They
also discuss how to
live a good life and
achieve union with
Brahman

15. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
Hinduism is not just a religion
but a way of life as well. Hindus
have rituals for every life activity.
These rituals cover eating,
sleeping, and working as well as
love, marriage, and friendship.
This way of life unfolds within
something called the caste
system. A caste is a group of
people with a certain status.
Some castes are higher and
some lower. Hindus believe in
marrying only others of their
own caste. Everyone is born into
a caste. According to Hinduism,
people cannot move to a
different caste within their
lifetime. They must wait until
death. After that, they may be
reborn into a higher (or lower)
caste.

16. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
Islam
Today Muslims live in all parts
The Qur’an (sometimes
of the world, are is the Holy
spelled “Koran”) of many
differentIslam, the written
Book of races and
nationalities, and speak many
record of God’s revelation.
different languages. There
It means “recital.” Muslimsare
approximately one billion
believe that the Qur’an was
Muslims in by God andbut only
composed the world,
about 180 Muhammad in
recited by million Arabs—and
not all over a period of 23
Arabic Arabs are Muslims. So,
Islam began historically on the while
years.Islam began among
Arabian peninsula, in the towns of Arabs, Arab Muslims are now
Mecca and Medina (near the west
coast inland from the Red Sea).
the minority.
Muhammad (570-632 AD)

17. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
Islam
THERE ARE FIVE PILLARS OF PRACTICE
TESTIMONY (shahada). Muslims declare, “I bear witness that there is no god but
God, and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”
PRAYER (salat). Five times a day, using a set pattern of postures and texts.
CHARITY (zakat). Returning 2.5% of one’s wealth to the community each year.
FASTING (sawm). Abstinence from food and drink from sunrise to sunset during
the month of Ramadan in the Islamic lunar calendar.
PILGRIMAGE (hajj). A journey to Mecca during the 12th month of the Islamic
lunar calendar once in one’s lifetime, health and resources permitting.

18. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
Islam
Sunni Muslims / Shi’i Muslims
Sunni believe that the leader is the rightly guided one, (the best qualified)
Shi’i believe that the leader should be of Muhammad's blood line.

19. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
SHINTOISM
Shinto is the native religion in Japan with its roots
stretching back to 500 B.C., and is a poly-theistic one
venerating almost any natural objects
ranging from mountains, rivers, water, rocks, trees, to
dead notables. In other words, it is based on
animism. Natural wonders make the Japanese
believe, out of an awe or reverence, that such
wonders are created by the mighty, super-natural
powers, and the ghost of a deity dwells in such
objects. The sun is most appealing to Japanese and
the Sun Goddess is regarded as the principal deity of
Shinto
TORII – Gates of
Purification

20. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
SHINTOISM
There are "Four Affirmations“ in Shinto:
Tradition and the family: The family is seen as the
main mechanism by which traditions are
preserved. Their main celebrations relate to birth
and marriage.
Love of nature: Nature is sacred; to be in contact
with nature is to be close to the Gods. Natural
objects are worshipped as sacred spirits.
Physical cleanliness: Followers of Shinto take
baths, wash their hands, and rinse out their mouth
Symbol for Shinto Shrine
often.
"Matsuri": The worship and honor given to the
Kami and ancestral spirits.

21. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
In general, Shinto has no canon of written scriptures like the Bible or the Koran, though ceremonial
prayer called norito (a formulary statement addressed to the deity) is chanted by shrine priests.
The Kami are the Shinto deities. The word "Kami" is
generally translated "god" or "gods." However, the
Kami bear little resemblance to the gods of
monotheistic religions. There are no concepts which
compare to the Christian beliefs in the wrath of God,
his omnipotence and omni-presence, or the
separation of God from humanity due to sin.
(the Great Sun Buddha)

22. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
CONFUCIANISM
Confucius, whose Chinese name was Kong Qiu (K'ung
Ch'iu), was born around 552 B.C.E. and died in 479 B.C.E.
Confucius's ideas became well known only after his
death.
Confucius left no writings, although the "Five
Classics" of Chinese literature are traditionally
attributed to him as writer or editor.
Han Feizi's philosophy was of profound importance
to the Qin emperor who first unified China in 221
B.C.E. His "Confucianism," which emphasized strict
regulations and obedience to authority.
Confucianism, along with Taoism and Buddhism, has
been blamed for China's inability to compete with
the West during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Confucianism has also been praised as the key to
China's unique cultural heritage and strong social
order.

23. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
CONFUCIANISM
According didsome interpretations of Confucianism, suffering
Confucius to not deny the existence of a reality beyond the
and evilworld, but he said that the naturecanultimate reality of
human are inevitable in human life, and of promote
learning and growth. A mistake is not a "sin," but an Human
divinities are beyond human capacity to understand.
opportunity totherefore be based on human relationships,
morals should learn and do better next time. Empathy for
the suffering of a strong advocate formotivationbelieved that
Confucius was others also provides ritual. He to grow
without reference to some higher order.
participation in ritual served to unite people and strengthen
morally, but not all humans are capable of empathy.
the human community.
To live one's life as the best person one can be, to constantly
strive to cultivate one's character, and to act according to one's
proper role within the human community -- these are the daily
devotional activities of one who is trained under the Confucian
system.

24. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
LITERACY RATES
Literacy is vital for beating poverty and disease and reinforcing stability – UN
8 September 2011 – With nearly 800 million people unable to read or write, the United
Nations today marked International Literacy Day with a warning that illiteracy
undermines efforts to eliminate a host of social ills such as poverty and sickness and
threatens the very stability of nations.
“The costs are enormous,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a message. “Illiteracy
exacerbates cycles of poverty, ill-health and deprivation. It weakens communities and
undermines democratic processes through marginalization and exclusion. These and
other impacts can combine to destabilize societies.”
Mr. Ban noted that despite progress, illiteracy continues to afflict millions of people,
especially women and girls. In 2009, roughly two thirds of the world’s estimated 793
million illiterate adults were female. That same year, some 67 million primary school-
aged children and 72 million adolescents were denied their right to an education, he
added.
“Literacy unlocks the capacity of individuals to imagine and create a more fulfilling
future. It opens the way to greater justice, equality and progress. Literacy can help
societies heal, advance political processes and contribute to the common good,” he
declared.

25. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
LITERACY RATES
Low levels of literacy, and education in general, can impede the economic development of
a country in the current rapidly changing, technology-driven world.
Literacy Rate as defined by CIA World Fact Book
Definition: age 15 and over that can read and write
Country Total Population Male Population Female Population
Japan 99.0% 99.0% 99.0%
North Korea 99.0% 99.0% 99.0%
South Korea 97.9% 99.2% 96.6%
Vietnam 94.0% 96.1% 92.0%
China 92.2% 96.0% 88.5%
Indonesia 90.4% 94.0% 86.8%
Cambodia 73.6% 84.7% 64.1%
Laos 73.0% 83.0% 63.0%
India 61.0% 73.4% 47.8%
Nepal 48.6% 62.7% 34.9%
Bhutan 47.0% 60.0% 34.0%

26. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
LITERACY RATES

27. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
LITERACY RATES
In India, thereis even worse regarding educating these
The discriminationless than 93 women for every 100
situation are is not limited to unborn or
men in the population. The accepted have some such a
recently born females is estimated to reason for dies,
children. India, which in India. When a husband 432
disparity is is supposed to die withinfanticide into
the widow the practice of female top priority India,
million illiterate people, must give her. Millions
prompted by the existence of a Thousands arewhich
compulsory elementary education for system burnt
follow this tradition every year. dowry social and
requires the family to pay out a great deal of money
economic growth will. Hundreds survive Indian men
alive against their to occur. 64 percent of and show
whenTrauma Centers in thetwo For a poor family, the
are literate, but fewer married. out
up in a female child is than cities. of five women can
More than ½ of Delhi’s birth and write. About 41 percentbeginning girls under
read of a girl child can signal the of Indian of financial
population live in slums ruinage of 14 do not attend school.
the and extreme hardship.

28. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
• Assignment:
– Pick a new religion, write down a 1 page essay on
where they might live, what language they may
speak, and what rights they might have.
– Boy have to pretend to be girls and girls have to
pretend to be boys.
– To be handed in Friday.

29. Diverse Cultures of South and East Asia
• SS7G12 The student will analyze the diverse
cultures of the people who live in Southern and
Eastern Asia.
– a. Explain the differences between an ethnic group
and a religious group.
– b. Compare and contrast the prominent religions in
Southern and Eastern Asia: Buddhism, Hinduism,
Islam, Shintoism and the philosophy of Confucianism.
– c. Evaluate how the literacy rate affects the standard
of living.