BVG, 7/31/09

Mao and Me Mao and me: the Little Red Guard by Chen, Jiang Hong New York: Enchanted Lion Books 2008.

ISBN: 9781592700790

ISBN: 1592700799

Growing up in China during the revolution of the Communist party, a child gives us his view of life under Mao and the similarities it has to all children’s lives.

Media: Ink and wash

5Q/4P

Curricular Connections  History/Social Science

Lesson Plan for Mao and Me 

Unit –Theme/Topic   Twentieth Century World Revolution and World Leaders  

Grade 9-10 – Cross-Curricular Connections – History/Social Science

Expected Student Learning Outcomes   Students will learn to identify bias and prejudice in historical interpretations and whether this memoir is unbiased or propaganda, and why.

CA Academic Standards Addressed        Historical Interpretation

Students recognize the complexity of historical causes and effects, including the limitations on determining cause and effect. They can compare the present with the past, evaluate the consequences of past events and decisions and also learn that change is complicated and affects not only technology and politics but also values and beliefs.

Objective 1 – The students will use the book, Mao and Me as a springboard to discussing teacher selected and student generated points. 

Materials Used  

Beside the text of the book I could show a PP of propaganda posters from the Chinese Revolution. Although students might not understand the language we can see if any of the images we can recognize from what we have read.

 Establish Purpose

Effects of the revolution on people and society, and determining the cause and effect of the revolution. 

Opening Introduce Lesson

State Objective Determine if you think that this book was written in support of the revolution for propaganda purposes, or if it’s an unbiased personal experience of the effects of the Revolution on everyday people.  Make an argument and support your point of view according to your own understanding. 

Establish Purpose Decide for yourself what other ideas are presented in addition to the story, for example: Look at the illustrations—what do they “say” to you? Why did the author/illustrator use that type of illustration? Do the illustrations tell more about what is happening than the text? Can you tell how than author feels about events by looking at the illustrations.  

Involve Students

        Students brainstorm to generate questions about the book in general, text and illustrations in particular; assumptions about whether this is praise of the revolution or unbiased and objective.

         Refer to previous lessons on the Chinese Revolution and what we know about the Cultural Revolution in China.  

         All questions and comments will be recorded by self-selected students on a flip chart 

        Questions and comments will be reported to the entire class by self-selected students 

Main Activity Check for Understanding

         After each group report, teacher identifies one or two significant comments and/or questions for students to reflect on for writing assignment.

         Student selects question or comment and writes at least 2 paragraphs with supporting material taken from the text or illustrations. Opinions are encouraged.

Students make their own propaganda posters with large sheets of poster paper, poster paint and felt tip pens. This does not have to be based on the Cultural Revolution in China but on a cultural movement in the United States. 

Extension/Enrichment 

       Check out websites with information on the author and his other books

http://www.literaturfestival.com/bios1_3_6_742.html

Watch him working with children drawing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQJqXChf-aM

Look at many different types of Propaganda Posters from the revolution 

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&rlz=1B3RNFA_enUS237US260&um=1&sa=1&q=posters+from+Communist+Chinese+revolution.&btnG=Search+images&aq=f&oq= 

Assessment 

Students read to their small group their essay or teacher grades essay privately.

D. Guhl Summer 2009

Mao and me by Chen Jiang Hong. New York: Enchanted Lion Books, 2008.

ISBN-13: 978-1-59270-079-0

Annotation: A young boy lives with his poor but loving family in China, but his happy childhood is threatened with Mao's Cultural Revolution sweeps the country.

Age Range: 5-8 grades

Media used by illustrator: ink and watercolor

Personal Rating: 5Q/4P

Curricular Connections: ideal in an upper elementary history class focusing on Asian history

ateater/07-30-09