HAS GEOGRAPHY CONTRIBUTED MORE TO UNITING OR DISUNITING CHINA?

Sheila Hanley, Social Studies
James Madison High School

Content and Performance Standards

• Describe the major geographic features of China - mountains, rivers, steppes, deserts, agrarian areas
• Determine the effects of geography on the social, political and economic elements of China
• Examine the key concepts of Geography as related to China - Places and Regions, Human Systems, Environment and Society
• Discuss the impact of geography in uniting and disuniting China
• Assess the extent that geography has an impact on China up to the present times

Materials

1. Various maps of China - physical, product, population density and political
2. "Understanding the Geographies of China: An Assemblage of Pieces" by Robert W. McColl found in Education About Asia Volume 4, Number 2, Fall 1999
3. Create data sheets based on "Understanding the Geographies of China"
4. Graphic Organizers for each person in the group

Motivation
Teacher will create a menu based on the data given in the McColl article

1. Looking at the various dishes seen on this menu, what can we learn about China?
2. Why do you think the menu refers to Cantonese, Hunanese, Mandarin, Szechuanese and Xinjiang specialties?
3. Are there one or many Chinas according to this menu?  Why?
4. How can the Chinese menu help us better understand the geography of China?
5. Has geography helped more to unit or disunite China?

Aim: Has geography helped more to unite or disunite China?
Task:

• Distribute a data sheet with several maps of China - example physical, product, population density, and political - to all students
• Create groups of 4-5 based on what provinces will be critiqued.
• Distribute to each group an area map or province map (Education about ASIA) Xinjiang, Leoss Plateau etc (As a teacher determine how much information you want to give the students concerning their province based on your outcomes).

Questions for Group Work based on the map packet

1. Where is the province located on the map of China?  How might that affect the peoples' way of life?
2. Describe the major physical features of your province or area.  Which feature will have the most impact on your province?  Why?
3. How might the physical environment affect their housing, diet, influence of cultural diffusion and political institutions?
4. Describe the economy of the province based on the physical features and surrounding areas?  Will it be more agricultural or pastoral?  Will they be dependent on trade or more self-sufficient?
5. Locate the surrounding cultures, societies and other Chinese provinces that might affect the society of the province.  How might these cultures affect the province?  (Think past and present)

Debriefing

Have each group present their work to the class.  Be sure to compare and contrast each group in order to focus the whole class on the aim of the lesson.

1. Is China a nation of many little Chinas or a homogeneous society and culture?  Explain
2. Which features have helped to create the feeling of "many little Chinas?"
3. Are there any features that have helped to unify the various areas? - river systems
4. As the government of China today, you are provided this survey of China
• What might be your primary goals?
• How can you create a feeling unity or nationalism in a land that has so many different dialects, peoples, and ways of life?

Summary:  Has geography helped more to unite or disunite China?

Application:  Write a letter to the Government stating the problems of your area and your expectations of the Government to alleviate the problems.

Are there one or many Chinas?
How has geography helped to unite or disunite China?