Conceptual Framing Statement
About the Resource
This website was created as a resource to combine the disciplines of Chinese, English and history in a interdisciplinary work. With reference to various elements of the Australian Curriculum, this resource's activities are centred around teaching and learning about the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Considering the mature content of the topic and its relevance alignment to the Depth Studies of other subject curriculums, this resource is recommended for Year 10 students of Chinese Second Language and should take at least five lessons and homework time to complete.
While this resource is not intended to simply transmit the historical events of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, it acts to complement whatever information is taught to the students in-class. Incorporating various elements into its design, this resource encourages students to gain a deeper understanding by participating in the debates and discussions surrounding this topic. However, those wanting or needing to become more knowledgeable on the topic are recommended to look into the resources supplied under Additional Resources. For more advice on how to implement these into lesson plans, please refer to the Notes to Teacher page.
While this resource is not intended to simply transmit the historical events of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, it acts to complement whatever information is taught to the students in-class. Incorporating various elements into its design, this resource encourages students to gain a deeper understanding by participating in the debates and discussions surrounding this topic. However, those wanting or needing to become more knowledgeable on the topic are recommended to look into the resources supplied under Additional Resources. For more advice on how to implement these into lesson plans, please refer to the Notes to Teacher page.
Learning Outcomes
Through this resource, students should be able to:
- Identify, define and recognise the events and concepts associated with the Chinese Cultural Revolution
- Understand and explain, with reference to the complex contexts of the period, how or why the tragedies resulting from the Chinese Cultural Revolution happened
- Apply their knowledge of grammar structures and vocabulary to communicate in Chinese
- Develop their research, analysis and critical thinking skills
- Synthesise the information they have learnt into new and different formats and styles
- Justify and dispute arguments respectfully using the appropriate evidence
Our Approach: Learning Models and Pedagogies
Many documented and well known techniques of education have been integrated into the creation of our resources. Deliberate attempts have been made at distancing the methodology from a transmissive approach of teaching towards student-oriented and scaffolded tasks. A fundamental model primarily used to unify our resources is Bloom's Taxonomy: Remembering, Understanding, Applying, Analysing, Evaluating and Creating.
In addition, the Constructivist principle of building on prior or pre-knowledge is at the epicentre of this resource, with tasks that allow students to brainstorm and test themselves. Involving metacognition, the use of graphic organisers among other techniques have learners continually evaluate and reflect on newly acquired knowledge and their stance on ethical issues.
In addition, the Constructivist principle of building on prior or pre-knowledge is at the epicentre of this resource, with tasks that allow students to brainstorm and test themselves. Involving metacognition, the use of graphic organisers among other techniques have learners continually evaluate and reflect on newly acquired knowledge and their stance on ethical issues.
Links to the Australian Curriculum
Cross-curricular Priorities
This resource has been constructed with heavy emphasis on the Cross-curricular priority Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia. By focusing on the context of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, students will be able to develop an understanding of Asian history, culture and diversity, and will be able to draw comparisons between China and Australia. The context of the Chinese Cultural Revolution closely aligns with OI.3, in which students understand that "[t]he peoples and countries of Asia have contributed and continue to contribute to world history and human endeavour".
Our resource's emphasis on intercultural understanding and personal and social capabilities allows our students to consider the ways in which they could "[work] together to build harmonious local, regional and global communities".
Our resource's emphasis on intercultural understanding and personal and social capabilities allows our students to consider the ways in which they could "[work] together to build harmonious local, regional and global communities".
General Capabilities
The resource closely relates to the following General Capabilities under the Australian Curriculum:
- Literacy;
- Information and communication technology;
- Critical and creative thinking;
- Personal and social capability;
- Ethical understanding;
- Intercultural understanding.
Literacy
Through this resource, students will be encouraged to develop the ways in which they use language in order to present information and persuade. The activities, namely the research task and the informal debate, require students to be able to comprehend and relay various concepts and information to their peers.
Information and communication technology
Students are encouraged to build upon their skills in using technology by developing research techniques, and their ability in creating works of multimedia, such as PowerPoint presentations and short video documentaries.
Critical and creative thinking
Through the activities in this resource, students are encouraged to critically engage with the topic and participate in the various debates and discussions revolving around the Chinese Cultural Revolution. Additionally, through this resource's inquiry-based approach, students are also encouraged to think of their on questions and further develop their interest and inquisitiveness in studying Chinese culture and language, history, and English studies.
In terms of creativity, students are encouraged through this resource to be able to present and express their feelings, opinions and beliefs through various written and creative media, such as PowerPoint presentations, short video documentaries and diary journals.
In terms of creativity, students are encouraged through this resource to be able to present and express their feelings, opinions and beliefs through various written and creative media, such as PowerPoint presentations, short video documentaries and diary journals.
Personal and social capability
This resource emphasises students' ability to empathise and relate to others as a key skill required in completing its activities and tasks. The incorporation of group work and class discussions, in particular, encourage students to show their respect for the contributions and opinions of their fellow classmates.
In addition, this resource's prevalent theme of human rights allows students to empathise with those who not only have suffered through the Cultural Revolution, but those who are currently under persecution to this day.
In addition, this resource's prevalent theme of human rights allows students to empathise with those who not only have suffered through the Cultural Revolution, but those who are currently under persecution to this day.
Ethical understanding
The activities in this resource incorporate the topic of human rights as a major theme. Through discussion questions, and by requiring students to empathise with the experiences of those who had suffered during the period of the Cultural Revolution, students are encouraged to consider and critically evaluate their stance on the ethical issues prevalent in today's society.
Intercultural understanding
For Year 10 Chinese Second Language students, the topic of the Cultural Revolution encourages the development of a deep understanding of the significance of Chinese language, culture and histories in shaping and forming distinct and varied identities.
Subject Curriculums
The following points detail how this resource is connected to the subject curriculums under the Australian Curriculum.
Chinese
Through this resource, Year 10 Chinese Second Language students expand upon their knowledge by exploring the Chinese Cultural Revolution as a relevant and immersing theme. By understanding the significance of the Cultural Revolution to the culture of modern China, students will be able to develop the skills of correspondence with their peers and their teacher (ACLCHC098).
As the presentation activity is encouraged to be done in Chinese, students will be able to utilise the language most appropriate to speaking and presenting to the class (ACLCHU108). In other activities, students will be able to showcase the grammar they have learnt in order to exchange information, express and justify their opinions, and discuss their experiences or the experiences of others.
As the presentation activity is encouraged to be done in Chinese, students will be able to utilise the language most appropriate to speaking and presenting to the class (ACLCHU108). In other activities, students will be able to showcase the grammar they have learnt in order to exchange information, express and justify their opinions, and discuss their experiences or the experiences of others.
History
At Year 10 level, students are expected to develop their interest in the study of history. Additionally, they are expected to continually build their skills in critical thinking, analysis, explanation and communication, and their understanding of cause and effect, different perspectives, significance and empathy. This is to be achieved via guided inquiry into various resources, and through class discussions.
This resource relates to two sections in the Australian Curriculum for history: the Depth Study Rights and freedoms, and in particular "[t]he continuing nature of efforts to secure civil rights and freedoms in Australia and throughout the world" (ACDSEH143); and "the nature of the Cold War and Australia's involvement in Cold War and post-Cold War conflicts" (ACOKFH023), which is under the Overview of the modern world and Australia. The Cultural Revolution in China contextualises these aspects of the curriculum and provides the means through which these ideas could be investigated and discussed in more detail.
This resource relates to two sections in the Australian Curriculum for history: the Depth Study Rights and freedoms, and in particular "[t]he continuing nature of efforts to secure civil rights and freedoms in Australia and throughout the world" (ACDSEH143); and "the nature of the Cold War and Australia's involvement in Cold War and post-Cold War conflicts" (ACOKFH023), which is under the Overview of the modern world and Australia. The Cultural Revolution in China contextualises these aspects of the curriculum and provides the means through which these ideas could be investigated and discussed in more detail.
English
Many aspects of this resource work to improve the literacy and English skills of Year 10 students, and work to coincide with a selection of Depth Studies included in the Australian Curriculum. By focusing on the context of the Cultural Revolution, students will be able to develop their understanding of the significance of
cultures, people, and their historical and social contexts (ACELT1639) in the shaping of one's identity.
Additionally, this resource's emphasises the development of research skills, students are encouraged to demonstrate some level of autonomy and responsibility over their own learning. This in turn, works to foster students' interest and love for reading and creating their own texts in which they are able to "reflect on, extend, endorse or refute others' interpretations of and responses" (ACELT1640). Furthermore, by also contextualising the theme of human rights into the tumultuous period of the Cultural Revolution, students also build upon their critical thinking, and evaluate the ethical, social and moral issues addressed in various texts (ACELT1812).
cultures, people, and their historical and social contexts (ACELT1639) in the shaping of one's identity.
Additionally, this resource's emphasises the development of research skills, students are encouraged to demonstrate some level of autonomy and responsibility over their own learning. This in turn, works to foster students' interest and love for reading and creating their own texts in which they are able to "reflect on, extend, endorse or refute others' interpretations of and responses" (ACELT1640). Furthermore, by also contextualising the theme of human rights into the tumultuous period of the Cultural Revolution, students also build upon their critical thinking, and evaluate the ethical, social and moral issues addressed in various texts (ACELT1812).