Curriculum
Activity List by Subject Area
Below is a complete list of all the learning activities
developed for the Minnesota-China Connection project. This
list is organized by subject area as designated by the Minnesota
K-12 Academic Standards. Some learning activities are not aligned with
a specific standard.
See more information about Minnesota
Academic Standards and subject areas.
See the Anatomy
of a Learning Activity.
Subject Areas
Social Studies
K-W-L Charts
Primary, Intermediate, Middle, High
Before students begin work on this project students think, talk about
and list what they know (K) and what they want to know (W) about China,
Minnesota geography, geography studies, or trade missions. (Note: teachers
pick an area of focus). Throughout and after the project, students list
what they learn (L) through their studies. Students then write a short
reflection paper on what they learned from the project.
Great
Circle Route
Primary, Intermediate, Middle
Students compare routes between Minnesota and China using a map and globe. Using
the "great circle route" method, students find the shortest route
between the two points.
Reading
Maps
Primary, Intermediate, Middle, High
After looking at a variety of maps of China, students discuss the data
and information presented. This could lead to further work in comparisons,
inquiry, map analysis, and map making activities.
Chinese Flavors
Primary, Intermediate
Students use their sense of smell, sight, and taste to explore Chinese
flavors and foods.
Trade Partners
Intermediate, Middle, High
Students create maps to identify the locations of Minnesota companies
in China and Chinese companies in Minnesota. Students discuss the
significance of the locations for the corporations and the communities
in which they are located.
Beijing
and Your City
Intermediate, Middle, High
Students collect and compare features and statistics of Beijing and a
community (or communities) in Minnesota.
Area
and Population Density
Intermediate, Middle, High
Students work with the concept of population density and then discuss
the significance of the population densities of Minnesota and China.
Language Arts
Non-Fiction
Reading
Intermediate, Middle, High
Students read, view and listen to information from various non-fiction
selections within and related to the site.
Letters Home from China
Intermediate, Middle, High
Students imagine themselves to be traveling with the trade mission group
in China. Using information from the weblog updates, news sources, and
independent research, students write a letter to a designated audience
as if they were on the trip themselves. This may be a single writing
activity or an ongoing one. It may also be constructed to focus on
speaking, with students creating audio letters instead of written ones.
Writing Prompts
Intermediate, Middle, High
Students write a short essay in response to a writing prompt related to
a theme or issue raised within the Minnesota-China Connection project.
(Note: prompts are designed to support student preparation for the Basic
Standards Test and Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments II in writing.)
Journal Writing
Primary, Intermediate, Middle, High
Students write responses to writing prompts related to the themes and
issues raised within the student delegate weblog entries. Journal entries
serve to document student engagement with the project and to support students'
writing fluency. When the trip is "live," students may also submit
responses to the journal prompts via weblog for publication.
Mathematics
Mathematics: What
Time is It?
Primary, Intermediate, Middle
Students calculate the time difference between Beijing, China and their
local community.
Currency Exchange
Primary, Intermediate, Middle
Using a formula and the current exchange rate, students practice calculating
prices in dollars and yuan. Students then use data from the China
weblog updates to monitor prices throughout the trip and compare them to
prices in Minnesota.
What's
the Weather?
Primary, Intermediate, Middle
Over a two-week period, students compare the daily high and low temperatures
of Beijing, Shanghai , and their local community. Students then summarize
their results and use the data to evaluate how well the students travelers
on the trade mission did packing for the trip.
Area and Population
Density
Intermediate, Middle, High
Students work with the concept of population density and then discuss
the significance of the population densities of Minnesota and China.
Arts
Jade Sculptures
Primary
Students learn about Chinese jade carvings and then carve an animal from
soap in a similar fashion.
Agricultural Business
Comparing Global Agricultural Production
Systems
Middle, High
Students learn that people are the deciding factor in what sells, how
much it sells for, who buys it, how much each person buys, what size package
is best, and what colors and advertising schemes should be used. This lesson
connects students to pen pals to help them learn about a country’s
people – what do they do differently and in what ways are they the
same?
Introduction
to Global Trade
Middle, High
Students learn what to consider before starting their own business of
exporting goods to a pen pal’s country. In starting a new business,
students will need to borrow money. The loan officer wants to see some "proof" that
the proposed business will succeed, and one of the documents he's asked
for is a special worksheet, showing the current international trade situation
of the foreign country.
International Business
International Business Activities
Primary, Intermediate, Middle, High
A collection of resources, lesson plans and activities for teachers and
students studying business concepts in an international setting.
International Business
Travel
High
Students can research and plan an international business trip
and present research findings.
General
Mental Maps
Primary, Intermediate, Middle
Before students begin work on this project students think, talk about
and list what they know (K) and what they want to know (W) about China,
Minnesota geography, geography studies, or trade missions. (Note: teachers
pick an area of focus). Throughout and after the project, students list
what they learn (L) through their studies. Students then write a short
reflection paper on what they learned from the project.
Using Chopsticks
Primary, Intermediate
Students learn to use chopsticks and play a game to improve their skills.
Minnesota Travel
Itinerary: Webquest
Intermediate, Middle
Students develop a travel itinerary for a group of Chinese students traveling
in Minnesota. After conducting research using online resources, students
create an itinerary which includes a complete schedule for the three weeks
of the students' and chaperones' visit, a map, and a budget. Also, students
develop some introductory information about key places the travelers will
visit, people they will meet, and events they will attend.
China Travel
Itinerary: Webquest
Middle, High
Students work as travel agents to support a group of Minnesota students
who are going to travel in China. After identifying the student groups'
needs and interests, the "travel agents" prepare a travel itinerary
for the students, including a budget. This project includes research on
key tourist destinations within China.
Trade
Mission Proposal
Middle, High
Students propose an itinerary for a trade mission group traveling from
another country to Minnesota. (Note: students may create a travel brochure
rather than a formal proposal).
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
The following course descriptions do not represent specific learning activities,
but provide descriptions for courses that incorporate science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics standards and outline the types of skills
students will develop within the courses. While these courses are not tailored
to be specific to the China Trade Mission, there are definitely areas within
these course outlines where China-related topics could be relevant. For
example, in Building Trades Technology, research and modeling of the building
of the Great Wall of China could easily be incorporated within the course
activities. These course descriptions are provided so that teachers interested
in incorporating STEM skills within their curriculum can see how this can
be accomplished using these course outlines.
These course descriptions are targeted at the Middle and High School levels.
Building Trades Technology
Middle, High
The building trades course is designed to give students experience with
tools, materials, equipment and terminology commonly employed
in the field of construction trades.
Computer-Aided Drafting/Design
Middle, High
Computer Aided Drafting and Design (CADD) is a course designed to give
students entry level skills in the drawing/design area, as related to the
industrial world. This class is for those interested in design and problem-solving
and provides the student with the basic skills necessary in the drafting
area. These skills will help students succeed in any industry related career
area.
Electronics Technology
Middle, High
Electronics I is a first course in the interesting and challenging field
of electricity and electronics. It will acquaint the student with basic
fundamentals of electronics and their practical applications. Interesting
experiments will enable students to discover for themselves many electronic
principles and performing interesting activities will enable students to
understand basic electronic circuits. Upon completion of this program,
the student will have a broad, general knowledge of electricity and electronics
and also an interest which will lead to further and more advanced studies.
Machining Technology
Middle, High
Machinists are highly skilled men and women. They use drawings and blueprints,
hand tools, precision measuring tools, drilling machines, band saws, surface
grinders, lathes, milling machines, and other specialized machine tools
to shape and finish metal and nonmetal parts. Machinists must have a solid
understanding of basic and advanced machining techniques.
Machine Tool Technology provides an introduction to this important area
of Manufacturing Technology. The course explains the how, why, and when
of numerous machining operations, set-ups and procedures.
Principles of Technology
and Design
Middle, High
This course is designed to introduce students to technology concepts and
their application to the world around us by taking science and math and
showing its relevance to technology and the real world. During this course,
students will spend approximately 50 percent of their time doing hands-on
labs to learn basic concepts.
Welding Technology
Middle, High
This course provides an understanding of the scope and importance of welding
in our society; welding safety, basic joints, positions, processes, welding
procedures, electricity and certification. An intro to SMAW (stick), GMAW
(wire), plasma cutting, and oxy acet processes will be covered utilizing
lecture and lab exercises.
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