Ways of Thinking and Living in China Lesson 1 This lesson introduces the idea of the ‘western’ and ‘eastern’ worlds and then consists of a series of images illustrating the different themes to be covered in the Chinese Ways of Thinking and Living curriculum. There are short introductory notes but the subjects will be covered in more detail in following lesson on each topic.

When you see a world map, it is usually drawn like this. The Europeans were the first to draw maps and they put Europe top middle. Point out the location of China. When you see a world map, it is usually drawn like this. The world is round: why do you think we always look at it from this point of view? Think Pair Share

Here the world map is drawn from another perspective. What differences do you notice? Can you see the UK?

A view of the world from China The Chinese view of the world has always had China at the centre. When China had emperors, they believed that they were not just rulers of China, but of the whole world.

The Chinese name for China is 中国 zhōngguó which means “Middle Kingdom”

Modern maps, with GPS technology, continuously redraw the world with you at the centre

Ask what this might be illustrating

We can see the world from different perspectives... Bring out that this series of lessons will be about seeing the world from a different perspective

Have you heard the terms ‘East’ and ‘West’ Have you heard the terms ‘East’ and ‘West’? (or the ‘Eastern world’ and the ‘Western world’) What do you think they mean? Think Pair Share

North America South America Africa Asia Europe Australia Western Hemisphere Eastern Hemisphere Northern Hemisphere Equator Southern Hemisphere 1850s - established Prime Meridian through Greenwich formally dividing world into East and West Prime Meridian

But when we talk about the ‘Western’ and ‘Eastern’ worlds we are not just talking about geographical location (hemispheres). We are talking about cultural and social ideas - the ways we think and live

Asia - the Eastern world Eastern world - defined as Asia. The term Eastern world refers to the culture, society and ways of thinking and living in Asian countries

Live China population counter Of course, there is no single ‘Eastern’ world. All the countries in Asia have similarities and differences - just like the countries in the West. We are learning about China, situated at the heart of Asia, home to one in every five people alive. CHINA Live China population counter

China is on the other side of the world China is on the other side of the world. For most of our histories, there has been little contact between Europe and China - between West and East. There are differences between the ways we each think and live that we will learn about. But do you think that we are really that different? Think Pair Share

Modern travel and communications is bringing the world together Modern travel and communications is bringing the world together. Young Europeans - like you - are likely to meet, work together and make friends with people from China.

Do you know anything about the way people think and live in China Do you know anything about the way people think and live in China? Do you think we can learn from the way Chinese people think and live - and they from us? Why or why not?