Shan Yi bio-gas village
This lesson plan is based on an extract from Caudle, M 1996, Business in Asia, Curriculum Corporation.
Learning areas
In relation to Studies of Society and Environment - a Curriculum Profile for Australian Schools, this lesson plan can contribute to the following strands: 'Time, continuity and change', 'Place and space', 'Culture', 'Natural and social systems'.
Level
Years 9-10
Outline
Students work through an extract from Michael Caudle's Business in Asia. The extract is concerned with a Chinese village in which standards of living have improved after the introduction of the simple technology used to generate bio-gas (methane).
Studies of Asia emphases
Major emphasis: Being informed about contemporary issues
Curriculum context
These activities would complement other work about appropriate technology, enterprising behaviour or rural life in general.
Duration
At least five or six class sessions.
Materials required
- Students require access to copies of the extract 'Shan Yi bio-gas village'. They could read it on screen or from printed copies.
Procedure
The extract consists of source material, interspersed with suggested student activities. In summary, the activities suggested are:
- There is a simulation in which students are asked to assume roles as aid workers and make suggestions about how to improve the quality of life in Shan Yi as it was in 1982.
- There is a set of questions which can be used as writing tasks or for class discussion. They relate to information given about changes to Shan Yi after 1984.
- A debate is suggested about whether bio-gas is appropriate technology for Australia.
- Students are asked to write as members of the village management committee about the achievements in Shan Yi.
- There is a simulation in which students plan ways of marketing Shan Yi's surplus produce.
- Students are asked to write as newspaper reporters about Shan Yi.
China Lesson Plan Catalogue Access Asia Lesson Plans
Curriculum Corporation and the Asialink Centre, The University of Melbourne.