Learning areas
Studies of society and environment: 'Place and space', 'Culture', 'Resources', 'Natural and social systems'.
Also the Arts, Science, English, Health and physical education.
Level
Years 1-3
Outline
Students look at and discuss a set of photographs of village life ('Pictures of life in a Yi village') and complete a range of related activities.
Studies of Asia emphases
Major emphasis: Developing concepts of Asia
Curriculum context
This activity would complement other curriculum which deals with ways in which people live, work and play in Australia or other countries. Ideas for extension activities in the Arts and other learning areas are also included.
Duration
One hour or more, plus extension activities.
Materials required
Students require access to the set of photographs: 'Pictures of life in a Yi village' Ideally, the whole set could be reproduced and enlarged but students could also view the photographs on the screen.
Procedure
Each step below provides some questions for teachers to explore with students as they view the set of photographs.
Photograph 1: Buildings and vegetable crops
What might the crops be? (Mostly leafy green vegetables.)
Why is the hillside terraced? (It allows extra growing space.)
What are the poles for? What do they mean for the village?
How many trees are there? Why aren't there more trees? (People need to use the land for growing crops.)
Photograph 2: Tending the crop
What is the man doing? (Using a scoop for watering from a bucket.)
Why is all available space used? (Many people to feed, perhaps some produce for sale.)
What are the flat dish-like items? (Baskets for carrying crops.)
What has happened in the space covered with mats? What is going to happen?
What is in the background? (Another village.)
Photograph 3: The daily wash
What is the woman doing?
Where are some water pipes? Where do they lead? (Inside houses.)
Why is the woman washing under a tap in the street rather than inside her house?
Does the window of the house have glass? (No.) What does this mean? (Air can get in and cooking smoke can get out.)
What are the bundles of twigs for?
What is on the outside of the houses? (Mud-like cement.)
What is the channel next to the houses for? (Drainage.)
Extension 1: Try washing clothes under a cold water tap like this, with or without washing powder.
Extension 2: Write a story about working hard in the middle of winter to get the clothes clean.
Photograph 4: Drying the washing
What are the clothes resting on? (Plastic-covered metal frames over crops.)
What are the frames for?
Why are the clothes dried in this way? (Extra heat from beneath.)
What is in the background?
What might these rocks be used for?
Extension: Experiment with making and using plastic plant protectors.
Photograph 5: Bringing home the pigs
What is happening in this picture?
What is the man holding? What is it used for? (A stick to guide the pigs.)
Where could the pigs have been?
Why would people own pigs?
What is the wall on the left made from? (Rocks, see Photograph 4.)
What are the pipes for? (Water supply.)
Photograph 6: Door decoration
What can you see in the photograph? (A door, writing, pictures, street number, door lock.)
What could the writing be for? (Good luck, names of owners.)
What are the pictures for? (Decoration, telling old stories.)
Extension 1: Research symbols used in Chinese culture, such as dragons, horoscope symbols, lotus, carp, heron. Draw or paint symbols and paste onto the classroom door.
Extension 2: Research Chinese calligraphy. Practise drawing some characters.
Photograph 7: Spinning pine needles
(The woman is 'spinning' pine needles to make a kind of rope for fuel.)
What can you see in the picture?
What is the woman doing?
How does the machine work?
What could the ropes be used for?
Where is she sitting? (In the street.) Why?
If she makes more rope than she can use herself, what can she do with the extra?
Extension: Show children how to use other simple spinning machines.
Photograph 8: Children playing
What are the children playing? (A game like elastics.)
What else can you see in the picture? (Door decorations, electric power pole, roof tiles, walls covered with mud or clay.)
Extension: Teach the rules of elastics and play the game. Teach possible variations.
Photograph 9: Men playing mahjong
What are the men doing?
How old are they?
Why are they playing the game?
What is the weather like?
Photograph 10: Knitting circle
What can you see in this picture?
What are the women doing?
What are they sitting on?
Why are they sitting in the street?
What is in the background? (A water buffalo.)
What might the animal be used for? (Ploughing, pulling a cart, meat, milk.)
Extension 1: Children draw or make a model of buildings and streets in the village.
Extension 2: Choose one of the people seen in the set of photographs and write a day in his or her life.
