The Power of One - The Power of Many: Nation Building

Stage of Schooling

Year 9

Learning Focus

Historical knowledge and understanding - Depth stud y: 

• Australia and Asia : Asia and the world

Historical skills: Analysis and use of sources

Elaborations

Please see the attached alignment document.

Resources

• CrossCurrents (Curriculum Corporation, 2005)
• Into India (Curriculum Corporation, 1997)
• Spinning a Nation (AEF website, 2007)
• Images of Asia Cards - Symbols, Patterns and Designs (Curriculum Corporation, 2004)
• Voices and Values: Citizenship in Asia (Curriculum Corporation, 2003)
• Look Global (Curriculum Corporation, 1999)
• Voices and Visions from India (Curriculum Corporation, 2004)
• Voices and Visions from China (Curriculum Corporation, 2002)
• Making History - Upper Primary Units (Curriculum Corporation, 2003)
• Making History - Middle Secondary Units (Curriculum Corporation, 2003)
• Film Asia (Curriculum Corporation, 2002)
• Celebrating Politically Active Australians, Civics and Citizenship Education website
• Beth Murray: the people behind the Snowy Mountains Scheme, Curriculum Corporation, 2005, The Le@rning Federation learning object L373
• Dorothy Griffin: great Australian women, Curriculum Corporation, 2003, The Le@rning Federation learning object L370
• Fiona Chui: Chinese Family Tree, Curriculum Corporation, 2003, The Le@rning Federation learning object L614
• Nhu Minh: multiculturalism in Australia, Curriculum Corporation, 2003, The Le@rning Federation learning object L361
• Norman Dean: Great Depression, Curriculum Corporation, 2003, The Le@rning Federation learning object L371
• Pat Brennan: The Legend of Ned Kelly, Curriculum Corporation, 2003, The Le@rning Federation learning object L363
• Samuel Cooper: Putting the Rabble to Work, Curriculum Corporation, 2003, The Le@rning Federation learning object L359
• popular Australian magazines, glue, paper, coloured textas and pencils, butcher's paper

Accessing the Learning Federation materials:

The Learning Federation provides teachers with online learning objects. Teachers will need to contact their State/Territory representative to register and gain access to these objects. The process for accessing learning objects is further explained on The Learning Federation's website, www.thelearningfederation.edu.au.

Focus questions

What is a nation? What is meant by the term 'nation building'? Who were some of the powerful nationbuilders in Asia and why were they successful?

Overview

In Asia, the stories of nation building include mythic legends, sagas of long struggles against colonial powers, stories of adaptations and borrowings from others, tales of inspired leadership, and proud accounts of national rebirth from the wreckage of war or revolution. They are stories which capture both startling differences and clear similarities in the nation-building experience (see p40 of Cross Currents).

This unit focuses on the stories of Mahatma Gandhi and Mao Zedong (Mao Tse-Tung); however, the model could be used to explore other political leaders, e.g. Ho Chi Minh and Ang Sung Su Chi. It provides opportunities for students to widen their understanding of how people become leaders and inspire others to come together and live as nations, and how narratives and other historical genres can be used by teachers to help students make sense of history.

Duration

This unit should be completed over five weeks with two one-hour blocks per week.