12th Grade Confucian Mythology Lesson Plan

Topic: Understanding the beliefs and practices of Confucianism is essential for an understanding of East Asian history, culture and society. Confucianism originated in China in the 5th century BC and is still practiced today. Various rituals, myths, and beliefs have developed around Confucianism. This lesson will examine the origins of Confucianism and explore some of its beliefs and practices.

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to explain the origins of Confucianism.
• Students will be able to describe the various rituals and myths associated with Confucianism.

Materials:

• Copies of the text "Confucianism" for each student
• Handouts with information about Confucianism and its rituals and myths
• Images or videos of Confucian rituals and myths
• Pen or pencil
• Notebooks or journal==
• Note-taking materials (e.g. pens, paper, laptops)
• Internet access (optional)

Warm-Up

• Have students complete an online search for "Confucianism" and review the different search results they find. Ask them to list the different things they learn about Confucianism from these search results.

Direct Instruction

• Introduce the topic of Confucian mythology by explaining that Confucianism is a religious and philosophical tradition that originated in ancient China.
• Explain that Confucian mythology is the body of stories and legends associated with Confucianism.
• Provide a brief overview of the main deities and deities of Confucian mythology, including Yao, Shun, and Yu the Great.
• Explain the significance of these deities in the mythology and history of Confucianism.

Guided Practice

• Divide the class into small groups and provide each group with a set of handouts or illustrations of the key deities and deities of Confucian mythology.
• Have the groups discuss the stories and legends associated with each deity and share their knowledge with the class.
• As a class, discuss the significance of the key deities and deities of Confucian mythology in the development and history of Confucianism.
• Encourage students to ask questions and make observations about the stories and legends discussed.##Demonstration
• Have a class member or teaching assistant act as a representative of one of the key deities or deities of Confucian mythology.
• Have the representative tell a story or share a legend associated with their designated deity.
• Encourage students to ask questions and make observations about the story or legend told.
• As a class, discuss the significance of the story or legend in the development and history of Confucianism.

Independent Practice

• Have students work in small groups to create a collage or poster illustrating the key deities and deities of Confucian mythology.
• Encourage students to use both handouts and their own research to create their collages or posters.
• Provide each group with a blank poster or large piece of construction paper and supplies such as markers, scissors, and glue.
• Have students work together to create their collages or posters and then present their work to the class.

Closure

• Review the key deities and deities of Confucian mythology and ask students to discuss which ones they found most interesting or surprising.
• Ask students to reflect on what they learned about Confucian mythology during the lesson and how it compares to their prior understanding of the subject.

Assessment

• Use the observations and reflections from the independent practice to evaluate student understanding of the material.
• Administer a quiz or test that covers the key deities and deities of Confucian mythology.
• Have students complete a written reflection on what they learned about Confucian mythology during the lesson and how it compares to their prior understanding of the subject.