2019 Korean History and Cultural Seminar for Educators - Handbook 2019 NKS Handbook-0617 | Page 108
Yi Sun-Shin. Yu Kwan-Sun is a 20 th century teenage girl who sacrificed her life to protest Japanese
occupation. Her story is historically accurate and very touching.
Another possibility is a lesson in Teaching East Asia: Korea along with a Power Point lecture titled Silla
Korea and the Silk Road that is located on the Korea Society website: www.koreasociety.org. Click on
the bar on the right and then click on Education. Mary Connor created the original Power Point lecture,
but shortened it for 7 th and 10 t grade World History students. Her Power Point lecture is on our
website and titled Silla Korea and the Silk Road: Globalization Then and Now. This lecture together
with the lesson (pages 30-38) in Teaching East Asia: Korea will allow for a discussion about the benefits
and challenges of globalization. Seventh and 10 th graders should be able to handle this learning
opportunity. Ask them to check where their cell phones, clothing, computers, shoes, and household
possessions are made and what languages are spoken in their homes and neighborhoods. What are the
benefits and challenges of these developments in terms of their own lives and for the United States?
This could be homework in preparation for the showing of Silla Korea and the Silk Road: Globalization
Then and Now. The visuals on the Power Point are impressive and truly beautiful. The homework
assignment should be very helpful for a meaningful discussion of the Silla Korea Power Point lecture.
The e-book lesson that begins on page 30 will also be helpful.
Students will want to learn about North Korea. The Power Point lecture (Pre-Modern Korea: California
Version) provides current information and comparisons between South Korea and North Korea,
followed by information on ancient Korea that is included in the new California History-Social Science
Framework. An additional Power Point, Inside North Korea, asks students to draw conclusions about
life in North Korea by viewing many images from photographs taken by author Mary Connor during her
tour of North Korea.
Korea is the most Confucian nation in East Asia. While 7 th graders in California were introduced to
Confucianism in 6 th grade, a review of this philosophy will be helpful for understanding Korea and
Korean American students and their families. Examine the lesson, Korea and Confucianism, on e-book
pages 222-226 in Teaching East Asia: Korea.
All Korean students know the song, Arirang. It is beautiful and touches the hearts of all Koreans
throughout the world. The music chapter (pages 204-206) in Teaching East Asia: Korea gives
background on the song and provides a link to the New York Philharmonic’s extraordinary and moving
performance of Arirang in Pyongyang, North Korea. If teachers introduce the Arirang, Korean students
and their parents will be very appreciative. Showing the performance in Pyongyang will also provoke
curiosity about North Korea. The Power Point lecture (Pre-Modern Korea: California Version provides
current information on North and South Korea and their differences.
If districts or schools would like their faculty to receive this information via an e-mail attachment,
please e-mail [email protected].
106