:Mrs Chia and Eileen
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 8
1.3MB

Focus: Why and how culture and heritage are sustained.
Resources: Photo of Chinese mother and daughter, photo of other New Zealand family.
Questions/instructions:
In this activity we are going to talk about people’s different cultures.Culture is the special way that people do things, and the special things they believe are important.
Show photo 1.
This photograph shows Mrs Chia and her daughter Eileen. Mrs Chia came from China to live in New Zealand. Eileen was born in New Zealand. She is a Chinese New Zealander.
Mrs Chia thinks it’s important that Eileen learns about Chinese culture. 

% responses
y8
1. Why does Mrs Chia think it is important that Eileen learns about Chinese culture?
 
understand own/family background/heritage
78
adequate command of language – for communication with relatives, etc
18
maintain traditions/culture/language in family
(Eileen and then her children)
32
Overall understanding:
strong
6
moderate
41
weak
53
2. What are some of the important things about Chinese culture that Mrs Chia might want Eileen to learn?
  
 
knowledge about place (geography), flora, fauna
8
knowledge of history
13
knowledge of language
50
knowledge of living skills
(food, dress, behaviour, values)
44
knowledge of cultural activities
(dance, song, art, sport, celebrations, etc.)
51
Overall understanding:
strong
9
moderate
46
weak
44
3. How could Eileen learn about Chinese culture?
from immediate family and local or visiting relatives
78
 
from travel to China
43
from media reading, listening, viewing
(books, Internet, film, video, radio, etc.)
41
from cultural groups/programmes in NZ
34
Overall understanding:
strong
18
moderate
51
weak
31
Show photo 2.
Here is a New Zealand family. Think about New Zealand culture.		  
4. What do you think are the important features of New Zealand culture that these parents will want to pass on to their children?
knowledge about place (geography),flora, fauna
28
knowledge of history
31
knowledge of living skills/patterns
(food, dress, behaviour, values)
28
knowledge of cultural activities
(arts, sports, celebrations, etc.)
28
knowledge of Mäori language/culture and/or Treaty
33
knowledge of English language
10
Overall understanding:
strong
6
moderate
30
weak
64
Commentary
These year 8 students showed better understanding of the special importance of Chinese culture to Mrs Chia and Eileen than of New Zealand culture to New Zealand families.
 
Chapter Graphic
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