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M. Cooney S00154343
RATIONALE:
The following lessons have been created to allow students to investigate the structure of the
medieval feudal system. In accordance with the relevant national Australian and AusVELS
standards and progression points, year eight students are the target year level for this lesson
sequence (Australian Curriculum, 2015; AusVELS, 2015). These lessons have been designed
so that students explore the generalized concepts of culture and society within the second
order historical concepts of evidence, time and significance (Erickson, 2008; Taylor et al,
2012). More specifically, these lessons aim to introduce students to, and consolidate their
knowledge of, feudal systems in the context of Shogunate Japan, with support of medieval
Europe. Students will have already completed an in depth study of medieval Europe as well
as had previous lessons on medieval Japan. While these lessons are representative of a
subset of a unit of work within the Shogunate Japan in-depth study, they are indicative of
how this unit would run, with inquiry classes the basis for developing student knowledge
(Wiggins & McTighe, 2014). The inquiry nature of this sequence will allow students to
explore their own ideas and understandings, engaging with the knowledge and ultimately
developing their ability to study history (Taylor et al, 2012). The lesson sequence aims to,
through the investigative task, allow students to develop a deep understanding of the
universal structure of a feudal system, rather than simply memorizing the various classes in
a feudal pyramid (VanSledright, 2015). This sequence aims to foster in students the ability to
question history, more specifically to question why things change or are different (Husbands
& Kitson, 2010). As such, these lessons utilize various collaboration tasks in order for
students to apply concepts and make sense of the past, thus engaging students historical
thinking and reasoning skills (Taylor et al, 2012; Seixas 1996; Husbands, 1996).
Throughout this sequence students are able to question and reason through various tasks,
such as Jigsaw and Think-Pair-Share, and discuss concepts that ultimately lead them to an
understanding of the medieval feudal system, irrelevant of cultural influences (Facing
History and Ourselves, 2015). Ultimately this allows them to develop their ability to think
historically and develop skills integral to the study of history (Centre for the Study of
M. Cooney S00154343
Historical Consciousness, 2015). Minor source analysis has also been included in this
sequence to aid in the inquiry process. Evaluation of said source assists in the development
of students historical inquiry skills and develop students abilities to use the source to find
evidence to support an argument or claim rather than taking sources as fact (Taylor et al,
2012). While it may not be on a large scale, the development of source analysis in this
instance and at this level gives students the foundations to build upon in future tasks and
years of history. The tasks completed in this sequence will be used as formative assessment
to improve students understanding of Shogunate Japan (Brady & Kennedy, 2001; Black &
William, 1998). The nature of the assessment aims to promote learning rather than simple
retention of information and is not designed for the purpose of summative assessments
(Taylor et al, 2012).
M. Cooney S00154343
LESSON SEQUENCE:
Stage 1 Desired Results
Established Goal(s)/Content Standard(s):
-Students explain the significance of individuals and groups and how they were influenced by the
beliefs and values of their society.
-When researching, students develop questions to frame an historical inquiry.
-Students develop texts, particularly descriptions and explanations, incorporating analysis. In
developing these texts, and organising and presenting their findings, they use historical terms and
concepts, evidence identified in sources, and acknowledge their sources of information.
AusVELS Curriculum links:
-The way of life in Shogunate Japan, including social, cultural, economic and political features
(including the feudal system and the increasing power of the shogun) (ACDSEH012).
-The role of the Tokugawa Shogunate in reimposing a feudal system (based on daimyo and samurai)
and the increasing control of the Shogun over foreign trade. (ACDSEH063).
-Use historical terms and concepts (ACHHS149).
-Identify a range of questions about the past to inform an historical inquiry (ACHHS150).
-Identify and locate relevant sources, using ICT and other methods (ACHHS151).
-Compare, select and use information from a range of sources as evidence (ACHHS153).
-Develop texts, particularly descriptions and explanations that use evidence from a range of sources
that are acknowledged (ACHHS156).
-Use a range of communication forms (oral, graphic, written) and digital technologies (ACHHS157).
Understanding (s)
Essential Question(s):
these differences?
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Understand equivalent classes and therefore can deconstruct the meaning behind feudal
structures.
Performance Task(s):
Other Evidence:
During the first double period (class 1 and 2), students will be
for that class (Brady & Kennedy, 2001). At the end of this lesson
(Brady & Kennedy, 2001). This will be a one hour task and
M. Cooney S00154343
Looking at Japanese society (what we already know) what labels would we replace? (EmperorKing, Knight-Samurai).
Where do we place what we know? Where would an emperor go? A samurai? A peasant?
Sourcing
Contextualising
Close Reading
Corroboration
Students are then to come back into their original groups and discuss what they have learnt. They are
then going to create a Japanese feudal pyramid, ranking the classes based on what they have learnt in
their Jigsaw groups.
M. Cooney S00154343
Discussion/brainstorm.
Teacher leads students in a discussion about feudal systems as a whole, scaffolding the discussion by
asking questions about feudal structures rather than individual classes. Students will, therefore,
develop an understanding of the basic structure of a medieval feudal system without the cultural
influences.
-What do we know about these classes now?
-What might have been their European equivalent? Can we group any Japanese classes into a
European one?
-Can we now see what a feudal structure is? What its foundations are? [Ruler (king or
Emperor/Daimyo/Shogun), Warrior (knight or samurai), lower classes (peasant, artisans, merchants)].
Task
In this lesson, students are given the full class time to construct a mind-map of sorts, identifying the
common traits of a feudal system (as identified in the previous class) and use classes from both
medieval Europe and Japan to support this premise. Students are to use and utilise the previous
classes work in completing this task, extra research should not be needed.
Students are allowed to use any relevant process to create this mind map within reason.
-Written processes such as poster, pamphlet, etc. are allowed [essay as well, within reason (up to
teacher discretion and student learning style)].
-Computer programs such as Prezi, PowerPoint, Inspiration, etc. are also allowed [(video programs
such as PowToon, etc. are allowed but at the teachers discretion and in conjunction with student
learning style)].
Students are expected to work independently on this, however on task discussions are allowed (given
the correct level of noise).
-
The level of understanding shown should be what has been developed in the previous lesson
(significantly less than this would be considered unacceptable and considerably more would
M. Cooney S00154343
Teacher is to be continuously walking around the classroom, helping students with any issues
and keeping students on task.
At the end of the class, students are to hand in their completed work (either in hard copy or
electronically). If work is not completed, it must be finished for homework and submitted by the next
class (or class after depending on the timetable and time between classes).
M. Cooney S00154343
REFERENCES.
Black, P., & William, D., 1998. Inside the black box: Raising standards through classroom
assessment. London: Kings College.
Brady, L., & Kennedy, K. (2001). Celebrating student achievement: Assessment and reporting.
Frenchs Forest, N.S.W.: Pearson Education Australia
Centre for the Study of Historical Consciousness. (2014). Historical Thinking Concepts.
Retrieved from http://historicalthinking.ca/historical-thinking-concepts
Erickson, H.L. (2007). Concept-based curriculum and instruction for the thinking classroom.
Heatherton, Victoria: Hawker Brownlow Education.
Facing Histories and Ourselves. (2015). Teaching Strategies: Jigsaw. Retrieved from
https://www.facinghistory.org/for-educators/educator-resources/teachingstrategies/jigsaw-developing-community-d
Facing History and Ourselves. (2015). Teaching Strategies: Think-Pair-Share. Retrieved from
https://www.facinghistory.org/for-educators/educator-resources/teachingstrategies/think-pair-share-facilitating
Husbands, C., & Kitson, A. (2010). Teaching History 11-18. Berkshire, GBR: McGraw-Hill
Education.
Husbands, C. (1996). What is history teaching? Language, ideas and meaning in learning
about the past. Buckinghamshire, England: Open University Press.
Roberts, P. (2013). Revisiting historical literacy: Towards a disciplinary pedagogy. Literacy
Learning: The Middle Years, 21 (1), 15-24. http://www.academia.edu/3787166/_Revisiting_Historical_Literacy_towards_a_disciplinary_pedagogy_._Literacy_Learning_the_
Middle_Years._21_1_pp_15-24._2013
Seixas, P. (1996). Conceptualizing the growth of historical understanding. In D.R. Olson & N.
Torrence (Eds.), Handbook of education and human development: New models of
learning, teaching and schooling (pp.765-783). Oxford, England: Blackwell Publishing.
Short, K.G., Schroeder, J., Laird, J., Kauffman, G., Ferguson, M.J. & Crawford, K.M. (1996).
Learning together through inquiry: from Columbus to integrated curriculum. Portland,
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APPENDICES.
APPENDIX 1:
Sources of Japanese Tradition, edited by Ryusaku Tsunoda and Wm. Theodore de Bary, 1st
ed., vol. 1 (New York: Columbia University Press, 1964), 329-330. 1964 Columbia
University Press.
Retrieved from http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/japan/ieyasu_four_classes.pdf
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APPENDIX 2:
Feudalism in Japan. Retrieved from feudalisminjapan.weebly.com/index.html
The following links are direct links to the topics outlined.
Artisans: http://tinyurl.com/pmu6oap
Shogun: http://tinyurl.com/ltnd4f5
Daimyo: http://tinyurl.com/ll2mp6d
Merchants: http://tinyurl.com/ojw276k
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