Legalism
Name: Devin Schaffer
Class/Subject: Ancient Civilizations
Date: 4/16/2012
Student Objectives/Student Outcomes:
Short Term: Using Powerpoint and a primary source document, students will understand
legalism and compare it to political philosophies of today.
Long Term: Students will understand the relationship between geography,
religion/philosophy and government in Ancient Chinese society and the modern world
today.
Content Standards:
Short Term: 18.B.3b Explain how social institutions contribute to the development and
transmission of culture.
Long Term: 16.B.2b (W) Describe the origins of Western political ideas and institutions (e.g.
Greek democracy, Roman republic, Magna Carta and Common Law, the Enlightenment).
Materials/Resources/Technology:
-Powerpoint presentation
-Primary source document http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/ps/cup/hanfei_five_vermin.pdf
Teacher’s Goals:
-The teacher will use a phrase other than “shh” to refocus students.
-The teacher will use more time at the end of class to review what was discussed during the class
period.
Time
5 min.s
Start of Class:
At the beginning of class, the teacher will begin with announcements, reminding
students that we took a test last week and some still need to complete it.
Next, the teacher will ask the class what we’ve covered in the unit on China
so far. Answers may include information on the process of making silk, the
Great Wall of China, the Forbidden Palace, and the Terracotta army.
10 min.s
Introduction of Lesson:
To introduce the lesson on Legalism, the teacher will use a brief powerpoint
presentation to give students background knowledge about the primary source
document they’ll be reading. To begin, the teacher will ask the students to
define what a philosophy is. Afterwards, the teacher will continue the
introduction by giving information about the time period in which legalism
was introduced as well as its basic beliefs.
30 min.s
Lesson Instruction:
After the introduction, the teacher will hand out the Primary source document
with questions on “The Five Vermin” by the philosopher Han Feizi. The
teacher will read through the introduction and questions sections of the handout
and then ask students to spend five minutes looking through the document
for unfamiliar words. Afterwards, the teacher will take another five minutes
to define the unfamiliar words with the class. Finally, the teacher will give the
class the option to read the document either individually or as a class.
After class
Assessments/Checks for Understanding:
The teacher will use the questions in the handout as a formative assessment
on student understanding of legalism.
5 min.s
Closure/Wrap-Up/Review:
At the end of the class period, the teacher will ask for student volunteers to
define legalism. Afterwards, the teacher will discuss with the students how
without legalism, building projects during the Qin Dynasty such as the Great
Wall, the Forbidden City, and Terracotta Army would have been almost
impossible to complete. If time allows, the teacher will also ask for students’
reflections on the merit of legalism.
After class
Self-Assessment:
-Did the teacher use a phrase other than “shh” to refocus students?
-Did the teacher use enough time at the end of class to review what was discussed
during the class period?