Geography

Activity 1: Shanghai over time

In this activity you will:

• explore China and one of its vibrant economic cities, Shanghai
• construct a map of Asia and a timeline to show the development of Shanghai.

Key inquiry question: How has Shanghai evolved over time?

Create a map

1. Discuss as a class what you know about China and Shanghai.
2. Formulate a series of inquiry questions that encapsulate what you would like to know about Shanghai. These can be exhibited somewhere in the classroom and answered once you have gathered information during this module.
3. Use Google Maps to find Asia, and more specifically, China.
4. Look at the map showing the key cities of China.
5. Use the blank map of Asia provided by your teacher to create a sketch map.
6. Draw appropriate political boundaries and label the following countries, seas and cities. Use your sketch map to write a paragraph describing the geographic position of China in Asia. Remember, all maps should contain a border, orientation, legend or key, title and scale (BOLTS):

   1.	Bhutan	2.	China
   3.	Hong Kong	4.	India
   5.	Japan	6.	Laos
   7.	Mongolia	8.	Myanmar
   9.	Nepal	10.	North Korea
   11.	Russia	12.	South Korea
   13.	Vietnam	14.	Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Wuhan and Xian.
   15.	East China Sea and South China Sea

History of Shanghai

1. Read the notes and view the images of Shanghai.
2. View the video The Real Shanghai (below), which provides an insight into the history of Shanghai through the eyes of the granddaughter of Sun Yat Sen (first president of the Republic of China).
3. Read Old Shanghai, City of Wealth, Inequality and Vice by Andrew Forbes and look at the images and text, which provide an excellent short history of Shanghai.
4. Go to Travel to Shanghai now to view images of Shanghai today and to read about Shanghai's history.
5. Discuss as a group what you found interesting about the history of Shanghai and make notes identifying key events in the development of Shanghai as a city.
6. Use this information to create a timeline. You may wish to use images of the city to show how its cityscape is changing.
7. Discuss as a class the factors that have had an impact on the growth of Shanghai.
8. Review your inquiry questions created at the beginning of this activity and see if you can answer any of them. If so, add the information to the displayed list of questions.

Activity 2: A snapshot of Pudong

In this activity you will:

• investigate the creation and development of the Pudong New Area of Shanghai
• create an online presentation displaying your findings.

Key inquiry question: Why was the Pudong New Area created and what are some of the characteristics of its built environment?

1. Discuss what you have already discovered in Activity 1 about the Pudong New Area of Shanghai.
2. Look at the Google Maps Interactive website. Type in China and locate Shanghai, then navigate up the river to locate the Pudong New Area and the Bund on the opposite side of the river. Press the markers on the map to find out the names and locations of the famous and tall buildings, key parks and other amenities located in the business centre.
3. For more information about Pudong go to Welcome to Pudong.
4. More images and information about Pudong can be accessed at In pictures: The changing face of Shanghai (notes, photographs/slideshow) from Al Jazeera.
5. Discuss as a class your observations about the design of Shanghai and the differences between the Bund and the Pudong New Area.
6. Look at the images of Pudong New Area and describe the built environment visible in these images.
7. Use the information about the built environment of Pudong and make notes including source references your sources on the topics listed below with a view to creating an online presentation:
   • general information such as location and climate
   • history of its development
   • description of the built environment with supporting images of Pudong, old and new areas
   • infrastructure such as services provided
   • future economic growth predications including investment.
8. Plan and create a template for your presentation. Think about ways you could enhance it, for example, by including a sketch map giving details of Pudong and its key commercial and residential areas. Bear in mind the importance of the following:
   • title
   • labels
   • references
   • spelling and grammar.
9. Share your presentations with the rest of the class.
10. Discuss and suggest some of the advantages and problems associated with creating a new economic area within an existing city.
11. Review your inquiry questions created at the beginning of Activity 1 and see if you can answer any of them. If so, add the information to the displayed list of questions.

Activity 3: The impact of development

In this activity you will:

• investigate the impact of development on Shanghai
• create a reporter's notebook with a focus on housing.

Key inquiry question: What impact has economic development had on Shanghai?

1. Discuss as a class what you think is meant by the term 'sustainable development'.
2. In pairs and read these ‪‪‬‬‬‬definitions of sustainable development. Now write your own description.
3. Share your descriptions with the rest of the class and identify the common elements.
4. Given what you have learned about Shanghai and the New Pudong Area, identify and discuss some issues that might be hindering sustainable development in this city.
5. In pairs view the information and video about Shanghai's development. The focus of this information is on providing affordable housing in Shanghai.
6. Read the following articles:
   • Day Three of the article, Shanghai's building boom – buildings have soared but is everyone benefiting? 
   • Economic growth in Shanghai in The China Perspective
7. Imagine that you are reporters and you have been asked to write a newspaper article about the housing problem in Shanghai. You will use the information on the right to create a Reporter's Notebook.
8. Create a table with two columns and two rows. Along the top of the table write 'Clear' and 'Need to check'. Down the side write 'Facts and events' and 'Thoughts and feelings of interviewees'. 
9. List the responses in the appropriate portion of the table and make sure that you are using the information found in the resource and not your own thoughts and feelings. Use the internet to research any information that might not be clear.
10. Once you have completed the table, make a tentative judgment about the impact of development on housing in Shanghai.
11. Write an article using the information in your table supporting your judgement. You may wish to add images to illustrate your text. These images can be sourced through sites such as ‪‬‬‬‬Wikimedia.
12. Print your articles and display them in your classroom. After everyone has had a chance to read the articles, discuss your responses to what has been written and the process used.
13. Conclude the activity by revisiting your inquiry questions created at the beginning of Activity 1. See if you can find responses to the unanswered questions. If there are any remaining, discuss how you could access the information required.

Activity 4: Reflection

To conclude this learning sequence you will reflect on the issue of sustainable futures in light of what you now know about the development of Shanghai.

1. Discuss as a class what you have learned about the development of Shanghai and the Pudong New Area. If you had the opportunity to visit Shanghai, what would you want to see while you were there and why?
2. Listen to the letter from the future at UNESCO Teaching and learning for a Sustainable Future – Module 1 Exploring global realities.
3. In light of what you have learned in this learning sequence discuss as a class how you think future generations will reflect on the current management of their world and how it could be improved.