Introduction

'What does this subject have to do with me?' This is an important question students sometimes ask. But answering the question isn't always easy as each different 'me' might relate to or connect with the topic in different ways.

The following activity is what's called a Subject Sampler. The idea of a sampler is that people who are given the choice will choose things they like or are curious about trying. Boxes of chocolates, compilation CD's, and smorgasbord buffets all work on this principle.

In the following activity, you'll find links to Web sites related to the topic of Tibet. After each link are three prompts designed to get you to answer one question: 'What does this subject have to do with me?' After all, you can answer that better than anyone else.

If you want an idea of how well you're learning, read this evaluation rubric. But most of all, don't fake it, look for what really interests you.

Web Activities

Australia Tibet Council

1. Choose an image on this page that interests you.

2. Describe what it is about that image that drew your attention?

3. What image could you create that would attract the attention of a Tibetan person looking at a page about Australia?

Dalai Lama

1. Click on the Dalai Lama's name and read the first 4 paragraphs about his life. Was it the same as the life of an Australian child?

2. What do you remember about being 3 years old?

3. What advice would you give a child who was being considered as the next Dalai Lama?

Tibet news articles (Yahoo)

1. Choose one of the articles and read it.

2. Have you heard anything else in the news media about the same topic?

3. Yahoo is an American search engine. Why are Australian articles listed here?

Wonders of Tibet

1. Browse through the categories and choose an item you would like to buy as a gift for someone.

2. How much is it? Do you have enough money? Who would you give this gift to? Why that gift to that person?

3. What would you buy as a gift for that person if you could not use this site and buy online? How much might that cost? Why that gift for that person?

Tibet Traditional Festivals

1. Scroll down to the calendar of festivals. Which festival is held nearest to the date of your birthday?

2. How do they celebrate that festival?

3. Can you think of an Australian celebration that is similar to any of the Tibetan festivals?

Overview of the Tibetan struggle

1. Follow the links to photographs and find a photograph of a person that you think looks interesting.

2. How could you make friends with that person (remember, they probably wouldn't be able to speak a lot of English)?

3. Have you ever tried to introduce yourself to a person that can't speak English? How did you feel?

Little Tibet - Essential Facts About the Tibetan Occupation

1. Scroll down the list of facts and find some facts about the lives of children in Tibet.

2. How do those facts compare with your life?

3. Are there other facts about Tibet that you think could have been included in this site?

The mystical arts of Tibet

1. Look at the landscape shown in these photos.

2. Compare that landscape with that of your local environment.

3. How would your life be different if you lived in that landscape instead of your own?

Unique Tibetan Food And Souvenirs for Tourists

1. Find some Tibetan food that yu might like to try.

2. Why did you choose it? Because it seemed different? Because it seemed familiar?

3. What food might you give a Tibetan visitor to try?

MARSDEN, John Tomorrow When the War Began

1. What is it about this series that is the same as the story of Tibetan history?

2. While reading the series, how did you feel about the possibility of your home being invaded?

3. Do you think children in Tibet might feel anything different while reading this series?

Resistance

1. Why did the Aborigines resist?

2. What would you have done?

3. Do all Aboriginal people see the arrival of white Europeans as an invasion?

Conclusion

By now you should have a better idea how this topic does relate to you. You can compare your experience to the rubric for this activity to get an indication.

This Sampler was created because although it's important to learn information about things and to think critically about subjects, further learning doesn't always take place if a personal connection doesn't first exist. We hope that through this Sampler you've found such a connection.

If you have, maybe you're motivated to learn more? The Internet and traditional resources offer plenty of other choices to explore on the topic so why not follow your interests?

created by Murene Cassai email: mcassai@florahill.vic.edu.au http://www.web-and-flow.com/members/mcassai/tibet/sampler.htm