What are the guidelines for presenting the main features of the spiritual life of Van Lang-Au Lac residents? What are the perspectives on developing the History and Geography curricula at the lower secondary level in Vietnam?

What are the guidelines for presenting the main features of the spiritual life of Van Lang-Au Lac residents?

From the dawn of time, humans not only focused on sustaining life through productive work but also paid attention to spiritual life. For the Van Lang-Au Lac residents, spiritual life was closely associated with beliefs, customs, and cultural, recreational activities. These beautiful aspects not only reflected the thoughts and emotions of the people of that era but also contributed to forming Vietnam's cultural identity later on.

Below are the main features of the spiritual life of Van Lang-Au Lac residents:

- Regarding beliefs:

+ The ancient Vietnamese believed in deities and the spiritual world. They followed polytheism, worshipping natural gods such as the Mountain God, the River God, the Sun God, the Moon God, and others, hoping for favorable weather and bountiful harvests.

+ Ancestor worship was also very common, showing respect and gratitude to the deceased. People believed that ancestors could protect and bless their descendants.

+ There were distinctive burial customs. The remains were placed in jars, urns, boat graves, or tree graves, along with tools and living items, reflecting the belief in the afterlife.

- Regarding customs - traditions:

+ Tattooing: Mainly living by agriculture and fishing, they tattooed themselves with images of aquatic creatures to avoid attacks when entering the water.

+ Black teeth, betel chewing: They believed black teeth symbolized beauty and maturity. Chewing betel also became a widespread habit, showcasing affection and bonds among people.

+ Making chung cake, giay cake: These cakes symbolized heaven and earth and were often made during festivals to honor ancestors.

- Regarding festivals and entertainment

Annually, the Van Lang-Au Lac residents organized many festivals to pray for the harvest, thank the deities, and remember their ancestors. During festivals, the atmosphere was bustling with many unique cultural activities:

+ Singing and dancing: People often dressed up, sang, and danced to the sounds of panpipes and bronze drums.

+ Sports competitions: Young men often participated in wrestling contests to display their strength, endurance, and bravery.

+ Boat racing: This was a common game during festivals, not only providing entertainment but also showcasing the community's unity and solidarity.

Overall, the spiritual life of Van Lang-Au Lac residents was rich and diverse, reflecting a close bond between humans and nature and the community. These beautiful customs and traditions continue to be maintained and promoted in modern Vietnamese culture.

Note: Information is for reference only!

What are the guidelines for presenting the main features of the spiritual life of Van Lang-Au Lac residents?

What are the perspectives on developing the History and Geography curricula at the lower secondary level in Vietnam?

Under Section II of the General education program for History and Geography at the lower secondary level promulgated with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the perspectives on developing the History and Geography curricula at the lower secondary level in Vietnam are as follows:

The History and Geography curricula at the lower secondary level adhere to the provisions in the overall program while emphasizing several points of view:

(1) The curriculum aims to develop scientific thinking in students, allowing them to view the world as an integrated whole in both spatial and temporal dimensions based on fundamental knowledge and learning tools for researching history and geography; thereby, forming and developing specific abilities along with general competencies, especially the ability to apply knowledge and skills in practice and creativity.

(2) The curriculum inherits and promotes the strengths of the History and Geography subjects in the current general education curriculum and absorbs the experience of subject curriculum development from advanced countries. The subject content ensures equipping students with foundational, comprehensive, and scientific general knowledge; suitable for the psychological and cognitive characteristics of students, taking into account the teaching conditions in Vietnamese schools.

(3) The historical education content is designed chronologically, from prehistoric times through ancient, medieval to modern and contemporary times; in each period, there's an interleaving of world history, regional history, and Vietnamese history. The geography education content flows from general geography to regional geography and Vietnamese geography. It emphasizes selecting themes and connecting knowledge and skills to form and develop competencies in students while valuing the distinctive features of historical and geographical sciences.

(4) The curriculum emphasizes the application of active educational methods, highlighting the use of varied teaching aids and diversifying teaching and assessment methods to form and develop qualities and competencies in students.

(5) The curriculum ensures connectivity with the History and Geography curricula at the primary level and the History and Geography curricula at the upper secondary level; ensuring coherence and connectivity between grades, education levels, and subjects, as well as educational activities in the general education program.

(6) The curriculum is open, allowing flexible implementation depending on local conditions, the target student groups (students in disadvantaged areas, students with special support needs,...).

What are the objectives of the History and Geography curricula at the lower secondary level in Vietnam?

Under Section 3 of the General education program for History and Geography at the lower secondary level promulgated with Circular 32/2018/TT-BGDDT, the objectives of the History and Geography curricula at the lower secondary level in Vietnam are:

- The History and Geography subject at the lower secondary level contributes along with other subjects and educational activities to forming and developing in students the essential qualities and general competencies.

- The History and Geography subject at the lower secondary level develops historical and geographical competencies in students based on a foundation of selected basic knowledge of world, national, and local history and geography; natural, socio-economic, and cultural processes occurring in space and time; the interaction between human society and the natural environment.

The subject helps students learn to use the tools of historical and geographical sciences to learn and apply in practice; simultaneously contributing with other subjects and educational activities to forming and developing in students the essential qualities and general competencies, particularly the love for their homeland and country, pride in national traditions, respect for the diversity of world history and human culture, and igniting in students a desire to explore the surrounding world, applying what they have learned into practice.