Download Ancient China Unit

Ancient China Unit
Lesson 1:
Lesson 2:
Lesson 2:
Lesson 3:
Lesson 4:
Lesson 5:
Lesson 6:
What Do We Know & Presentation (Choose a topic)
Our Knowledge of China (Create a KWL Chart)
The Geography of China & the Great Wall of China (Create a Map)
Two Great Rivers
The Mongols & Other Invaders
Marco…Polo
Importance of Silk and the Silk Road
STUDENT ACTIVITIES:
1. Individual Student Research: Students choose a topic, research it and add it to
our Ancient China timeline
2. Lap book: Students complete a lap book and adding facts and pictures from each
lesson.
CULMINATING ACTIVITY
 Plan an afternoon to have a “China Day.” Start with a lunch of Chinese food (call local
Chinese restaurants and see if they will donate food to your class for the day OR have
students select a Chinese dish to pass for a whole group pot-luck).
 Have several different craft stations set up for the students to rotate through.
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One station can be a “wood writing” station. Before they invented paper, the Chinese wrote
characters from top to bottom on wooden strips. Using the symbols, allow students to write
characters from top to bottom on Popsicle sticks (a fine tipped marker works best for this).
The sticks can be tied together with string and rolled up like a scroll. They can write the
English translation on the back.
A second station could be a kite making station. The Chinese claim that one of their general
invented the kite in 206 A.D. Have students create a frame using cardboard strips (or thin
wooden dowels), a hot glue gun (have an adult help with this), and string. Make the kite using
tissue paper. Decorate the tissue paper with markers, feathers, glitter, etc. Caution the
students that the kites may not fly, but can hang up in the classroom.
A third station can be the games station. Games the Chinese children enjoyed were playing
with yo-yos, jacks, and the game Mah-jongg (available in toy stores). A fourth station could
be a clay pot making station to symbolize the porcelain pots made during the Song dynasty.
Give students a softball size piece of clay. Allow them to use two-thirds of the clay to make
a pot. Have them use the remaining clay to make three legs and handles for the pot. They
can then use a plastic knife to create designs on the outside of the pot.
These activities will help students gain a better understanding of the culture of ancient
China.