The Han Dynasty and the Silk Road

 Today's Learning Objective  * Detail the political contributions of the Han Dynasty to the development and expansion of the empire. 

Warm-Up: Ancient China Quiz  Show me what you've learned this past week about the Zhou Dynasty, the Warring States Period, Confucius, and Shi Huangdi and the Qin Dyansty by taking the online quiz here.  

The Han Dynasty: Jigsaw Reading Activity  Today we will be learning about the achievements of the Han, the dynasty that ends up replacing the Qin. However, due to limited time we are going to do a "jigsaw reading" of the passage about the Jigsaw Dynasty. Each group will be assigned one passage from the text, become experts on one particular topic, and then report out to the class about what they learned. You can find the Han Dynasty passage here. Please wait for your assignment before beginning to read.  

The Silk Road: EDpuzzle Video  One of the greatest achievements of the Han Dynasty was the innovation of the "Silk Road." Learn more about it by interacting with an EDpuzzle video today. After you log in, locate the video entitled "The Silk Road and Ancient Trade." Watch the video carefully and answer the five questions. What you don't finish in class becomes homework.   

Homework  Finish your "Silk Road" EDpuzzle video and answer the questions.

The Tomb of the First Emperor Meets Main Idea and Details

 Today's Learning Objective  * List the policies and achievements of the emperor Shi Huangdi in unifying northern China under the Qin Dynasty. * Determine central ideas of a text and summarize the key supporting details and ideas.  

The First Emperor: Main Idea and Details  Today you will be reading about the tomb of Shi Huangdi ("The First Emperor") from an excerpt in your Language of Literature textbooks. Yes, you will be reading from a book today with actual pages. No groaning! "The First Emperor" is an example of informative nonfiction as it provides factual information about a historical figure-the first emperor of China.  

Your objective as you read today is to identify the main idea and details of selected passages (as well as learn more amazing information about Mr. Shi Huangdi). If you need a refresher on main idea and supporting details, check out the image below.  

The passage "The First Emperor" begins on page 729 of your Language of Literature textbook. Use the document "The First Emperor" Main Idea and Details, which can be found in your Social Studies folders to record the main idea and details of selected passages. 

Homework  Complete "The First Emperor" Main Idea and Details assignment.   

The Incredibly True and Sometimes Strange Story of Shi Huangdi

Shi Huangdi, "First Emperor" 

 Today's Learning Objective  * List the policies and achievements of the emperor Shi Huangdi in unifying northern China under the Qin Dynasty. 

Reading and Writing Warm-Up  Read about the life, achievements, and 'dark side' of ancient China's "First Emperor" Shi Huangdi here. Next, answer questions about what your read here.  

Video: 'First Emperor of China'  Today we will watch a short film about Shi Huangdi and his impact on China. Pay attention to several of the film's areas of focus: the dragon motif, Qin Dynasty warfare, Chinese writing, Qin's Code of Law, and the Great Wall of China. Take notes on how each of these subjects are depicted using the document First Emperor of China - Notes, which can be found in your Social Studies folder. If for some reason you would like to pay $2.99 you can access the film below. Otherwise, I'll be showing the video on the big screen for free in class.   

Homework (1.) Finish your First Emperor of China - Notes and Shi Huandi 'Warm-Up' questions. (2.) Complete your Confucius EDpuzzle and the assignment Cause and Effect: The Zhou Dynasty and the Warring States Era, both of which are due tomorrow, Friday, March 27.  

What Does Confucius Say?

Chinese philosopher Confucius

 Today's Learning Objective  * Identify the political and cultural problems prevalent in the time of Confucius and how he sought to solve them.

Confucius Warm-Up  Read about the life and work of Confucius, one of the world's most famous philosophers, here. Then, head over to your Padlet wall (Period 4 and Period 6) and share one thing you learned about his life and one thing you learned about his ideas.

EDpuzzle Video: Confucius  Put your developing understanding of Confucius to the test by interacting with an EDpuzzle video about the famous Chinese philosopher. Login, watch the video "Confucius" carefully, and answer the five questions.

Homework  Complete the "Confucius" EDpuzzle assignment.  

The Zhou Dynasty and the Era of the Warring States

Ancient China during the Warring States Period 

 Today's Learning Objective  * Identify the political and cultural problems prevalent in the time of Confucius and how he sought to solve them.

Warm-Up Video  Watch the informative video below that a group of high school students made about today's topic of study:  the Zhou Dynasty and the Era of the Warring States. 

Cause and Effect:  The Zhou Dynasty and the Era Of the Warring States Cause is what makes something happen. Effect is what happens as a result. Practice identifying cause and effect while reading about the Zhou Dynasty and the Era of the Warring States using the assignment Cause and Effect: The Zhou Dynasty and the Warring States Era, which can be found in your Social Studies folder. 

Homework  Complete the assignment Cause and Effect: The Zhou Dynasty and the Warring States Era, which will be due on Friday, March 27. 

The Mandate of Heaven

Warm Up Quiz  Show me what you learned about the Shang Dynasty by taking the quiz here.  
Crash Course Video:  Ancient China  Let the team at Crash Course review and introduce some key ideas related to Ancient China.  Watch the video below.  

The Mandate of Heaven  Learn about this important belief held by many in Ancient China regarding how the right to rule was determined. You can read about it here and here.  Can you synthesize the information from the three written sources (and the Crash Course Video) and describe in your own words what the Mandate of Heaven was and how it worked? Try doing so here.  

Homework  (1.) Complete your description of the Mandate of Heaven. Complete the Shang Dynasty Webquest, which is due on Friday, March 20. (2.) Complete the Shang Dynasty Webquest, the Dynasty Concept Map, and Ancient China Dynasty Timeline, which are all due tomorrow, Friday, March 20. 

Ancestor Worship and Oracle Bones

 Today's Learning Objective  * Locate and describe the origins of Chinese civilization during the Shang Dynasty.

  

Writing Warm Up  What's the most important thing you learned about the Shang Dynasty during your Webquest? Explain here.  

Key Concepts: Ancestor Worship and Oracle Bones  Today we are learning about two key concepts related to the history and culture of Ancient China. Read about 'Ancestor Worship' and 'Oracle Bones' from the website here. Next, read about Chinese writing as it relates to oracle bones from an excerpt form your textbook here. Finally, complete the Ancestor Worship & Oracle Bones - Study Guide, which can be found in your Social Studies folder. 

Homework  Complete the Ancestor Worship & Oracle Bones - Study Guide, which is due on Friday, March 20. 

Shang Dynasty Webquest and Showcasing Our Learning

 Today's Learning Objective  * Locate and describe the origins of Chinese civilization during the Shang Dynasty.  

Shang Dynasty Webquest (Continued)  Continue your Shang Dynasty Webquest with you partner. Make sure you are working collaboratively and equitably to complete the assignment, which can still be found here. Additional resources on the Shang Dynasty can be still be found here, here, and here.  

Digital Showcase Assignment  Thursday is Open House! Please select one assignment from either Language Arts or Social Studies that you are most proud of, that best represents your strengths as a student, and that you would like to share with your family. Visit the form here, share the link to your assignment, and explain why the assignment is special to you and what it demonstrates you learned. 

Homework  (1.) Complete the Shang Dynasty Webquest, which is due on Friday, March 20. (2.) Complete the Dynasty Concept Map and Ancient China Dynasty Timeline, both of which are also due on Friday, March 20. 

The Shang Dynasty

King Tang of the Shang Dynasty

 Today's Learning Objective  * Locate and describe the origins of Chinese civilization during the Shang Dynasty.  

Video Warm Up  Watch the video below and then write a response explaining the significance of the Shang Dynasty here.  

Shang Dynasty Webquest  Some say the time of the Shang Dynasty was one of the most important time periods in ancient Chinese history. Enjoy your journey back in time to learn about this exciting dynasty, which begins with the Webquest here. However, today you will not be traveling alone; you will be bringing along the person sitting next to you, and together you will be expected to collaboratively complete the Webquest assignment found here. Have one person make a copy of the assignment and share it with the other, and then decide who will be responsible for the various sections. (Please make sure you move the document to your Social Studies folders.) Some of the Webquest links are broken, so additional resources on the Shang Dynasty can be found here, here, and here.  

Video of the Day  You're not alone. Hear what these 12-year-olds think about navigating the most awkward, essential year of their life.

The Dynasties of Ancient China

 Today's Learning Objective  * Analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of early civilizations of China.  

Video Warm Up  Welcome to the amazing world of Ancient Chinese Dynasties! Watch the entertaining and informative video below and share your response here.   

Ancient China Dynasty Timeline  Today you will create a digital timeline featuring the earliest dynasties of Ancient China: the Neolithic Era (Xia Dynasty), Shang Dynasty, Chou (Zhou) Dynasty, Ch'in (Qin) Dynasty, and Han Dynasty. In addition to labeling each dynasty, your timeline should include the years of their reign and an image representing each dynasty. You can find the assignment Ancient China Dynasty Timeline in your Social Studies folders, which includes an example of how to complete your timeline. You can find images and information about ancient Chinese dynasties here and here. You may also Google each dynasty for additional images and dates. 

What Is a Dynasty?

Warm-Up Quiz  It's time to show what you've learned about the 'Geography of China.' Take the quiz here.   

Introduction to Chinese Dynasties  Read about two of the earliest Chinese dynasties here. What features or characteristics do dynasties seem to have? What do you think it mean to be a dynasty?  

Dynasty Concept Map  In order to fully understand what it means to be a 'dynasty,' let's create a Dynasty Concept Map, which you can find in your Social Studies folders. First, based on the text we read previously what characteristics or features do dynasties seem to share? Next, considering these characteristics, what are some 'non-examples' of a dynasty? Who are what does not qualify as a dynasty? If you have time you can even include some images of such non-examples.Thirdly, now that we better understand what a dynasty is not, what are some legitimate examples of dynasties. Shall we Google "examples of ruling dynasties" and see what we can find? Once again, feel free to add some visuals to your concept map. Finally, what is the actual definition of a dynasty. Check our what your Social Studies textbook says here. Additionally, Google "definition of dynasty" and see what you come up with. Which definition are you going to include on your concept map and why? Maybe you could consider combining the definitions of several sources or using your newly developed understand to create your own.  

Homework  (1.) Complete your Dynasty Concept Map.  (2.) Complete the China Map and Ancient China Webquest, both of which are due tomorrow, Friday, March 13.

Completing Ancient China Activities Day

Today's Menu of Activities Sorry I couldn't be with you. I am home sick today. I expect you to be on your very best behavior and to treat your substitute teacher with courtesy and respect. Considering many of you have yet to finish all of your assignments and activities related to Ancient Today, I would like to offer you another day. You may work on any of the assignments or activities listed below. Please use this time wisely. 

• China Map (Due on Friday, March 13)
• Ancient China Webquest (Due on Friday, March 13)
• Geography of China Edpuzzle (Past Due)
• Time for Kids Around the World Activities for China
• Past Due Social Studies Assessments or Assignments
• Language Arts Assignments
• Silent Reading

Mapping China

 Today's Learning Objective   Explain the geographic features of China that made governance and the spread of ideas and good difficult and served to isolate the country from the rest of the world.

Video Warm-Up  Get oriented with China's geography by watching the guided Google Earth tour of China below. What observations can you make?  

               

Ancient China Map Project  Today you will begin creating an informative digital map of China and labeling it with essential components of its geography. China Map Directions and a blank template for the China Map assignment can be found in your Social Studies folders. There are a multitude of resources you can use to help in labeling your map. An online student atlas can be found here. A physical map of China can be found here. And a political map of China can be found here. We will work on this in class today and tomorrow.          

Exploring Ancient China

Aloha Friday!  Sorry I couldn't be with you today. I expect you to be on your very best behavior and to treat your substitute teacher with courtesy and respect. Also, know that I may be monitoring the work on your Chromebook from home. Students that violate classroom norms and rules will have to deal with me and the prospect of serious consequences upon my return. Be your best self! Do your best work! Make me proud! 

Ancient China Webquest  Continue to get oriented with some of the things you'll be learning about during our unit on ancient China by starting to explore the Ancient China Webquest, which you can find in your Social Studies folders. Follow the links, research the questions, and record your answers using the document. This assignment will be due next week!

Academic Study Hall  If you finish your Ancient China Webquest early and you still have assessments missing, please make completing those your priority now. If you still need to finish your Geography of China Edpuzzle, you may also use this time to complete that assignment.

Time for Kids China Activities  If you have finished your Ancient China Webquest, your missing assessments, and your Geography of China Edpuzzle, you may work on an alternative assignment. You may either read your A.R. book silently, or you may check out the Time for Kids Around the World activities for China here. Tour through China's most amazing sites here. Travel through our timeline of major events in China's History here. Learn Mandarin Chinese here. Find out what a typical day in the life of a Chinese boy is like here. And finally find out how much you learned during your virtual voyage through China by taking the quiz here.

The Geography of China with Edpuzzle

 Today's Learning Objective   Explain the geographic features of China that made governance and the spread of ideas and good difficult and served to isolate the country from the rest of the world.

 

Geography of China - Edpuzzle Video  Today you will be visiting Edpuzzle and watching a video and answering a series of questions about the Geography of China. The video will stop periodically and you'll be required to answer a question before being allowed to continue. To be successful, you must pay close attention to the content of the video. If you have your own headphones, please use them. Otherwise, you must listen to your video as quietly as possible. You can watch the video and answer the questions at your own pace. If you don't finish in class today, you must finish on your own time outside of class. This activity will count towards your Social Studies assessment grade. 

Ancient China Webquest  If you finish your Edpuzzle early, you may continue working on your Ancient China Webquest. Follow the links, research the questions, and record your answers using the document. 

Finishing Presentations, Reviewing Assessment Feedback, and Exploring Ancient China

 Today's Learning Objective   Analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the early civilizations of China.

The Final Hinduism and Buddhism Film Presentations Today we will finish watching the remainder of Mr. McGinty's Social Studies students' Hinduism and Buddhism videos. If you haven't already, lease make sure your video is published and in your Social Studies folder and ready for showtime. While you are watching each video, please provide the video's creator with positive and constructive feedback using the form here. Remember feedback from peers is intended to be constructive and help you make your finished product even better. It's important that we all be able to receive and grow and improve based on the feedback from others.   

Reviewing Buddha Comic Strip Assessment Feedback  Today I will return your graded Buddha Comic Strips along with assessment feedback. Let's review the various grading criteria from the rubric and how your project fared. In our quest for continual improvement, if you notice an area that you think you can improve on and want to address, you are welcome to resubmit your project and to be reassessed. The same goes for your Hinduism and Buddhism video project. Please message me through School Loop if you have any questions or want me to take another look at one of your projects.    

Ancient China Webquest  Continue to get oriented with some of the things you'll be learning about during our unit on ancient China by starting to explore the Ancient China Webquest, which you can find in your Social Studies folders. Follow the links, research the questions, and record your answers using the document. We will continue to work on this throughout week.