Ancient China: 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 - InsertLearning Assignment  Learn about an important belief held by many in Ancient China regarding how the right to rule was determined by reading an online article about the the Mandate of Heaven InsertLearning style. I have embedded questions, videos, and vocabulary support to make your online reading experience more meaningful and interactive. You will also receive points for questions that you answer correctly. You can access the article from your Social Studies Google Classroom. This assignment should be completed by Friday, May 5.

Homework  (1.) Complete your Shang Dynasty InsertLearning assignment, which is due onFriday, May 5. (2.) Complete your Mandate of Heaven InsertLearning 
assignment, which is also due on Friday, May 5.

Ancient China: The Shang Dynasty Meets InsertLearning

 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.  

Getting Started with InsertLearning  Today we will be signing up for a new program called InsertLearning. InsertLearning lets you answer questions, see teacher notes, and take your own notes on any webpage. To get started, you first need to visit the Chrome Web Store and install the InsertLearning extension.  

Shang Dynasty InsertLearning Assignment  Today you will be reading an online article about the the Shang Dynasty InsertLearning style. I have embedded questions, videos, pictures, and vocabulary support to make your online reading experience more meaningful and interactive. You will also receive points for questions that you answer correctly. You can access the article at your Social Studies Google Classroom. This assignment should be completed by next Friday, May 5.

The Dynasties of Ancient China

 

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

Video Introduction to Chinese Dynasties  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 Google Classroom, 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.

Homework  (1.) Complete the Map of China project, which is due this Friday, April 28. (2.) Complete the Ancient China Dynasty Timeline, which is also due this Friday, April 28.

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 Google Classroom. 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. The China Map will be due next Friday, April 28. 

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. Before you do, however, we are going to preview the video together as a class.

Now head over to Edpuzzle and begin answering your questions. Remember 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, and should be completed by Friday, April 21.

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. This assignment is due Friday, April 21.

Welcome to Ancient China

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

Video Warm-Up  Welcome to Ancient China! Watch the China introductory video below and make observations about the geography and culture of China. Share your observations here.  

Ancient China Webquest  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 Google Classroom. Follow the links, research the questions, and record your answers using the document. We will work on this throughout the next week.  

"Children of Heaven" and Challenging Muslim Stereotypes

Zahra and Ali from "Children of Heaven" 

Building Background: Iran and Muslim Stereotypes  This school year we have closely examined current events taking place in parts of the Middle East, including Syria, Iraq, and Iran. What we haven't explored enough is our own stereotypes about people from this part of the world. A stereotype is preconceived idea often used to categorize large groups of people. Often when people don't understand certain people they try to classify them, often mistakenly, one way or another. Stereotypes can be dangerous. Today we will begin examining our own stereotypes, while learning about people of the Middle East and the religion of Islam. 

Our focus today is on the people of Iran. Iran is  an important country in the center of the Middle East, and its people have a rich history dating back to ancient times.  

Iran also has a complicated relationship and history with the United States of America. Due to disagreements between the governments of our two countries, tensions exist. The image of the Iranian people that is often portrayed in the media is of a violent people that hate America and wish to do us harm. Images like the one below have been broadcasted on the news for years. If this is the only picture your see of Iranians, it could certainly shape the way you see them. 

Is this image representative of who the people of Iran are and how they feel about Americans?

And to be fair, the Iranian government and media is also guilty of pushing propaganda about America and Americans. As a result, the view of Americans for some Iranians is also likely skewed. How do we overcome these misrepresentations, stereotypes, and propaganda? I believe it starts with understanding our shared humanity. 

Below I have included some images from Humans of Tehran, which is a Facebook page dedicated to capturing the humanity of the people of Tehran, the capital city of Iran. Do the people in these pictures seem that much different from us? Do they change the way you see Muslims and people from the Middle East? 

Finally, watch the short video "Discover Iran in 2 Minutes" and see if you see Iran and its people in a new light.  

         

Movie: "Children of Heaven"  Now we will watch the film Children of Heaven which tells the heartwarming story of the relationship between a brother and sister from Iran. As you watch, pay attention to both the similarities and differences between your culture compared to that of the people of Iran depicted in the film. Also make note of the central characters' character traits. What human qualities do they exhibit? Finally, consider your own stereotypes you may have had about Muslims and/or people from the Middle East? Has this movie and today's lesson challenged or changed they way you see people who follow the religion of Islam and/or who live in this part of the world? If so, how? You will use the Children of Heaven - Study Guide, which can be found in your Social Studies Google Classroom, to keep track of your notes and ideas.