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.