Ancient China

Research Project
Step One: In groups, choose one of the
following dynasties to focus on.

Shang Qin Tang Ming Dynas Dynas Dynas Dynast ty ty ty y Zhou Han Song Qing Dynas Dynas Dynas Dynast ty ty ty y Step Two: Ask questions

Politics
What ruler or rulers held power during the time of your dynasty? How did they rise to power? How did your dynasty expand or unify China? How did the rulers of your dynasty lose power OR why did the dynasty decline?

Economics
How did your dynasty contribute to trade--what products were important during the period of your dynasty? What occupations grew and were important during your dynasty? With whom did your dynasty trade?

Inventions/Technology/Science & Architecture

What major inventions or scientific discoveries occurred during the period of your dynasty? What important buildings or structures were built or extended during the period of your dynasty?

Religion/Culture/ Social Life

What belief systems did your dynasty encourage? Discourage? What works of art, literature or music were important during the period of your dynasty?

How did your dynasty affect daily life in China (the role of family members, education, family life, and recreation)?

Step Three: Gather Information

See the list of websites & books at http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/schools/poolems/BethG/jpms_depts_media_studproj_china.ht m and use the library resources during our library research blocks.

Step Four: Organize Information

Use the appropriate graphic organizer to take notes. It will help you prepare for creating the PowerPoint slide show on your group's Chinese dynasty.

Step Five: Prepare

Use Powerpoint sofware to create your slide show. You must have a title slide, two content slides per topic, and a final slide citing your sources.

Step Six: Present

Groups share their PowerPoint presentations with the class. After each presentation, the class charts major points for each topic: Politics, Economics, Inventions/Technology/Science and Architecture and Religion/Culture/Social Life. After all groups have presented their slide shows, the class answers the guiding question, "Does Chinese dynastic history repeat itself?"

Websites to help . . . Splendors of Imperial China: Treasuress from the National Palace Museum, Taipei http://www.asianart.com/splendors/index.html Mr. Dowling's Electronic Passport : Chinese History http://www.mrdowling.com/613chinesehistory.html Chinese History for Beginners http://condensedchina.com/china1.html#Shang Ancient China Index http://www.crystalinks.com/china.html Concise Political History of China http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/core9/phalsall/texts/chinhist.html Ancient Dynasties http://www-chaos.umd.edu/history/ancient1.html A-Z Kids' Stuff China http://www.atozkidsstuff.com/china.html China: Ancient Arts & Sciences (Franklin Institute) http://sln.fi.edu/tfi/info/current/china.html National Gallery of Art : Teaching Chinese Pronounciation Guide http://www.nga.gov/education/chinatp_pro.shtm Pronounciation Guide : Imperial China http://www.ket.org/artofthehorse/ed/pronounce.htm Maps of China : click on the link Map: Voyage Through the Dynasties to see a map of your dynastys territory http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/1999/china.50/imperial.icon/ China Style Inventions http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/01780/essential/mechanical-inventions/index.htm Chinese Inventions http://library.thinkquest.org/15618/inventor.htm#P1 History of Chinese Invention & Discovery http://www.computersmiths.com/chineseinvention/ Dynasty Timeline Imperial China and World Events http://www.ket.org/artofthehorse/ed/timeline.htm

Timeline and Maps http://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/timeline.htm UNESCO World Heritage Sites: China http://www.world-heritage-tour.org/asia/cn/map.html History of Chinese Dynasties from China Travel Guide http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/index.htm Chinese History: A brief overview http://www.ket.org/artofthehorse/ed/hist.htm Chasing the Great Wall: National Geographic http://magma.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0301/feature1/ Books Too Good To Miss: China's Tang Dynasty by Heather Millar (Benchmark Books) Cultures of the Past China: A History to 1949 by Valjean McLenighan (Children's Press) Enchantment of the World China From the 7th to the 19th Century Helene resky: Editor (Raintree Steck-Vaughn) The Great Wall by Elizabeth Mann (Mikaya Press) China's Tang Dynasty by Heather Millar (Benchmark Books) China [Women in Society Series] by Pamela Tan (Marshall Cavendish) Chronicle of the Chinese Emperors: The Reign-by-Reign Record of the Rulers of Imperial China by Ann Paludan (Thames & Hudson) China's Tang Dynasty by Heather Millar (Benchmark Books) Ancient China Carol Michaelson, Editor (Time Life Books) Nature Company Discoveries Library Ancient Chinese Dynasties by Eleanor J. Hall (Lucent Books) World History Series The Emperor's Silent Army: Terracotta Warriors of Ancient China by Jane O'Connor (Viking)