Erica Davis 6th Grade: Ancient China Unit: Lesson 1 Standard: 6.30 identify and locate on a map the geographical features of China, including the Huang He (Yellow) River, Plateau of Tibet, and Gobi Desert. (G) 6.32 Explain how the regions of China are isolated by geographic features, making governance and the spread of ideas and goods difficult, and served to isolate the country from the rest of the world. (G, H) Materials: Map of China (Print one of the maps from the two websites above to hand out to students.) Time Length: 30 min. (Introduction to Ancient China) Instruction: The teacher will pass out a blank map of China (preferably with geographic features) to the students. The same map will be displayed on the board. Students will go through and label the Yellow River, Plateau of Tibet, and Gobi Desert. Other features such as the Himalaya may be added on to tie in previous units such as India. Students will then be put into groups to there newly labeled map. The students will be instructed by the teacher to look at the geographical features on the map and write down what they notice. Students should identify where the mountains, plateau, rivers, and deserts. They should notice that the Himalaya are on the Western edge, the plateau is Northwest, etc. Next the teacher will ask the students to determine how the geographical features of China might impact the people of China. Students should notice how the geographical features surround and cut off China from the rest of Europe and Asia. China was still accessible, but harder to travel to from other areas. Students will relate back to the past unit of India and how Northern India was cut off from the rest of Asia due to the mountain ranges found along their northern border. Students will discuss how this will impact travel and people throughout China. Some guided questions that can be used are: Do you think China will be able to have one governing body throughout the land despite physical barrios that may or may not get in the way? Do you think China was able to easily communicate to other civilizations? Why or why not? The teacher will then discuss how China was isolated due to natural barrios around the land. This made it difficult to communicate and spread ideas throughout.
Erica Davis 6th Grade: Ancient China Unit: Lesson 1 Standard: 6.30 identify and locate on a map the geographical features of China, including the Huang He (Yellow) River, Plateau of Tibet, and Gobi Desert. (G) 6.32 Explain how the regions of China are isolated by geographic features, making governance and the spread of ideas and goods difficult, and served to isolate the country from the rest of the world. (G, H) Materials: Map of China (Print one of the maps from the two websites above to hand out to students.) Time Length: 30 min. (Introduction to Ancient China) Instruction: The teacher will pass out a blank map of China (preferably with geographic features) to the students. The same map will be displayed on the board. Students will go through and label the Yellow River, Plateau of Tibet, and Gobi Desert. Other features such as the Himalaya may be added on to tie in previous units such as India. Students will then be put into groups to there newly labeled map. The students will be instructed by the teacher to look at the geographical features on the map and write down what they notice. Students should identify where the mountains, plateau, rivers, and deserts. They should notice that the Himalaya are on the Western edge, the plateau is Northwest, etc. Next the teacher will ask the students to determine how the geographical features of China might impact the people of China. Students should notice how the geographical features surround and cut off China from the rest of Europe and Asia. China was still accessible, but harder to travel to from other areas. Students will relate back to the past unit of India and how Northern India was cut off from the rest of Asia due to the mountain ranges found along their northern border. Students will discuss how this will impact travel and people throughout China. Some guided questions that can be used are: Do you think China will be able to have one governing body throughout the land despite physical barrios that may or may not get in the way? Do you think China was able to easily communicate to other civilizations? Why or why not? The teacher will then discuss how China was isolated due to natural barrios around the land. This made it difficult to communicate and spread ideas throughout.