This is a lesson plan I discovered online. It's an introductory lesson on the Yuan dynasty. Although targeted towards 7th grade, it can easily be adapted for high school. For example, I would probably cut out the anticipation guide for my 10th graders. It functions as a front-loading activity to familiarize students with the necessary vocabulary.
http://ncta.osu.edu/lessons/china/history/netter-china.pdf
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