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Curriculum Project: The Forbidden City
1. The students will have already have knowledge about how China reunified under the Tang and Sung Periods, but then we will get into some of the great achievements that have lasted for many years. We will study the great achievements of the Chinese empire such as The Great Wall, gun power, paper, silk, woodblock printing, compass, porcelain, and The Forbidden City. This lesson will focus on the significance of The Forbidden City. We will study all aspects and students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge.
2. skill and content objectives:
7.3 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of China in the Middle Ages.
2. Describe agricultural, technological, and commercial developments during the Tang and Sung periods.
3. Lesson plan:
We will first read textbook pages 184-186, and discuss the significance of the Forbidden city.
Focus questions:
In what ways did the Ming Dynasty strengthen China?
How did the Forbidden City show the power and importance of the emperor?
After the students have some background knowledge on the Forbidden City, we will take it further with other resources that will discuss not only the reason for why it was built but also the architectural designs. The importance of every detail in the city and how not only the why but also the importance on such aspects as the walls, the direction, the design, and all the symbolism that within the city. We will use the following website:
https://www.ducksters.com/history/china/forbidden_city.php
I use it to highlight and simply the information I want them to know. For this class, I will use it to cover the Forbidden City. It covers information such as when it was built, why it was built, features, the layout, and the symbolism behind the Forbidden city.
https://edpuzzle.com/search?q=forbidden%20city
This video will give the students to see the architectural style and really see how magnificent the city was/is.
They will then create a “One-pager” assignment in which they will put all of their information that they have learned in one document
Directions will include:
Make a Google Drawing or may use white blank paper
Must be colorful and creative
Include an explanation of the city and why it was built? Who built it?
Who lived there and why?
What was the importance of the city?
What did it symbolize? What architectural designs are unique to Ancient China?
Include pictures-
4. Finished examples and assessment of what they have learned: