Silk Road

[Alison Douglas]

The Silk Road:  Group Project

 

Social Studies: World History 7^th Grade

 

Objective: 

7.3 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of China in the Middle Ages.

• Describe agricultural, technological, and commercial developments during the Tang and Sung periods.
• Understand the importance of both overland trade and maritime expeditions between China and other civilizations in the Mongol Ascendancy and Ming Dynasty.

 

Materials:

 

Chromebook

Paper

Pencils

Colored markers

Construction paper

 

 

 

 

References:

EDpuzzle: The Silk Road: A Virtual Tourhttps://edpuzzle.com/assignments/5e53f72de5b91d40fa41338f/watch

 

Website:  China Highlights https://www.chinahighlights.com/silkroad/significance.htm

 

 

Summary/Task:

Students have already covered some important aspects of trade, achievements, and the culture of China.  Now they will link China to the rest of the world explaining the importance of the Silk Road.  They will watch a brief EDpuzzle on virtual tour of the Silk Road.  Then they will need to take notes on the Website article Why China's Silk Road Is So Significant — 10 Reasons that Changed the World

that was given to them about the significance of the Silk Road.  After they have the background knowledge they will create a group poster explaining all of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

• Must have a map and description of some of the cities along the Silk Road
• Include an explanation of what The Silk Road was and why was it called that?
• Explain where it was and explain the route?
• What is the purpose?
• Who traveled along the route (include Marco Polo)?
• Why was it important?
• How did it change the world? 
• What might happen as a result of the new Silk Road (Belt and Road Initiative)—compare/contrast them
• Include 3 sentences about what you found interesting, exciting, or new about The Silk Road
• Make them colorful and neat

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Alison Douglas]

Lesson # 1:  EDpuzzle:  The Silk Road:  A Virtual Tour

 

Students watch the EDpuzzle and answer the questions.  This lessons was used to give the students some background knowledge of what the Silk Road was and why it was important.  Because it was a virtual tour they were able to see key cities and get a first-hand look at it.  Finally, they were able to analyze the geographic route, and understand the importance of the location for trade.

 

 

Lesson #2:  Website:  China Highlights:  Why China’s Silk Road Is So Significant—10 Reasons that Changed the World

 

Students are able to analyze agriculture, technological, and commercial developments

 

Students had to read the article and take notes on the 10 key reasons why the Silk Road changed the world.  (see attached picture of student work) This lesson was used to go beyond basic background knowledge that the EDpuzzle provided and allow students to analyze why it was significant.  Also, they studied the importance of trade and what good led to the growth of China.  In particular silk.

 

 

Lesson #3:  Group Poster

 

Once students were able to understand the significance of the Silk Road and able to answer the objectives, they worked together to create a poster that illustrated what they had learned – see attached student poster

 

• Must have a map and description of some of the cities along the Silk Road
• Include an explanation of what The Silk Road was and why was it called that?
• Explain where it was and explain the route?
• What is the purpose?
• Who traveled along the route (include Marco Polo)?
• Why was it important?
• How did it change the world? 
• What might happen as a result of the new Silk Road (Belt and Road Initiative)—compare/contrast them
• Include 3 sentences about what you found interesting, exciting, or new about The Silk Road
• Make them colorful and neat

 

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