China

Big Idea

Leaders can change the future of their communities in long lasting ways.

Unit Questions:

  • How do belief systems influence people's way of life?
  • In what ways have leaders changed the communities they ruled?
  • How does geography shape a civilization?
  • How does trade/exchange of ideas with other groups benefit or harm a society?

Unit Vocabulary:

  • Buddhism
  • Taoism
  • Confucianism
  • Bureaucracy
  • Woodblock printing
  • Scholar-Officials
  • Gengis Khan


  • Mandate of Heaven
  • Zheng He
  • Dynasty
  • Civil examination
  • Wu Zetian
Presentation: Chinese Dynasties, Tang
China: Beliefs and Structure
Song Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty

Summative Project: Dynasty Study

Overview:

China's dynasties differed greatly from one another. Ruled by some of the most interesting characters in history, each dynasty changed China's destiny dramatically. After studying each of the major dynasties of the later era, you must now act as a historian. Research, write, and present your findings in a unique way.

Tasks:

1. Choose one of the dynasties from our unit. You can pick any of the three we have studied. You will be making a presentation about that dynasty addressing the following:

  • What was the background of the people who took over? Were they military leaders, scholars, or outsiders?
  • When did they rule?
  • Who were their most prominent rulers?
  • What type of government did they use?
  • What were their most prominent achievements? (Achievements include everything from expanding their empires to inventions.)

2. Address the Big Idea of our unit in some way.

Leaders play a significant role in the development and future of the communities they rule.

3. You must also address each of the essential questions in your presentation.

  • How do belief systems influence people's way of life?
  • In what ways have leaders changed the communities they ruled?
  • How does geography shape a civilization?
  • How does trade/exchange of ideas with other groups benefit or harm a society?

4. Choose how you would like to present your findings. You choose! Pick anything, but make sure you can handle it. If your mode of presentation hampers your ability to complete your project, then choose something else.

  • Write a paper
  • Do a Prezi
  • Make a Podcast with Educreations
  • Use Google Slides
  • Design a poster
  • Bring in a Tri-Fold presentation
  • Act out a Skit
  • Film a video

Review a rubric!