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Shang Dynasty News
Subject Area:
Social Studies
Grade Level(s):
7
Duration of Activity:
Two to three, 50-minute class periods
Description of Activity:
This activity provides students the opportunity to reflect on what they learn about the Shang Dynasty in China by paraphrasing the information and composing articles that will be combined by student groups to create one-page newspapers. The newspapers will contain a masthead, headlines, and articles with related clip art objects and/or photographs as well as a map of the area of China ruled by the Shang Dynasty.
Objectives:
- Students will research and analyze information about China and the Shang Dynasty using text and World Wide Web resources.
- Students will assume the roles of newspaper reporters and write articles about the Shang dynasty.
- Student groups will use the newspaper articles to create one-page newspapers.
Materials/Equipment:
- Computer with Internet access
- Books and periodicals about China (optional)
- Floppy diskettes
- Printer
- Microsoft Word or other word-processing software
- Handout 1: Shang Dynasty Research Worksheet
- Handout 2: Rubric for Newspaper Articles
- Handout 3: Inserting Clip Art into a Document
- Handout 4: Shang Dynasty Research Worksheet—Answer Key (Teacher handout)
Prerequisites (skills or background needed):
- Ability to locate information on the World Wide Web
- Proficiency using Microsoft Word or another word-processing software
Procedure
Teacher Component:
The teacher will
- bookmark the following Web sites on the World Wide Web prior to class:
- Early China
http://www.ualberta.ca/~csmackay/CLASS_110/Early.China.html
- Shang Dynasty
http://www.yutopian.com/history/shang.html
- The Shang Dynasty
http://www.china10k.com/english/history/1/13/13.htm
- Shang
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/shang.html
- Shang Dynasty Map - The Art of Asia - History and Maps
http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/shang-dynasty-map.cfm
- Shang Dynasty - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_Dynasty
- Artifacts from a Late Shang Dynasty Royal Tomb
http://www.npm.gov.tw/exhbition/ctom2000/english/etom2000.htm
- Yahooligans! Directory
http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/around_the_world/countries/china/history/ancient_china/shang_dynasty/
- Dynasties of China: Shang Dynasty
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/shang/index.htm
- introduce the lesson and review the term dynasty with the students. Allow the students to share facts they may have learned about how ruling families lived in ancient China.
- state that this unit of study will allow the students to learn other interesting facts about this civilization including its beginning and the three divisions of Chinese history, as well as the way the people lived during that time in history.
- distribute Handout 1: Shang Dynasty Research Worksheet and inform students that they will assume the roles of newspaper reporters who have been given the assignment to research and report on the ancient Shang Dynasty.
- inform students that their assignment is to research the bookmarked Web sites on the World Wide Web and locate information, specifically the topics listed in Handout 1. Shang Dynasty Research Worksheet. They will locate and write about information that will tell the stories of the Shang Dynasty.
- explain that they are to paraphrase the information they find and write brief articles to provide this information to their readers. Remind students that newspaper articles should answer the five W questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why.
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Assign students to work in small groups of two or three students to conduct research and to create group newspapers using Microsoft Word or another word-processing software. The newspaper should contain a masthead that includes the name of the newspaper, a volume or issue number and date, and the names of the reporters. See Using Microsoft Word to Create a Two-Column Newsletteras an aid for students in creating their newspapers.
Following the masthead, the newspaper should be written in two columns and should contain clip art objects or photographs as well as a map of the area ruled by the Shang dynasty. This map can be found at the Web site, Shang Dynasty Map - The Art of Asia - History and Maps / http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/shang-dynasty-map.cfm.
- distribute Handout 2: Rubric for Newspaper Articles to allow students to be sure that they have included all necessary information to complete their newspaper articles and to inform them how their newspapers will be evaluated.
- monitor students as they conduct research and assist as they work to create the group newspapers.
- instruct students to use Handout 3: Inserting Clip Art into a Document so that the students will know how to insert clip art objects when needed.
- assist as students save their completed group newspapers to floppy disks and print two copies of their work. One copy will be submitted for teacher evaluation, and the other copy is to display on the classroom bulletin board. The teacher should provide an on-screen evaluation prior to the students being allowed to print their documents in order to be sure that the documents contain the necessary masthead information and that each newspaper is only a one-page document.
- allow time for oral presentations of the newspapers and instruct student groups to display their newspapers as they make their oral presentations about what was learned from their research and reported in their newspapers.
Student Activities:
The student will
- be introduced to the lesson with a review of the term dynasty and the opportunity to share facts they may have learned about how ruling families lived in ancient China.
- learn other interesting facts about this civilization including the origin and three divisions of Chinese history with an emphasis on the Shang Dynasty. Students will learn how the ancient Chinese people lived under the Shang rulers.
- review Handout 1: Shang Dynasty Research Worksheet to understand the information that will serve as the basis for the newspaper articles that they will write about the Shang Dynasty.
- research the bookmarked Web sites on the World Wide Web and locate the information requested on Handout 1: Shang Dynasty Research Worksheet. Students will use the following bookmarked Web sites:
- Early China
http://www.ualberta.ca/~csmackay/CLASS_110/Early.China.html
- Shang Dynasty
http://www.yutopian.com/history/shang.html
- The Shang Dynasty
http://www.china10k.com/english/history/1/13/13.htm
- Shang
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/china/ancient_china/shang.html
- Shang Dynasty Map - The Art of Asia - History and Maps
http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/shang-dynasty-map.cfm
- Shang Dynasty - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shang_Dynasty
- Artifacts from a Late Shang Dynasty Royal Tomb
http://www.npm.gov.tw/exhbition/ctom2000/english/etom2000.htm
- Yahooligans! Directory
- Dynasties of China: Shang Dynasty
http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/shang/index.htm
- use the information found through research and paraphrase it to create brief articles on the Shang Dynasty. Students are reminded that newspaper articles should answer the five W questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why.
- work in small groups of two or three students to conduct the research and create group newspapers using Microsoft Word or another word-processing software. Each newspaper should contain a masthead that includes the name of the newspaper, a volume or issue number and date, and the names of the submitting reporters.
Following the masthead, the newspaper should be written in two column layout and should contain clip art objects as well as a map of the area that can be found at the Web site, Shang Dynasty Map / http://www.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/shang-dynasty-map.cfm. See Using Microsoft Word to Create a Two-Column Newsletter as an aid in creating the newspapers.
- use Handout 2: Rubric for Newspaper Articles as a check that they have included all necessary information to complete their newspaper articles and to the way in which their newspapers will be evaluated.
- be monitored as research is conducted and assisted as they work to create the group newspapers.
- use Handout 3: Inserting Clip Art into a Document as a guide to know how to insert clipart.
- save the completed group newspapers to floppy disks and print two copies of their work. One copy is for teacher evaluation and the other copy is for the bulletin board.
- give an oral presentations of what was learned from their research and reported in their newspapers. Post newspapers on the bulletin board.
Accommodations:
- Students having special needs may be partnered with a student with stronger writing or technology skills.
- Student groups who complete and print their newspaper may be allowed to use their research and create a multimedia presentation using Microsoft PowerPoint or other presentation software.
Extension Activities:
- Students may construct a timeline from 3,000 B.C. to show growth of civilization along the Huang , locate dates such as 1700 B.C. (beginning of the Shang Dynasty), and mark the end of its 600 year rule. Students will then present and explain various events on their timeline.
- Students may be allowed to take a virtual trip to China via the Web site, China Through a Lens / http://www.china.org.cn/features/photos/index.htm..
- Students can study tangrams, ancient Chinese puzzles consisting of one square divided into seven pieces that include five triangles, one square, and a rhomboid. Students can visit C·R·E·A·T·E for Mississippi / www.create4ms.org and complete the lesson plan Exploring Geometry through Tangrams. Contained in this lesson plan is a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on tangrams that will help the students understand the concept. They can also visit the following Web sites:
Integration:
- Social Studies
- Mathematics
- Language Arts
- Technology
Assessments:
- Handout 2: Rubric for Newspaper Articles
URLs:
Curriculum Frameworks
Mississippi:
Seventh Grade
- Examine characteristics and development of various societies in the Eastern Hemisphere prior to 1750. (H)
- Investigate the history of the following: Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia, and Islands of the Pacific (e.g., early man, Greeks, Romans, etc.)
- Apply spatial and ecological perspectives to people, places, and environment using social studies tools (e.g., timelines, maps, globes, primary and secondary resources, political cartoons, charts, graphs, a compass, technology, etc.). (H, G, E)
- Locate early civilizations in the Eastern Hemisphere (e.g., river civilizations, Greeks, Romans, etc.)
- Analyze civic life, politics, and government. (C, H)
- Describe the essential characteristics of and need for government as found in the countries of the Eastern Hemisphere (e.g., monarchy, dictatorship, republic, dynasty, etc.).
National Educational Technology Standards (NETS)/ Grades 6—8:
- Apply productivity/multimedia tools and peripherals to support personal productivity, group collaboration, and learning throughout the curriculum. (3, 6)
- Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems. (5, 6)
TerraNova:
27 Historical and Cultural Perspectives (Level 11-21/22)
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts and process skills related to the study of time, continuity, and societal change throughout history.
Demonstrate an understanding of concepts and process skills related to the study of the contributions, influences, and interactions of various cultures.
Construct answers and create solutions or products using inquiry skills and knowledge related to historical and cultural perspectives
Link and Feedback to Author(s):
Tomeka S. Brown, Coleman Middle School, Greenville, MS
Shawon78@hotmail.com
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