Mongols - Imperial China - Marco Polo

Marco Polo: The Boy Who Traveled the Medieval World by Nick McCarty

Discussion:
Working for Kubla Khan
Travels through Southeast Asia
Going home

Activity:
History journal
Map study - tracing Marco's route

Mongols - Imperial China - Kubla Khan

Kubla Khan: Emperor of Everything by Kathleen Krull and Robert Byrd

Discussion:
Extent of Kubla's reign; expansion throughout southern China
Contributions to theater, science, medicine, standardization of services (agriculture, money, postal system)
Wars with Japan, decline

Activity:
Draw a 12-panel comic strip of Kubla Khan's life

Mongols - Imperial China - Conquering

Adventures on the Ancient Silk Road by Priscilla Galloway and Dawn Hunter

Discussion:
The Song Dynasty shrinks to below the Yangtze River
The Mongols take over the Jin
Mongols establish khanate in China

Activity:
History journal
Map study

Imperial China - Song Dynasty - Science and Technology

The Song Dynasty by Scott Ingram
Made in China: Ideas and Inventions from Ancient China by Suzanne Williams

Discussion:
Major inventions of the Song Dynasty - gunpowder, Su Song's clock, rainbow arch bridges
Improvements to existing industries - iron and steel, silk, ceramics

Activity:
History journal
Picture study: Song Dynasty ceramics
Build a rainbow bridge

Imperial China - Song Dynasty - Economic Advances

The Song Dynasty by Scott Ingram

Discussion:
Agrarian reforms lead to creation of wealth in rural and urban centers
Expansion of merchant class and trade
Urbanization/diversification of urban trades catering to merchants and the wealthy

Activity:
History journal

Imperial China - Song Dynasty - Hsin Fa (New Laws)

The Song Dynasty by Scott Ingram

Discussion:
The new scholarly class - tension between conservatives and reformers
Hsin Fa: taxation system, distribution of public money
Reduction of the military

Activity:
History journal

Imperial China - Song Dynasty - Foundation

The Song Dynasty by Scott Ingram

Discussion:
Zhao Kuangyin of the Zhou Dynasty in Northern China
Slow re-unification and dismantling of hereditary jiedushi governors
Re-instituting the Confucian examination system (again)

Activity:
History journal
Map study

Imperial China - Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms

Read-aloud: Cloud Weavers: Ancient Chinese Legends by Rena Krasno and Yeng Fong Chieng

Discussion:
Chaos after the fall of the Tang Dynasty
The jiedushi (regional governors) become essentially autonomous
Northern vs. Southern trends (north tended to be ruled by one dynasty at a time, while the south had concurrent rulers)

Activity:
History journal

Imperial China - Tang Dynasty - Decline and Fall

Read-aloud: Cloud Weavers: Ancient Chinese Legends by Rena Krasno and Yeng Fong Chieng

Discussion:
An Lushan/An Shi Rebellion - weakening the state
Gradual disintegration of the equal land mandate
Breakdown of the Confucian examination system
Natural disasters
Huang Chao Rebellion and Zhu Wen's takeover

Activity:
History journal
Map study

Imperial China - Tang Dynasty - Art

Discussion:
Woodblock printing - accessibility of texts and imagery
Leshan Giant Buddha
Mogao Cave paintings and murals

Activity:
Field trip to the Freer and Sackler Galleries

Imperial China - Tang Dynasty - Empress Wu Zetian

Empress of China, Wu Ze Tian by Jiang Cheng an and Xu De Yuan

Discussion: 

Early life of Wu Zetian - nun, concubine

Accession to the throne; handling enemies

Abdication

Activity: 

History journal

Imperial China - Tang Dynasty - Chang'an and other major cities

Read-aloud: Cloud Weavers: Ancient Chinese Legends by Rena Krasno and Yeng Fong Chieng

Discussion:
Location, size, and layout of Chang'an under the Tang
Commerce; the Grand Canal; Cosmopolitanism and sumptuary laws
Other major cities: Yangzhou and Laoyang

Activity:
History journal
Map study: Chang'an

Imperial China - Tang Dynasty - Poets and Poetry

Maples in the Mist: Poems for Children from the Tang Dynasty by Minfong Ho, Mou-Sien Tseng, and Jean Tseng

Discussion:
Tang Dynasty fosters the arts
Major poets of the Tang Dynasty
Poems

Activity:
History journal
Memorize 3 Tang Dynasty poems

Imperial China - Tang Dynasty - Foundation

Maples in the Mist: Children's Poems from the Tang Dynasty by Minfong Ho, Mou-Sien Tseng, and Jean Tseng
Read-aloud: Cloud Weavers: Ancient Chinese Legends by Rena Krasno and Yeng Fong Chieng

Discussion:
The Li family overthrows the Sui Dynasty
Continuation of Sui Dynasty reforms
Reopening the Silk Road

Activity:
History journal

Imperial China - Emperor Wen and the Sui Dynasty

I Once Was a Monkey: Tales Buddha Told by Jeanne M. Lee

Discussion:
Emperor Wen reunifies the north, institutes reforms
Emperor Wen conquers the South with a massive military, reunites China
Attempted invasion of Korea and the fall of the Sui Dynasty

Activity:
History journal
Map study

Imperial China - Southern and Northern Dynasties

The Song of Mu Lan by Jeanne M. Lee
Read-aloud: I Once Was a Monkey: Tales Buddha Told by Jeanne M. Lee

Discussion:
China gradually splits into Northern and Southern dynasties
Constant war; ethnic migration (particularly Han Chinese toward the south)
Weakening of Confucianism; rise of Buddhist and Daoist influences

Activity:
History journal

Imperial China - Three Kingdoms

Three Kingdoms Timeline
Read-aloud: Ancient Chinese Legends by Yeng-Fong Chiang and Rena Krasno

Discussion:
The decline of the Han Dynasty
Shu, Wu, Wei territories
Loss of life - war, famine

Activity:
History journal
Map study - three kingdoms

Imperial China - Han Dynasty - Art and Literature

The Han Dynasty by Sheila Wyborny
Read-aloud: Ancient Chinese Legends by Yeng-Fong Chiang and Rena Krasno

Discussion:
Materials used in art - bronze, paper (after 100 CE), pottery
Poetry and historical literature
Themes - royalty, peasant life, clothing, buildings

Activity:
History journal
Picture study: Han Dynasty Art

Imperial China - Han Dynasty - Government and Law Review

The Han Dynasty by Sheila Wyborny
Read-aloud: Cloud Weavers: Ancient Chinese Legends by Yeng Fong Chiang and Rena Krasno

Discussion:
Confucianism - basis of Han law
Structure of the government hierarchy; entering civil service
The armed forces - weapons

Activity:
History journal
Picture study

Imperial China - Han Dynasty - Social Structures Review

The Han Dynasty by Sheila Wyborny
Read-aloud: Cloud Weavers: Ancient Chinese Legends by Yeng Fong Chiang and Rena Krasno

Discussion:
Confucianism - basis of Han law and Chinese cultural traditions
Influences from Buddhism and Daoism
Social norms for different levels of society

Activity:
History journal
Picture study