Format
1. Pre-Lesson: Introduction to the Penn Museum
2. A brief introduction to China, past and present
3. A history of the Shang Dynasty in artifacts: writing and bronzework
4. A history of the Zhou Dynasty: the Hundred Schools of Thought and the Mandate of Heaven
5. A history of the Qin Dynasty: emperors and ceramics
6. A history of the Han Dynasty: the civil service system and the Silk Road
7. Conclusion and questions
Objectives
Big Question: What were the major contributions of the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties to Chinese politics, culture, and society?
Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students should be able to…
• Assess the major achievements of the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han Dynasties
• Compare and contrast the government structure of the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han Dynasties and determine how they influenced each other.
• Compare and contrast Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism and measure their influences on ancient Chinese government and society.
Standards Alignment
National Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.11-12.RH.1 -- Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, connecting insights gained from specific details to an understanding of the text as a whole.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.11-12.RH.7 -- Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, as well as in words) in order to address a question or solve a problem.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.11-12.RI.1 -- Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.11-12.RI.7 -- Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.6-8.RH.1 -- Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.6.RI.1 -- Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.6.RI.7 -- Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.7.RI.1 -- Cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.8.RI.1 -- Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.9-10.RH.1 -- Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources, attending to such features as the date and origin of the information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.9-10.RI.1 -- Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.9-10.RI.7 -- Analyze various accounts of a subject told in different mediums (e.g., a person’s life story in both print and multimedia), determining which details are emphasized in each account.World History Content Standards, Grades 5-12 (https://phi.history.ucla.edu/nchs/world-history-content-standards/):
World History Era 1: The Beginnings of Human Society Giving Shape to World History
• 2A 7-12: Identify areas in Southwest Asia and the Nile valley where early farming communities probably appeared and analyze the environmental and technological factors that made possible experiments with farming in these regions.
• 2B 7-12: Analyze how peoples of West Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and the Americas domesticated food plants and developed agricultural communities in response to local needs and conditions.
World History Era 2: Early Civilizations and the Emergence of Pastoral Peoples, 4000-1000 BCE
• 1A 9-12: Describe architectural, artistic, literary, technological, and scientific achievements of these civilizations and relate these achievements to economic and social life.
• 1A 7-12: Compare the development of religious and ethical belief systems in the three civilizations and how they legitimized the political and social order.
• 1A 5-12: Compare the forms of writing that developed in the three civilizations and how written records shaped political, legal, religious, and cultural life
• 4A: 7-12 Describe fundamental inventions, discoveries, techniques, and institutions that appeared during this period and assess the significance of bronze technology for economic, cultural, and political life.
State Standards
Please contact the Assistant Director of Virtual Programs for more information on state or region specific standards.