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Idea: Civil Service and Examination System
Source: Video
About: This give students a little insight into Chinese Culture and the examination system:how it got started, how it works, etc.

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Chinese Traditional Education: Imperial examination system

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People/Roles : Genghis Kahn
Source : Biography- Secondary
About : This website gives a kid friendly biography about Genghis Kahn. It includes about his life, him as a leader, his conquests, interesting facts, etc.

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Kids learn about the biography of Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire who conquered China and much of Asia.

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Events: The Tang Dynasty
Source: Primary
About: This PDF lists the 10 Abominations of the Tang Dynasty and explains them very well. There are discussion questions for each.

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People/Roles : Kublai Kahn
Source : Biography- Secondary
About : A kid friendly biography on Kublai Kahn. It includes what he is best known for, him conquering China , etc.

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Kids learn about the biography of Kublai Khan, leader of the Mongols who became emperor of China and established the Yuan Dynasty.

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Places / Institutions: Korea
Source: Book
About: This book describes how to make a famous Korean dish. This will help students better understand Korean culture and all of its parts.

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juvenile fiction / family / general (see also headings under social themes)

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juvenile fiction / people & places / asia

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Bee-bim bop (the name translates as "mix-mix rice") is a traditional Korean dish of rice topped, and then mixed, with meat and vegetables. In bouncy rhyming text, a hungry child tells about helping her mother make bee-bim bop: shopping, preparing ingredients, setting the table, and fi...

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People/Roles : Empress Wu
Source: Biography- Secondary
About: A biography about Empress Wu's life, that is kid friendly. Learn all about him, from growing up to ruling China and becoming Empress.

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Ancient China: Empress Wu Zetian Biography

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Kids learn about the biography of Empress Wu Zetian the only woman who became Emperor of China including her rise to power, accomplishments, early life, legacy, and fun facts.

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Events: The Invention of Gunpowder
Source: Video
About: This video talks about how gunpowder was invented and how it is used today.

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The deadly irony of gunpowder - Eric Rosado

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25 Insane Things You Didn't Know About Genghis Khan

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25 Insane Things You Didn't Know About Genghis Khan

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People/Roles : Genghis Kahn
Source: Video- Secondary
About: This video tells 25 facts about Ganghis Kahn. They include a range of topics from funny beliefs to realistc.

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25 Insane Things You Didn’t Know About Genghis Khan

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While you probably know he was a prolific warlord, there is much more than meets the eye when it comes to the father of military mayhem. These are 25 insane things you didn't know about Genghis Khan.

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Places / Institutions: Mongolia
Source: Video
About: This video gives a short run down of the Mongols and how Gehngis Khan was a part of their powerful conquest.

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Wait For It...The Mongols!: Crash Course World History #17

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Events: Woodblock Printing
Source: Video
About: This video shows students what woodblock printing is and how important printing was to history.

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http://cp.bon.tv/category/culture_art/2015-3-10/1425951918311.shtml Woodblock printing was one of the most important inventions in old China. The revolutionary process originated in the Sui dynasty.

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Events: Perfection of compass
Source: Secondary - Article
About: This is a good article that talks about how the compass was made.

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Early Chinese compass

The first compasses were invented in China, around the 200s AD, even though Europeans and West Asians did not learn about them for another thousand years. These compasses were very simple arrangements of an iron needle and a bit of cork, and you can easily make one just like them.

On a sunny day, you can begin by making a sun compass. In the morning, find a stick and stick it in the ground pointing up. Place a stone at the end of the shadow it casts. Come back in the afternoon (after you're done making the needle compass) and place another stone at the end of the new shadow. Put your right foot on the first stone, and your left foot on the second stone. Now you are facing south (reverse this if you are in the southern hemisphere). Behind you is north. Your left hand is pointing east, and your right hand is pointing west.

But suppose you wanted to carry the compass around with you? That's what people in China figured out how to do.

What you'll need: a source of heat (a fire, or a cookstove, or a Bunsen burner), a needle, anything that floats, and a small container of water (like a yogurt container) big enough at the top for the float to spin around freely. And you need to know which way is north.

What to do: heat up the needle until it is red-hot (don't hold it or you will get burned! Stick it into a pencil eraser and THEN hold it in the fire!). Put it on a plate lined up north-south and let it cool. Then stick the needle to the float. Put the float in the water, and the needle will spin around to point north-south.

Or, if you don't want to bother with heat, you can use any magnet to magnetize the needle, like a refrigerator magnet. Just hold the needle by one end and rub the other end along the magnet about 60 times. Be sure to always go the same direction, not back and forth! That should also magnetize the needle. One end will point north.

A model of a Chinese compass
by kids at Laurelhurst School, Portland

Some things to discuss: does your needle eye point north or south? (the ancient Chinese pointed theirs south, but Europeans generally pointed theirs north). What percentage of the class ended up with north? Is that the percentage you expected? You could graph the results.
If that's north, which way is east? West? South? Can you use the Internet to find out why iron works to make compasses but not copper? If you try it with copper wire, does it work?
Would the world seem different to you if you pointed your compass south instead of north? Try looking at a world map upside-down.

What are compasses good for? What can you do if you have a compass that you couldn't do before?

Can you use these compasses to make a treasure map where you have to go this far north, this far east (or whatever) to find the treasure? Can the other children use your map to find the treasure?

Other activities:

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make chinese compass project kids children

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Make a Chinese Compass - History for Kids!

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Early Chinese compass The first compasses were invented in China, around the 200s AD, even though Europeans and West Asians did not learn about them for another thousand years. These compasses were very simple arrangements of an iron needle and a bit of cork, and you can easily make one just like them.

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Events: Mongol conquest
Source: Map - Primary source
About: This is a great map to show how much land the Mongols took over during their conquest.

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Places / Institutions: Japan
Source: Primary - Map
About: This is a website full of different maps of Japan from different time periods and during different events.

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A collection of historical maps covering the history of Japan from its beginning to our days.

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Places / Institutions: Korea
Source: Article
About: This website gives a background of what Korean culture is like. This would be a great thing to compare to Chinese culture or American Culture.

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Koreans need to be very careful not to behave in a way that would embarrass their family. Children are expected to work hard in school and respect their teachers. Women do not have equal rights in Korean society as they might in other cultures. Men and boys are considered more important than girls. Korean female teenagers complain to each other about having to help with the cooking and housework while their brothers do nothing around the house. Older people are highly respected. Koreans also show great respect to their ancestors who have passed on.

Workers are expected to obey their boss however the boss should never scold the worker in the presence of others. It is crucial in Korean society to avoid embarrassing someone or hurting their feelings.
Korean lessons for kids
Categories Categories Korean Culture fun facts, Korean family values, Learn Korean culture for children

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Korean family values, Korean culture for children, fun facts

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Koreans need to be very careful not to behave in a way that would embarrass their family. Children are expected to work hard in school and respect their teachers. Women do not have equal rights in Korean society as they might in other cultures. Men and boys are considered more important than girls.

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Places / Institutions: Japan
Source: Article
About:  This website offers a lot of geographical information about Japan, which would help students understand why Japan and China did a lot of trading together.

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Kids learn about the Geography of Japan. The history, capital, flag, climate, terrain, people, economy, and population.

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Ideas: Examination System
Sources: Video- Secondary
About: This video is a short clip which gives students an insight in the school system and examination system in China. They can compare their schooling system to it. It is from a great series on PBS called "Story of China," which lots of these topics would be relevant to students

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Social Mobility, Education, Examination System | The Story of China

Discover how the Song Dynasty in China was dominated by Confucianism with this clip from The Story of China. Confucianism formed the basis of education, public life and private family rituals in China. With the establishment of a national education system, the emperor encouraged students of all social classes to take part, for the "morality of the culture." Through this system the Confucian teachings were allowed to spread and permeate throughout society.

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Social Mobility, Education, Examination System | The Story of China

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Discover how the Song Dynasty in China was dominated by Confucianism with this clip from The Story of China. Confucianism formed the basis of education, public life and private family rituals in China. With the establishment of a national education system, the emperor encouraged students of all social classes to take part, for the "morality of the culture."

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Idea: Porcelain
Source: Teacher source- secondary
About: This gives ideas about teaching students about merchant goods such as porcelain and silk in China. Students are put into the merchant shoe steps and selected by the Chinese emperor to develop a trade.

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Idea: Rice Culture
Source: Children's book
About: This book goes from the different cultures and them cooking rice. The students are able to compare and contrast through the rice culture. Great to work into exploring rice only in Asian Empires and trade

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Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley | Read aloud by Re Creation

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Idea: Neo-Confucianism
Source: excerpts from emperors documents- Primary
About: This source could be given to students to annotate, but must be teacher assisted. It tells about Neo-Confucianism and pulls excerpts from Empress Wu.

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People/Roles: Kublai Kahn
Source: Online facts
About: This gives students 20 facts about Kublai Kahn, written in the form of a biography. Reading is written at a kid friendly level

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Kublai Khan Fact File Biography: Lifespan: 1215 - 1294 *** Full Name: Kublai Khan *** Occupation: Khagan of the Mongol Empire *** Date of Birth: Kublai Khan was born on September 23rd 1215 *** Place of Birth: the exact location of his birth is unknown *** Family background: His father was Tolui, his grandfather was Genghis Khan and his mother was Sorghaghtani Beki *** Early life and childhood: By the time he was twelve years old he was already a skilled horseman and he was rapidly gaining a reputation as fierce warrior *** Education: Kublai Khan would have been taught by tutors ***

Kublai Khan Fact 1: Kublai Khan was born on September 23rd 1215 and during the 13th century period in history when when the Mongol Empire began to expand from Eastern Asia to Eastern Europe having conquered Asia. In Europe a new era has begun and will become known as the High Middle Ages.

Kublai Khan Fact 2: Having conquered the Khwarizmian Empire, Genghis Khan carried out a ritualistic ceremony on his grandsons Kublai and Mongke when Kublai he was nine years old. This consisted of smearing the fat from animals killed by Kublai and his brother after their first hunting trip, onto the middle finger of each boy in accordance with the tradition of the Mongol people.

Kublai Khan Fact 3: After the war of Mongol-Jin during 1236, Kublai's Uncle Ogedei gave the province of Hebei to his brother Tolui's family, his brother having died in 1232.

Kublai Khan Fact 4: Kublai received a portion of this province as his own and this included ten thousand households. However, Kublai being inexperienced allowed his officials to rule without supervision and so many of his peasants began to flee when taxes became too exorbitant to pay.

Kublai Khan Fact 5: Kublai came to realize what was happening and took control of the situation, his mother sent him new officials to assist and the tax laws were reviewed, in time his people began to return.

Kublai Khan Fact 6: Kublai had interests and in particular with Chinese culture. He invited a Buddhist monk to visit his ordo in Mongolia and in 1242 Kaiyun visited Kubla and taught him much about the Buddhist philosophy.

Kublai Khan Fact 7: He also introduced Kublai to Liu Bingzhong a Taoist who was also a painter, poet, calligrapher and mathematician and he would become one Kublai's trusted advisors.

Kublai Khan Fact 8: Kublai also had Zhao Bi in his entourage so give Kublai a rounded local and imperial view.

Kublai Khan Fact 9: When Kublai's brother became Khan he sent Kublai to North China as his viceroyalty and Kublai moved his ordo into central Inner Mongolia.

Kublai Khan Fact 10: In this position Kublai increased the agricultural output in his region and also increased the social welfare spending during his years a viceroy.

Kublai Khan Fact 11: Kublai was ordered by his brother to bring Yunnan into submission. With several armies and cooperation from the King of Dali Kublai accomplished his mission and pacified Yunnan.

Kublai Khan Fact 12: There were certain officials who felt Kublai was getting above his station and planted a seed of suspicion into his brother's mind that he was after his Empire. Mongke sent officials to audit Kublai and they found fault and some officials were put to death.

Kublai Khan Fact 13: Kublai appealed to his brother for forgiveness and his brother agreed to forgive him and they reconciled.

Kublai Khan Fact 14: Mongke would order his brother to attack Sichuan. Kublai did as he was bid but during the preparations for the assault word reached him that his brother had died. He continued without acknowledging his brother's death and eventually peace was reached with Jia Sidao.

Kublai Khan Fact 15: Kublai's wife got word to him that his younger brother was raising an army to take control of the Empire. Kublai summoned his own supporters and they declared him Kublai Great Khan in spite of his brother's alleged claim.

Kublai Khan Fact 16: This would in turn result in warfare between the two brothers.
Kublai Khan Fact 17: Kublai's leadership and his armies would prove superior to his brother's and after much bloodshed he would become Emperor with his brother surrendering in August of 1264.
Kublai Khan Fact 18: Kublai's reigned his Empire between 1260 to 1294, considering China his headquarters and concentrated most of his governing there.

Kublai Khan Fact 19: He governed his Empire and conquests for many decades but when his wife Chabi died in 1281 he chose to withdraw from any direct contact with his advisors and advised his successor would be Zhenjin but his son Nomukhan expressed his deep resentment at his brother's succession. However it would come to pass the Zhenjin would die eight years before his father.

Kublai Khan Fact 20: As he grew older so did member of his family and bit by bit he sank into depression. Before he died he named his successor as his son Zhenjin's son Temur.

Kublai Khan Fact 21: Kublai Khan died on February 18th 1294 aged seventy eight and his body laid to rest with his ancestors in burial place of the khans in Mongoli

Influence & Legacy: Having taken his power and become Khan he pushed his Empire into a new and exciting direction. Having brought the Mongol realm and the Chinese relationship into a formalized union the Mongol Empire was brought to international attention and would also be responsible for reconstructing a united militarily commanding China.

Short Facts about Kublai Khan for Kids: Having taken power and become Khan he pushed his Empire into a new and exciting direction. Having brought the Mongol realm and the Chinese relationship into a formalized union the Mongol Empire was brought to international attention and would also be responsible for reconstructing a united militarily commanding China.

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Kublai Khan: Interesting Facts for kids ***

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Kublai Khan Fact File Biography: Lifespan: 1215 - 1294 *** Full Name: Kublai Khan *** Occupation: Khagan of the Mongol Empire *** Date of Birth: Kublai Khan was born on September 23rd 1215 *** Place of Birth: the exact location of his birth is unknown *** Family background: His father