Learn About the Greatest Ancient Civilization of Asia
When teaching our children ancient history, we are sure to include Ancient Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome. Unfortunately we sometimes omit another great ancient civilization on the other side of the globe-- Ancient China.
Maybe we ourselves don't know much about Ancient China, or we have no resources that cover Ancient China. If you've come to this page, you are probably wanting to teach your child about Ancient China. Congratulations! The study of Ancient China is fascinating.
This page was created to help you design your own unit study about Ancient China.
Great Links for Studying Ancient China
We all love links -- free information online! Here are the cream of the crop links about Ancient China.
- 42explore Ancient China Page
- This is an amazing resource of other links to a multitude of topics related to Ancient China. It includes ideas for activities and links to help you do them.
- Ancient China Links
- Another exhaustive list of links that will lead you to a multitude of sites all dealing with various aspects of ancient China.
- Museum Exhibit Teacher's Kit
- This PDF is an excellent resource of historical facts about ancient China.
- Edu Place Ancient China
- PDF about Ancient China.
Ancient China
DK Eyewitness Book
Literature is an inviting way to study history.Textbooks are generally dry and dusty -- a simple retelling of facts, dates, with a map or picture thrown in occasionally. But living books draw you children into the time period and make the learning stick!
Since I believe in the literature based method of homeschooling, you will see a lot of great books sprinkled throughout this lens. Make a list of the titles you like and look for them at your local library.
Ancient China (DK Eyewitness Books)
Amazon Price: $11.55 (as of 11/10/2009)
From School Library Journal-- Done in typical "Eyewitness" format, this volume touches upon such topics as Chinese history, the first emperor, inventions, health and medicine, waterways, food and drink, clothing, the Silk Road, and arts and crafts.
Printables and Graphics
- Chinese Clip-art
- Mostly folk-art style clip art images related to China.
- Lined Paper with Chinese Graphic
- This is a small notebooking page with lines and one graphic that would appropriate for lapbooking uses or for copywork.
- Ancient China Clip Art
- These are cute, cartoon-type clip art images of China. The man in the horse cart image for this module came from this site.
- Images of China
- These black and white images from old books are posted by FL's Educational Technology Clearninghouse. Search their database for other images. For example, there are several great images of silkworms, a great image of Confucius, etc.
- Classroom Clipart
- Clipart and photographs suitable for educational projects.
- samutsari's free homeschooling files
- Look on the left side column for a free file download called The Qin Dynasty notebook page (MOH1) (12). This PDF includes four notebooking pages : Qin Shi Huang Di, a map of his empire, the Terracotta Warriors, and the Great Wall.
- Drawings of Great Wall of China
- Black and white drawings of the Great Wall from old books at the New York Public Library's Digital Gallery.
- Chinese Symbols
- A lovely PDF with dragons, waves, and flowers with a Chinese motif. These would good decorations for hands-on projects.
- Karen Whimsey's Chinese Images
- Royalty free images related to China. They are mostly pictures of gods, but there is a nice image of ancient Chinese coins there too!
- China Word Search #1
- A word search with the following words: EMPEROR,CALLIGRAPHY,RICKSHAW,KITE,CONFUCIUS, CHOPSTICKS,BEIJING,ABACUS,LANTERN,BAMBOO,ASIA, PANDA,JADE,IDEOGRAMS,DYNASTY,PAGODA.
- China Word Search #2
- A simple word search with these words:
ABACUS,ASIA,BEIJING,CALLIGRAPHY,CHINA,CONFUCIUS, DYNASTY,EMPEROR,EVEREST,HONG KONG,TIBET. - Traditional Chinese Fashions Paperdolls
- This webshots album contains scanned images of paperdolls and their clothes. Technically these fashions are not from ancient China since they start at the Tang dynasty and run through modern times. But there are some beautiful fashions that represent traditional Chinese clothing.
- Pagoda Shape Book Pattern
- This PDF has a simple, pagoda outline that would make a great cover and pattern for a shape book!
- Dynamic 2 Moms Ancient Civilizations Lapbooking
- Four free minibook printables plus a cover for a lapbook. Minibook topics include Chinese writing, the Silk Road, Confucius, and Shang Warrior.
- RETAIL --History Scribe - Ancient China
- Learn about the fascinating history of China, through the Shang Dynasty up to the Ming Dynasty! This set of over 30 pages to illustrate and narrate include The Great Wall, the Silk Route, Chinese inventions, and much more.
Chinese Paper Dolls
Great Links for Activities and Projects
for your unit study on Ancient China
Make ancient China come alive for your children by doing some hands-on activities!
- CRAFTS -- Chinese New Year Crafts
- Not all of these are applicable to Ancient China, but you could extend your unit study to include them.
- IDEAS --Unit Study Project Ideas
- These are general ideas that would fit any unit study topic. They are divided into four categories based on the learning style of your child -- read/write, visual, auditory, and kinesthetic
- PHOTOS -- Ancient China Lapbook
- This Flickr set shows my daughter's Ancient China lapbook. You can find many of the templates scattered among the links on this page. If you don't know what lapbooking is, visit Lapbooking.
- IDEA -- How to Make an Ancient Book
- This is a craft I designed for making an "ancient" book. Before paper was invented in the Han Dynasty, books were made of strips of bamboo tied together. You can use craft (popsicle) sticks and twine to make your own! Another example of this craft can be found here.
- FREE --Ellen McHenry's Basement Workshop -- Ancient China
- Wow! Be sure to visit this site! There's a free MP3 song (with lyrics) that will help you learn about the dynasties and history of China! Also there's a mapping project and a calligraphy project.
- RETAIL -- Hands of a Child Ancient China Lapbook Kit
- This lapbook kit covers Ancient China.
- RETAIL --Hands and Hearts Ancient Far East Discovery Kit
- This hands-on kit includes science, art, math, cultural, language, and worldview activities. Not just China, but also Mongolia, Tibet, and Japan are incorporated into the activities. It also includes Bible memory cards, 2 DVDs, and reproducible notebook pages.
- FREE --British Mueseum Teacher Resources
- There are loads of neat project ideas here! You will be inspired by these well made PDFs.
- PHOTOS -- Another Ancient China Lapbook
- This Flickr set of 17 images includes several minibooks made from free things accessed right here on this page!
Resources for Hands-on Activities and Projects
Look for these books to add some hands-on activities to your unit study.
Projects About Ancient China (Hands-on History)
Amazon Price: $31.36 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $9.06
A Coloring Book of Ancient China
Amazon Price: $4.95 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $2.29
History and Activities of Ancient China (Handson Ancient History)
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $5.99
Ancient China (Treasure Chest)
Amazon Price: $17.90 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $17.50
Ancient China: Museum Series, Gr. 5-8 (Social Studies Museum)
Amazon Price: $14.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $4.95
The Timeline of Ancient China
Ancient China includes just three dynasties:
1. Zhou Dynasty 1100 - 221 BC
--Confucius lived 551 - 479 BC
2. Qin Dynasty 221 - 210 BC
--Unification of China under Qin Shi Huang Di
3. Han Dynasty 206BC - 9 AD
--Flowering of Chinese culture
--invention of the kite and of paper
--Buddhism introduced into China
--Silk Road opens
Great Timeline Links
Follow the links below for more timelines.
- Chinese Dynasties Timeline
- A simple timeline of dynasties with clickable links.
- Timeline of Chinese History
- Yet another timeline. This one is visually appealing and easy to read.
- Printable Timeline Figures
- This PDF file has eight timeline figures relevant to Ancient China. I had to make it for my own child's use, so why not share with you? We made it into an accordion minibook timeline seen in the picture above.
It's free for educational, non-profit use. - Time for Kids History Timeline
- This is a concise timeline of Chinese history from the Shang Dynasty to modern days.
- British Museum's Teacher Resources
- Look under Timelines for three possible PDFs. The one of Chinese History is a wonderful condensed story of China in three pages -- a great overview to get the big picture.
Qin Shi Huang Di (259 - 210 BC)
the first emperor of China
When you think of Ancient China, probably top on your list of associations are
The Great Wall and the Terracotta Soldiers. Both of these monuments were built under the reign of Qin Shi Huang Di.
At the end of the Zhou Dynasty, many states were warring against each other and taking each others' lands until only seven states remained. One of those was the Qin Kingdom. In 221 BC the ruler of the Qin Kingdom took over the other six kingdoms and pronounced himself the first emperor with the title Qin Shi Huang Di. He is also known as the Yellow Emperor because he chose that color for his royal clothes.
Qin Shi Huang Di's major accomplishments were to unify China with standard measures, coinage, weights, and Chinese characters. He also ordered the construction of irrigation systems, bridges, roads, and canals. Legislating these changes brought more unity to China than had ever been experienced before. Trade and communication within China became easier than before.
He wanted to do away with feudalism and old ways of thinking. Qin Shi Huang Di took away the nobles' land and forced them to live with him at his capitol so that he could control them. The land was available for sale and officials were sent to each area to collect taxes and to rule according to Qin Shi Huang Di's strict legalist government. Those who broke the laws were punished severely - often being forced to serve as slave labor for his projects, including the Terracotta Army and the Great Wall. Books of literature, philosophy, and history were burned under his rule. He also ordered the execution of more than 400 Confucian scholars.
Qin is pronounced "Chin." This is the sound from which the modern name China comes.
Qin Shi Huang Di on YouTube
The First Emperor: The Man Who Made China
Qin Shi Huang Di on DVD
First Emperor of China
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $8.54
Great Links about Emperor Qin
Qin Shi Huang Di, the emperor who united China
- Printable Mini-book
- This is a trifold mini-book ready to print. The drawings and design were created by me! You are free to use it for non-profit, educational use.
The template is black and white with lots of blank space for your child to color, draw, and write. The Chinese characters are Qin Shi Huang Di. - Qin Dynasty - Emperor Shi Huang Di
- A PDF lesson plan focused on Qin Shi Huang Di. Includes a craft recipe for making your own "terracotta" soldiers!
All About the Great Wall
The Great Wall Of China (Aladdin Picture Books)
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $3.04
The Great Wall: The story of 4,000 miles of earth and stone that turned a nation into a fortress (Wonders of the World Book)
Amazon Price: $17.90 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $0.49
You Wouldn't Want to Work on the Great Wall of China!: Defenses You'd Rather Not Build (You Wouldn't Want to...)
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $6.17
Great Wall on YouTube
Links About The Great Wall
- Virtual Tour of Great Wall
- Scroll down a bit for a nice panoramic view from The Great Wall. There is also an audio file of how to say Great Wall in Chinese.
- Notebooking Page
- This notebooking printable has a black and white image of the Great Wall on top (suitable for coloring) with lines at the bottom for taking notes.
- Printable Mini-book
- This minibook template was created by me! It is free for non-profit, educational use. It has a black and white drawing on the front that your child can color. Inside is a lot of empty space for drawing or writing.
- Maze with Great Wall Theme
- A maze in which you help the boy get to the Great Wall.
- Free Great Wall Paper Model
- Print out this free PDF paper model from Epson for a fun hands-on project!
- Great Wall Fact Sheet
- Look for link #30 on this page -- The Great Wall. This is a nice PDF with basic facts and line drawings suitable for young learners. This would make a great notebooking page!
- Great Wall of China Coloring Page
- A fairly detailed black and white outline of the Great Wall.
- Great Wall Travel Guide
- This page from a travel guide would make a nice graphic for a notebooking page.
All About the Terracotta Warriors
Qin Shi Huang Di was superstitious and afraid of death. He hired fortune tellers and magicians to find the secret to immortality. Ironically it is thought that his death at age 49 was brought on by the consumption of mercury, a common ingredient in these elixirs.
The greatest evidence of his obsession with death is his construction of his tombs. Thousands of laborers worked for up to 40 years to make clay models of an entire army - 7000 soldiers, 600 horses, 10 chariots, and a multitude of weapons and suits of armour. This army was meant to protect him in the afterlife. His own body is buried in a replica of his palace in a yet unexcavated underground tomb.
The terracotta warriors were made with local clay pressed in molds of body parts. These molded parts were assembled with a clay paste and facial and armour details were added. Finally each warrior and horse was fired in a huge kiln, painted in brilliant colors and assembled in ranks in the underground tombs.
Unless you can take a field trip to China and see the Terracotta Warriors in person, you'll have to settle for books and websites to see these marvelous statues.
The Emperor's Silent Army: Terracotta Warriors of Ancient China
Amazon Price: $12.23 (as of 11/10/2009)
The Terracotta Girl: A Story of Ancient China (Read-It! Chapter Books)
Fictional account especially for readers who are ready for chapter books.
Amazon Price: $16.58 (as of 11/10/2009)
Great Links about the Terracotta Soldiers
- Explore: China
- Three great short videos with simple captions that give you a glimpse into the pits where the Warriors were buried.
Look for these titles:
Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta Warriors
Terra-cotta Warrior Pits
Terra-cotta Warrior Weapons - Terracotta Soldier Trifold Minibook
- This trifold mini-book template is ready to print! It has black and white drawings and plenty of blank space for your child to color, draw, and write. The drawings and design are my very own. The Chinese text on the front says, of course, Terracotta Warriors. You are free to use it for non-profit, educational use.
- British Museum: China's Terracotta Army
- Look for the Teacher's Resource Pack and the Slideshow for some great Power Point and PDF learning materials!
- Printable Maze
- A PDF maze. Help the archaeologist excavate the Terracotta Soldiers.
- NGA About the Tomb
- Factual site about the Terracotta Warriors.
- Newsfinder
- This site has an abundance of facts. Mom, this is for you to research and then share with your kids. Or older students can read it on their own.
- Harcourt Article
- A great, simple article with a few images, appropriate for children to read to themselves (maybe 4th grade reading level).
Terracotta Warriors on YouTube
Picture Books about Ancient China
These books are for the younger children in your family. But the older ones will certainly enjoy them as well!
a boat just like the one in The Story About Ping
The Emperor and the Kite (Paperstar Book)
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Liang and the Magic Paintbrush (Reading Rainbow Book)
Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 11/10/2009)
The Story About Ping
For a free online version of this book in PDF, visit Vidya Online.
Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Good Morning China
Amazon Price: $11.53 (as of 11/10/2009)
Fiction About Ancient China
Ma Jiang & The Orange Ants
Ma Jiang has to find a way to save the orange orchard when all the men from the village are called to serve in the emperor's army.
Amazon Price: (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $3.95
The Jade Dragon: A Story of Ancient China (Read-It! Chapter Books)
A chapter book for beginning readers.
Amazon Price: $16.58 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $3.55
Adventures in Ancient China (Good Times Travel Agency)
This is written in a very humorous, comic book style. But at the bottom of each page are detailed notes about the historical period.
Amazon Price: $8.95 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $4.03
The Dragon Painter (Usborne First Reading Level 4)
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $7.99
Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Imperial China (From the Creator of the Magic School Bus) (Magic School Bus, The)
Amazon Price: $12.71 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $0.01
Magic Tree House
Day Of The Dragon-King
Day Of The Dragon-King (Magic Tree House 14, paper)
Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Here are three PDF printables to go along with this novel. Each one features vocabulary used in the story.
Great Links about Confucius (551-479 BC)
the great philosopher of Ancient China
No study of Ancient China would be complete without at least a brief look at Confucius, the great philosopher.
His works were banned and burned under Qin Shi Huang Di in the Qin Dynasty. But during the later Han dynasty, Confucius' works were renewed and adapted into what became State Confucianism.
Clipart courtesy FCIT
- Three Paths to Wisdom: Confucianism
- Made especially for students, this is a nice outline of the most basic tenets of Confucianism and a few sayings.
- State Confucianism in Han Dynasty
- This article gives a good description of how Confucianism which was despised by Emperor Qin came to be reaccepted in the Han Dynasty.
- Confucius and Confucianism
- Confucius' teachings and the philosophy of State Confucianism.
- Printable Confucius Mini-book Template
- This is a PDF mini-book template I created for our own homeschool's study of Ancient China. It has a place for his teachings, his sayings, and how his thoughts were accepted (or not) during the Qin and Han Dynasties. You are free to use it for non-profit, educational use. The Chinese characters are Kong Zi -- Confucius' Chinese name.
- Confucius Says
- This link offers a short list of sayings from Confucius. These would make great copywork or writing promts.
- Confucius Minibook Printable
- Dynamic2Moms website has a few free printable minibook templates.
Silk Road
The production of silk began during the Shang Dynasty (1750 - 1100 BC). The secrets of spinning silk worm cocoons into luxurious fabric was a closely guarded secret for many years. During the Han Dynasty, the Silk Road opened, taking Chinese made silk the 7000 mile journey across Central Asia to the Eastern Roman Empire in Byzantium.
Clipart courtesy FCIT
The Silk Route: 7,000 Miles of History
a beautifully illustrated picture book filled with history
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $1.18
Stories From The Silk Road
Amazon Price: $10.39 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $7.49
We're Riding on a Caravan
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $3.84
Stranger on the Silk Road: A Story of Ancient China (Read-It! Chapter Books)
a beginning reader's first chapter book
Amazon Price: $16.58 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $9.89
Great Links about the Silk Road
- The Silk Road
- This is a simple description of the Silk Road and includes a map image from The Silk Route: 7000 Miles of History.
- Printable Sequence Cards
- This PDF is an attractive printable from Scholastic with the steps in silk production from worm to silk. This could easily be adapted into a mini-book or a notebook page.
- The Art Institute of Chicago
- Look for the PDF entitled Traveling the Silk Road and Beyond. This beautiful set of lessons is centered on the art that was traded along the silk road. The time frame does extend past ancient China into the Middle Ages.
- Silk Road Minibook
- A free PDF printable of the Silk Road. (This link is a repeat from the general printables and graphics section.)
- Traveling the Silk Road
- A study guide for the book We're Riding on a Caravan: an Adventure on the Silk Road from the Arizona Department of Education. What I love about this PDF besides the great activity ideas are the detailed maps that you can use to show the actual route of the Silk Road.
- Art & Trade on the Silk Road
- Links to a dozen educational resources from art exhibits dealing with the Silk Road.
Inventions of Ancient China
The technological innovations of Ancient China are amazing -- most Chinese inventions came about far earlier than their discovery in the Western world.
Inventions that had previously been introduced during the Shang Dynasty (1750-1100) are
-coins
-silk
-writing brush
-stirrups
Main inventions during Ancient China (Han Dynasty) are:
-paper
-kites
Later inventions:
-wheelbarrow
-ceramics
-landscape art in the distinct Chinese style
-woodblock printing
-compass
-fireworks
Inventions of Ancient China
Fantastic Inventions and Inventors: True Stories from Ancient China
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $0.30
Made in China: Ideas and Inventions from Ancient China
Amazon Price: $16.96 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price: $4.22
ANCIENT CHINA CHART
a poster showing the gifts Ancient China gave to the world
Amazon Price: $2.49 (as of 11/10/2009)
Used Price:
Great Links About Chinese Inventions
- History of Chinese Invention and Discovery
- This is a fascinating timeline that not only tells what inventions occurred in each dynasty, but also tells when that invention was made in the western world.
- Chinese Inventions
- The Franklin Institute Resources for Science Learning offers this nice, simple site highlighting papermaking, printing, gunpowder, and the compass.
- How to Make Paper
- This site has directions to make your own paper -- a great hands-on activity for this unit study!
- Chinese Inventions
- Includes pictures and text about each of these inventions: Writing, Porcelain, Smallpox Inoculation, Magnetic Compass, Canals & Locks, Abacus, Movable Sails & Rudder, Roads & Relay Hostels, Spinning Wheel,Coal & Iron Refining, Gunpowder, Movable-Type, Great Wall, Mechanical Clock, Paper Money.
- Printable Word Search
- This PDF is a word search of Chinese inventions.
- Timeline of Chinese Inventions
- See when various things were invented and when that invention or discovery made it to the West.
Other China Related Pages
These four pages feature the three major Chinese holidays and a beloved animal.-
Chinese New Year
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新年快乐 Happy Chinese New Year! Take your children on a fascinating cultural experience -- celebrate Chinese New Year! Chinese New Year is the celebration of a new lunar year. It is a fifteen day holiday that starts on the e...
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Dragon Boat Festival
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Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th month. But that's not May 5th. This holiday is calculated according to the lunar calendar. The next Dragon Boat Festival is June 16, 2010. You still have time to plan some fun activities f...
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Panda Fascination
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The Panda Bear is most certainly one of the most famous and beloved of the world's endangered animals. Personally, I never was a huge fan of the panda until I saw them in person at a research center in China. They are amazingly beautiful animals -- g...
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Mid-Autumn Festival
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Most cultures have a harvest festival. China is no exception. The Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节 (Zhong Qiu Jie) is one of the three most important, traditional Chinese holidays. (The other two are Chinese New Year and Dragon Boat Festi...
Not Ancient China.... But Real China, Nonetheless
Reading about China is great, but wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to touch China with your own hands and experience it? This China Learning Packet will bring a bit of China right to your mailbox!
Additional Resources for a Study of China
Guestbook
I welcome your questions or suggestions.
natalie wrote
i want to know when was the Great Wall of china build And WHEN DID THEY RECIEVE IT aND WHY/
Posted May 23, 2009
Dana @ School For Us wrote
What an incredible lens! This could keep us busy for months. I'm so glad!
I know I mentioned it to your personally, but I wanted others to know that they can visit a 1/3 scale model of the Terra Cotta soldiers just outside of Houston, TX: http://www.forbidden-gardens.com/ They also have a model of the Forbidden Gardens there. And, there are lots of other things to see there.
The Terra Cotta museum exhibit is also traveling and will be in Houston starting in May. It might come near your hometown, too!
Posted March 31, 2009
by Jimmie
Hello! I am a homeschooling, stay at home mom who loves to teach and learn. I enjoy cooking from scratch, blogging, photography, and traveling, but I...
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