274 Early Asian Civilizations: Supplemental Guide CA | Culminating Activities
Accordion Book: Silk Makers
Materials: long, narrow pieces of paper; drawing tools
Ask students to share what product traders in ancient times most wanted
from China.- silk
Ask students to share whether silk was easy to get and why or why not. - It was not easy to get because it was only made in China.
Remind students that the Chinese kept silk-making a secret, but now
many people around the world make silk, and they use the same process
the ancient Chinese used. Tell students that today they are going to
make an accordion book explaining the silk-making process. Hand each
student a long narrow piece of paper. Then have students follow your
example as you make your own accordion book. First, fold the paper
in half, and then open up the folded paper. Next, fold each end into the
middle crease. Open up each folded leaf; the paper should now have
three creases. On each flap, have students draw pictures and write
sentences detailing the silk-making process. You may wish to review with
students this process using the What Have We Learned? section from
Lesson 12A.
Bookmakers
Materials: large construction paper; letter stamps; stamp
pads; large alphabet stencils
Tell students that they are going to work in small groups as bookmakers.
They are going to make a book that has a front cover with a title and
three pages in which they will share three things they have learned about
ancient China.
Share with students that they are going to make their book just like
the ancient Chinese would have: by block printing. Give each group
four pieces of large construction paper. Give each group a set of letter
stamps and stamp pads or a set of large alphabet stencils. If you do not
have letter stamps or stamp pads available, you may simply wish to have
students write the title and facts in marker or pencil.
When each group has completed “printing” their book, staple all of the
pages together and display the different books in your classroom.