Grade 2 - Early Asian Civilizations

210 Early Asian Civilizations: Supplemental Guide 11A | The Silk Roads

The Chinese let cocoons rest for nine or ten days. Then the cocoons

were baked—or put into a hot oven.

 Show image 11A-8: Cocoons in hot water

After the cocoons were baked, they were plunged into hot water.

Plunging the baked cocoons into hot water helped to loosen the silk

thread. The cocoons are forced down into the hot water so that the

silk surrounding the cocoon could be loosened and unwound.

[Invite a student to point to the silk thread from the unwound cocoon.]

 Show image 11A-9: Silk thread

These same steps to make silk are still used in China today. But now

these steps to make silk are no longer a secret!

Discussing the Read-Aloud 10 minutes

Comprehension Questions

If students have difficulty responding to questions, reread pertinent lines

of the read-aloud and/or refer to specific images. Ask students to answer

in complete sentences by having them restate the question in their

responses. Model answers using complete sentences as necessary.

1. Literal What is the main topic of today’s read-aloud?
   
   
   • The main topic of today’s read-aloud is silk; The Silk Roads; the steps to
     make silk.
   
   
   
   


2. Literal You heard that some explorers were willing to risk their lives
   and travel through the natural barriers to reach China. What are some
   of the natural barriers that surround China?
   [Point to the natural barriers on a world map.]
   
   
   • Natural barriers that surround China are the Himalayas to the west, the
     Yellow and China Seas to the east, and the Gobi Desert to the north.
   
   
   
   


3. Inferential How were people from other parts of the world able to
   travel to and trade with the ancient Chinese?
   
   
   • People from other parts of the world were able to travel to and trade with
     the ancient Chinese through The Silk Roads.
   
   
   
   


4. Literal Why was this trade route called The Silk Roads?
   
   
   • This trade route was called The Silk Roads because silk was the main
     item traded on these roads.