Grade 6 Lesson at a Glance: Chapter 9, Lesson 4

Houghton Mifflin Social Studies
A Message of Ancient Days

Lesson at a Glance
Chapter 9, Lesson 4: The Han Dynasty (pp. 281-287)

The Big Idea
Framework Concept: Culture Under the Han Dynasty, China experienced an age of creativity at home and expansion abroad.

Talk about the ways in which the Han rulers combined Legalism with Confucianism in their government. Discuss how the concept of Yin and Yang, made such a combination possible for the Chinese people. Be sure students understand that the Han rulers encouraged the restoration and study of Confucianism.

Present the many achievements of the Han civilization in art, science, language, trade, and medicine. Make a list with students of the achievements that are still in use today. Encourage students to see what an extraordinarily fruitful period this was.

Lesson Outline
Use the Lesson Outline to preview the content of the lesson. You may wish to print it for your students as a guide during reading.

Check for Understanding

Have students think of themselves as a middleman trading on the Silk Road. After reading page 285 have them make a list of the things that they will trade when they get to China and the goods they hope to get in return.
What accomplishment under the Han Dynasty impresses students the most? Ask them to think of themselves as spies inside of China trying to take the secrets of silk making, etc. outside the country. Have them make a detailed drawing of an item or accomplishment that they will sneak out and make when they get home.

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