Message from eamador

[Anonymous]

I recently had my students pick one of four "middle ages" dynasties and come up with a "time travel brochure" as a culminating project for studying the political, economic, and intellectual accomplishments of their dynasty. My objective was to give each of my students an opportunity to explore one of the dynasties in more depth and become an expert on their dynasty. The project helped students to focus on the California standard 7.3 on China with special emphasize on the following:
7.3.2. (Describe agricultural, technological, and commercial developments during the Tang and Sung periods) 7.3.4.(Understand the importance of both overland trade and maritime expeditions between China and other civilizations in the Mongol Ascendancy and Ming Dynasty.)
7.3.5. Trace the historic influence of such discoveries as tea, the manufacture of paper,
wood-block printing, the compass, and gunpowder.
7.3.6. Describe the development of the imperial state and the scholar-official class.

I also threw in a parallel timeline exercise where students had to provide the years of their dynasty and in parallel the same years for another civilization with some events that took place. I was happy to see that students were exploring their textbook for civilizations we had not studied yet like Mayan and Aztec and Japan timelines.

My students vary in English ability but I was pleasantly surprised at the results from the assignment. I found good handouts for them to analyze (with my help) the differences between political, economic and intellectual accomplishments. I also found it important to model the folding of the paper and the numbering of the pages to insure that each page of the rubric would be followed.

I have attached my rubric and instructions which I created and at some point I'll send pictures of the brochures in an edit. Let me know what you think and ask any questions.