http://www.history.com/topics/great-wall-of-china
This website offers a great opportunity for learning about The Great Wall for upper elementary, middle school and high school aged students. I have found that 5th grade students periodically are eager to learn about the Great wall because of its symbolism and its history to china. This is a great platform to engage students in further research and learning about China. This site provides students with the rational for its conception by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in the third century as a means of preventing incursions into the Chinese empire. Students are sure to find valuable information and knowledge about the Great Wall. They will learn that the Great Wall never really prevented invaders but merely served as a barrier into China.
This site is very user friendly. It engages students to learn about the Qin Dynasty construction around 221 B.C. after the Warring States Period. Students will find the construction project fascinating. Most students are eager to learn about China once they realize the human and natural resources required for this project. This project provides a timeline to further student engagement in the history of China. Educators can use this as a spring board to discuss the Qin, Han, Northern Wei, Bei Qi, Sui and Tang Dynasties.
In addition to the historical information that this site provides to students, visitors can also view many short videos on building the great wall, Religions of Ancient China, History of the Great Wall and Attaining Immortality. Students of all ages will find its content entertaining and educational. I invite all students and educators to visit this site.
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