CHINA -A HISTORY TREASURE HUNT

Purpose: This activity takes a chronological approach to the study of Chinese History
and culture, using objects as the focus of inquiry.

Procedures:
  1. Locate certain "objects” (or photocopies of such objects) and place them on a timeline in their correct place. (A model time line is provided here and it may be modified so that it is large enough to place along the wall of a classroom so that the students can affix or place objects in the correct place on the timeline of all to view.) They should be encourages to use a variety of sources. They will be provided with a bibliography to get them started (books, websites, etc…) and they will be encouraged to add to the bibliography.

    This can be done as a group activity or individually. You can assign the groups or individuals certain blocks of time or the entire range, depending on the scope or structure of the course.

  2. In addition, they are asked to attach (behind the photocopy of the object – see sample) an explanation of the significance of the object as it related to Chinese history.

  3. At the conclusion of this activity they will be asked to answer “summary questions.”

    • which relate to particular periods in Chinese history
    • compare two or more periods in Chinese history

  4. They will then be asked to present
    • information about their objects (see 2 above)
    • the answers to the questions and/or the activities they created as a result of answering the summary questions