Teachable Moments
4th Grade
Duration
10-15 minutes per activity
Location
Traveling the Silk Road
Standards
Traveling the Silk Road
From silks and saffron to camels and culture, the exhibit carries students
to a desert oasis, spice markets, sea adventures, and more along the
most celebrated trade route in history. To explore further, visit our
website at http://www.nhm.org/site/explore-exhibits/special-exhibits/
traveling-the-silk-road
NGSS
4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2, 4-ESS2-2
S+ E Practices
2, 5, 6, 7
CCSS ELA
SL 4.1.b.c.d, SL4.2, SL4.3
CA State
Life Science 4.2a.b,
4.3.a.b.c, 4.6.a.b.c.f
Music 4.4.0
Theatre 4.1.3, 4.2.2
Science
Silkworm Observation — Xi’an Section
Objective: Students will observe and interpret an enclosed ecosystem,
identifying components of the system and using observations to make
inferences about the flow of energy
Ask students what they observe about the silkworms and their habitat,
and brainstorm ideas about how these observed traits affect the animal’s
environment, function, energy sources and production, and reproduction.
Identify sources of energy and ways energy is spent or transferred,
making note of the role of humans in this process.
Timetelling with the Astrolabe — Baghdad Section
Objective: Students will connect the concept of a spherical earth to
telling time
Background Information: Astrolabes were used as a calculator and
measuring device. Different circular plates represented multiple
measurements (the location of the sun, known stars, the location of the
moon, etc) and could be switched out for plates representing different
latitudes. A ruler on the back could calculate the degrees of altitude of
an object like a star or mountain.
Activity cont’d on next page
1 Mighty Mammals
Teachable Moments
4th Grade
Duration
10-15 minutes per activity
Location
Traveling the Silk Road
Standards
NGSS
4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2, 4-ESS2-2
S+ E Practices
Starfinding with the Astrolabe cont’d
Ask students to brainstorm ideas about how they could figure out the
time of day or year if they didn’t have clocks or calendars (examples—
they could ask someone, look at the sun, look at stars, etc). How does
the astrolabe allow people to figure out dates and times? Look closely at
the different plates on the astrolabe. Why are they all circular? What do
the circles represent? Connect the dial on the astrolabe marking the
position of the sun with the hour hand of a clock.
2, 5, 6, 7
CCSS ELA
SL 4.1.b.c.d, SL4.2, SL4.3
CA State
Life Science 4.2a.b,
4.3.a.b.c, 4.6.a.b.c.f
Music 4.4.0
Theatre 4.1.3, 4.2.2
Social Sciences
Fable-telling — Samarkand Section
Objective: Students will identify characteristics of fables and discuss
cultural differences in storytelling techniques
Stop by the video screen, “Stories of the Silk Road” and have students
watch the three animations. Talk about what a fable is—what do these
stories have in common? How are they different?
Compare and Contrast — All Sections
Objective: Students will understand that different resources are utilized
to meet similar needs depending on geography or time in history
Using a thematic focus such as inventions, transportation, or
communication, ask students to identify major differences between
either different cities or different time periods along the Silk Road.
2 Mighty Mammals
Teachable Moments
4th Grade
Duration
10-15 minutes per activity
Location
Traveling the Silk Road
Standards
NGSS
4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2, 4-ESS2-2
S+ E Practices
2, 5, 6, 7
CCSS ELA
SL 4.1.b.c.d, SL4.2, SL4.3
CA State
Life Science 4.2a.b,
4.3.a.b.c, 4.6.a.b.c.f
Music 4.4.0
Theatre 4.1.3, 4.2.2
3 Mighty Mammals
VAPA
Musical Instruments — Xi’an Section
Objective: Objective: Students will identify the uses of music in a
different culture/time period and connect developments in music to
events in history
Ask students to identify the instruments, the sounds they make, and
where and when they were invented. What inventions that you have
learned about in the exhibit allowed the creation of stringed instruments
in China? Was music used differently in ancient Xi’an than it is today?
What are some things music was used for in ancient Zi’an that it might
not be used for today? What similar uses for music can we think of?