Early China
TOPIC SUMMARY
Chinese civilization was shaped by geography, such as mountains and
large rivers. Long-lasting dynasties gained power through strong armies.
Early Chinese society had three main social classes: aristocrats, farmers,
and merchants. Three Chinese philosophies, Confucianism, Daoism, and
Legalism, grew out of the need for order. Both the Qin and Han dynasties
created strong central governments. Qin leader Qin Shihuangdi used
harsh methods to unify and defend China. New inventions that developed during the Han dynasty, such as steel and paper, helped improve
the lives of Chinese people.
Step 1 Fold a
sheet of paper
in half from
side to side.
Fold it so the left
edge lies about
1
2 inch from the
right edge.
Step 2 Turn the paper
and fold it into thirds.
Reading and
Writing
List important people
and what they did or
taught during these
periods in Chinese
history.
Step 4 Turn the paper
and label it as shown.
Step 3 Unfold and cut the
top layer only along both folds.
This will make
three tabs.
China’s
First
Civilizations
Chinese
Philosopher
s
Qin
and Han
TOPIC ACTIVITY IDEAS
Organizing
Have students create the Study Foldable above and label it as shown. Have
them use there textbook and the Internet to find information about China’s
early civilization, philosophers, and emperors. Have students create fill-inthe-blank quizzes for their classmates using the information from their
Foldables. Each student should write a paragraph about ancient China,
leaving blanks for a classmate to fill in. Blanks should be left for vocabulary
words or significant places and people. Each quiz should have an answer key.
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this page for classroom use.
Organizing Information This foldable will help students organize information about
the important people in the early history of China.
CATEGORIZING
Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to reproduce this page for classroom use.
Have students record information
about “Social Classes” in ancient China
on the appropriate Foldable tabs.
Organize students into small groups.
Have each group write a skit that
involves members of each social class.
The skits should reflect the lifestyles of
each class and the way members of
different classes interacted. Ask group
members to choose parts and rehearse
them. Then have each group perform
its skit.
Aristocrats
Farmers
Merchants
S
o
c
i
a
l
C
l
a
s
s
e
s
COMPARE AND CONTRAST
Shang
Dynasty
Both
Zhou
Dynasty
Have students create Foldables highlighting the similarities and differences
between the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.
Students should use their textbook and
other sources to locate facts about these
dynasties, then record them under the
appropriate heading. Organize the class
into two teams. Have students from one
team read facts from their Foldables out
loud and have the other team identify
the correct dynasty.
rtain words or phrases
ce
at
th
s
nt
de
stu
d
in
m
Re
understand what type
can be clues to help them
as
presented. Words such
g
in
be
is
on
ati
rm
fo
in
of
chronological order,
first, next, or last show
ult
as that is, why, or as a res
ch
su
s
se
ra
ph
as
re
he
w
-effect relationships.
demonstrate cause-and