Introduction

Picture this: you and a team of learners are presented with the task of describing an elephant. But instead of looking to an encyclopedia or a zoo exhibit, you are each blindfolded and guided to a real elephant. Each of you touches a different part of the animal: one, the soft and delicate tip of the elephant's trunk; another, the hard tusk of ivory; and a third, the wrinkled hide around the elephant's belly.

Based upon what each of you learned, one thinks an elephant is smooth and soft, another would say an elephant is smooth and hard, while the last would conclude that elephants are rough and soft. What's the truth? When we study complex topics, we are often like the elephant examiners: there's usually a lot more to a topic that we don't learn about after only a quick exploration.

This is particularly true when we use the Internet for our research because many people post their personal opinions or only know a sliver of the whole story. In the following WebQuest, you will use the power of teamwork and the abundant resources on the Internet to learn all about Ancient China. Each person on your team will learn one piece of the puzzle and then you will come together to get a better understanding of the topic.

The Quest

Your task is to learn some interesting facts about Ancient China and identify some important cultural events that the Chinese people take part in today.

The Process and Resources

In this WebQuest you will be working together with a group of students in class. Each group will answer the Task or Quest(ion). As a member of the group you will explore Webpages from people all over the world who care about Ancient China. Because these are real Webpages we're tapping into, not things made just for schools, the reading level might challenge you. Feel free to use the online Webster dictionary or one in your classroom.

You'll begin with everyone in your group getting some background before dividing into roles where people on your team become experts on one part of the topic. Spend time on the Virtual Tour of Ancient China and other links to gather some background knowledge.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

Use the Internet information linked below to answer the basic questions of who? what? where? when? why? and how? Be creative in exploring the information so that you answer these questions as fully and insightfully as you can. Take notes as you browse the general Web sites.

• A Virtual Tour of the Forbidden City - Information to guide you on your tour.
• Chinese Science - This site will introduce you to many famous Chinese Scientists.
• The BaGua Diagram - Here you will learn how to draw the 8 basic symbols of trigrams.
• 17th Century Chinese Technology - View drawings and learn how to sketch the making of roof tiles and see how they accomplished brick making.
• Gubgu or Pythagoras's Theorum - See how the theroum is solved by using a grid.
• Secrets of Lost Empires - China's Bridge, China's Age of Invention
• Artifacts, Pyramids, and More.
• Ancient China to Modern Times
• The History of Ancient China
• A Treasure Hunt of China
• An Ancient China Scrapbook
• More on Ancient China
• An Ancient China Webquest
• Puzzle of the Geography of Ancient China
• China - geography, maps,
• Geography of Ancient China
• Geography of Ancient China
• General Information/Ancient China
• Ancient China - Confucius, The Yellow River, Yangtze River history of, the warring states of ancient China
• Ancient World Explorer - A Treasure Hunt of Ancient Worlds. Joint the quest as you gather information about the ancient worlds.
• A Treasure Hunt of China - Join the hunt as you find answers to questions about the richness of China's culture.
• China/Research Sites

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Individuals or pairs from your larger WebQuest team will explore one of the roles below. Choose one area to become an expert. If working in a team, divide up the questions amongst yourselves and prepare your answers.

2. Read through the files linked to your group. If you print out the files, underline the passages that you feel are the most important. If you look at the files on the computer, copy sections you feel are important by dragging the mouse across the passage and copying / pasting it into a word processor or other writing software.

3. Note: Remember to write down or copy/paste the URL of the file you take the passage from so you can quickly go back to it if you need to to prove your point.

4. Be prepared to focus what you've learned into one main opinion that answers the Big Quest(ion) or Task based on what you have learned from the links for your role.

A short geography lesson.

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to a short geography lesson of the Silk Road and other areas of interest.

1. What area separated China and Mesopotamia and do you think this was good for the people during this time?
2. How would you explain the Silk Road to another student?
3. What is the name of the desert that local people called 'the Land of Death' and do you think this was a good name? Why or Why not?
4. Northeast of this desert is the Gobi Desert. Give your view of the consequences of its location on trade.
5. Compare and contrast the largest mountain range in this area with the Rocky Mountains in the United States.
6. During what dynasty did the Chinese Civilization advance? Why or Why Not?
7. What was the one thing that all trade routes had in common? Was this a good or bad thing?
8. What were four other things traded along the Silk Road?
9. Explain the consequences of the mode of travel during this time. If we used this mode of travel today what would be some of the consequences?
10. Why was the Great Wall built? Do you agree or disagree with the reasons.

• Following Ancient FootPrints - Primary source information as you explore the Northern Silk Road.
• Geography of the Silk Road - Journey along the Silk Road to find out what other trading went on during this time.
• Rocky Mountains - General information about the Rocky Mountains to use as a comparision with the Himalayas.
• The Himalayas
• The Birth of the Himalayas

Briefly explain the daily life of Ancient Chinese people.

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to the daily life of the Ancient Chinese people.

1. Explain what is meant when we say that Ancient China is a fascinating mix of extreme extravagance and extreme poverty.
2. Discuss the different dynasties from early times to the medieval period.
3. Briefly identify the 'Three Teachings' and give your opinion on the effect they had on daily life.
4. During the Han times, there were many things about daily life in both the country and the city. Identify ten differences.
5. During what dynasty did Scroll painting become very popular? Why do you think this was so?

• Timeline - Ancient China - Click on each picture or section to read the information and see the drawings.
• Picture of the Great Wall of China - A color photo of the Great Wall of China.
• The Middle Kingdom - The Yellow River Valley, The Shang - 1766-1050 BC, The Chou 1050-256 BC
• History of China - Easy to follow history and timelines.
• Chinese History
• Daily Life in Ancient China

Read a parable and report on it to the class.

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to the parable and report on it to the class.:

1. Prepare a short summary of this parable and identify what you think is the problem. Support your ideas with facts. Can you compare this parable with something in today's society?

• Dragons in Ancient Chinese Culture - Learn about the importance of the dragon in China's culture.
• Dragons in Ancient China - The importance of dragons in Ancient China.
• The Sultan's Lost Treasure
• Ancient Chinese Stories - The Empty Pot, Lon Po Po, Mr. Chang and the Yellow Robe, and more...

Prepare a travel brochure for a friend who is going to visit China.

Use the Internet information linked below to answer these questions specifically related to travel in China today.

1. Beijing Opera has been around for over 200 years. When visiting China today what name will go on your brochure? Briefly describe this form of opera.
2. Visitors can celebrate many different festivals when in China. List three festivals in your brochure.
3. You will need to cross several bridges when in China. When traveling from Shanghai to the Southern region what bridge will you cross? Give highlights of this bridge in your brochure.
4. List four Chinese Literature classics.
5. Dragons play a significant part in Chinese culture. When visiting Beijing visitors will want to see the Nine Dragon Wall. Give a brief description of this Nine Dragon Wall in your travel brochure.
6. Sketch four Chinese words on the side of your brochure.
7. One place a visitor will want to see is the Grand Canal of China. List the port city one will have to visit in order to see this canal.
8. Children in China listened to parables from their elders. Name three stories in your brochure that children can listen to when visiting during the month of March.

• China Today - Take some time and explore China today. Use as a comparison of Ancient China.
• China the Beautiful - Learn about the Chinese New Year. 2004 is the year of the . .

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

You have all learned about a different part of Ancient China. Now group members come back to the larger WebQuest team with expertise gained by searching from one perspective. You must all now answer the Task / Quest(ion) as a group. Each of you will bring a certain viewpoint to the answer: some of you will agree and others disagree. Use information, pictures, movies, facts, opinions, etc. from the Webpages you explored to convince your teammates that your viewpoint is important and should be part of your team's answer to the Task / Quest(ion). Your WebQuest team should write out an answer that everyone on the team can accept.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

You and your teammates have learned a lot by dividing up into different roles. Now's the time to put your learning into a letter you'll send out for real world feedback. Together you will write a letter that contains opinions, information, and perspectives that you've gained. Here's the process:

1. Begin your letter with a statement of who you are and why you are writing your message to this particular person or organization.

2. Give background information that shows you understand the topic.

STATE THE TASK / QUEST(ION) AND YOUR GROUP'S ANSWER.

3. Each person in your group should write a paragraph that gives two good reasons supporting the group's opinion. Make sure to be specific in both the information (like where you got it from on the Web) and the reasoning (why the information proves your group's point).

4. Have each person on the team proofread the message. Use correct letter format and make sure you have correctly addressed the e-mail message. Use the link below to make contact. Send your message and make sure your teacher gets a copy.

Your Contact is: Mrs. Gorman - Ask a Teacher

Conclusion

So is an elephant smooth, rough, soft, or hard? Well, when you're blindfolded and only *looking* at one part, it's easy to come up with an answer that may not be completely right. It's the same for understanding a topic as broad or complex as Ancient China: when you only know part of the picture, you only know part of the picture. Now you all know a lot more. Nice work. You should be proud of yourselves! How can you use what you've learned to see beyond the black and white of a topic and into the grayer areas? What other parts of Ancient China could still be explored? Remember, learning never stops.