Unit 7:  China
Essential Questions:  How do societies become civilized?  Are civilized societies civil?

Formative Assessment #1:  Shang Dynasty and Geography
Geography of China handout
Shang Dynasty Textbook pages 256-257
Shang Dynasty Civilization Handout

Formative Assessment #2:  Zhou Dynasty and Feudalism
Assignment:  Define/explain/connect the following words related to feudalism

• king
• lord
• fief
• peasant
• tribute

Formative Assessment #3:  Ethics and Respect:  The Teachings of Confucius
The end of the Zhou Dynasty was full of turmoil and the 200 years that followed was full of war.  Confucius, a Chinese philosopher that lived during this time determined that order and peace could return to China through ethical behavior and respect.  The first part of this assignment focuses on the vocabulary word:  ethics.  What does it mean?  What does ethical behavior look like?  Is it always easy to tell whether or not something is ethical?

Part 1:   Ethics 
Ethics of Jack and the Beanstalk
Reflect on what you know of the story of Jack and the Beanstalk.  If you don't remember the story, you can find lots of written and video forms of it on the internet.  
Consider this question: Since the giant was trying to eat Jack, was it OK that Jack stole the goose and the harp?  
Create a T-Chart on your paper that explains why it is OK that Jack stole the goose and harp, and why it isn't OK.  


Ethics of Assisted Suicide
Suicide is a very sensitive subject and is a topic that the school district and professionals in the mental health field encourage talking about with young people.  An aspect of the conversation, and one that is not discussed as much, is assisted suicide - also known as euthanasia.  The ethics of assisted suicide is deeply debated and is ever more visible in the news.  Students will use the links below to learn about the arguments that support and do not support assisted suicide as an ethical  medical practice.  Please use only the links below to support your research as they involve statistics, current events, and do not appeal to your emotions. 

Time Magazine:  See Which states allow assisted suicide.
Chilean girl's plea spotlights CF and assisted suicide 

Assignment:  Students are to create a T-Chart, just like the one they made for the Jack and the Beanstalk analysis.  On one side it needs to say:  "Some believe assisted suicide is ethical because..." and the other side needs to say "Some believe assisted suicide is not ethical because..."  
When you are done, answer the question:  "Which argument do I think is stronger concerning the ethics of assisted suicide?" Be prepared to discuss this with your table group.

Part 2:  Filial Piety (Respect for your elders) 
Read about filial piety on page 265 in your textbook.  
Filial Piety becoming law - NPR
When filial piety is the law - NY Times
Filial Piety AK

Formative Assessment #4:  Daoism and Legalism - opposing ideas

Formative Assessment #5:  Qin Dynasty

Part 1:  Assignment:  Cost Benefit Analysis

Part 2:  Why Do We Build Walls?

Berlin Wall in Germany
Berlin Wall - 25 things you didn't know about the Berlin Wall
Berlin Wall - History.com

Israeli Separation Barrier
Israel Separation Barrier - Newsweek
Jewish Virtual Library - Pro Wall perspective
Al Jezeera America - Anti Wall perspective

Mexico Border Wall
Time Magazine - The Great Wall of America 
NPR - In South Texas, Few on the fence

Formative Assessment #6:  Han Dynasty

Silk
Silk Image (click on #6)
Acupuncture:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G87SfHPHj0A
Seismograph:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9qhq7MALVU
Paper:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Gg_6Zgbz4

Click to set HTML