Chinese Inventions

Overview:

Project Overview

7th Grade Expo

Who: You and four or five other students (assigned by the teacher) will make up your group.

What: Your group will complete a project based on the inventions of the Chinese. You will choose one invention, research it, and create a poster board, as well as, an oral presentation to educate the rest of the class about your particular invention. You will also need to demonstrate its value to our modern world (i.e. "How has this invention helped the world?")

When: This will be done in class. We will devote one or twos a week to this project the Expo. You will showcase your poster and oral presentation at the History Expo Night on Thursday, March 21, 2013

Where: Completed in the classroom, presented in the our classroom during the History Exposition.

Why: The Chinese are responsible for many inventions that have changed our world. This project will allow you to develop your research skills, and to demonstrate a thorough knowledge of a chosen invention.

California Content Standards
English and Language Arts
Grade Seven
Listening and Speaking
ELA.7.1.0 Listening and Speaking Strategies
Organization and Delivery of Oral Communication
	ELA.7.1.4. Organize information to achieve particular purposes and to appeal to the background and interests of the audience.
ELA.7.2.0 Speaking Applications (Genres and Their Characteristics)
	ELA.7.2.4. Deliver persuasive presentations: a. State a clear position or perspective in support of an argument or proposal. b. Describe the points in support of the argument and employ well-articulated evidence.
History and Social Science
Grade Seven World History and Geography: Medieval and Early Modern Times
HSS.7.3 Students analyze the geographic, political, economic, religious, and social structures of the civilizations of China in the Middle Ages.
	HSS.7.3.5. Trace the historic influence of such discoveries as tea, the manufacture of paper, wood-block printing, the compass, and gunpowder.

Inventions:

Inventions and Contributions

China has been the source of many significant inventions over many dynasties.

Dynasty and Time Period	Inventions and Contributions
Qin Dynasty (approx. 221-207 bce)	Building of the Great Wall Terra cotta army
Han Dynasty (approx. 200 bce. - 200 ce.)	Silk Road Papermaking Wheelbarrow Compass Ship rudder Chinese Examination System
Period of Disunion (200 - 589 ce.)	Tea Calligraphy Growth of Buddhism and Taoism Kite Matches
Sui Dynasty (approx. 589 - 618 ce.)	Porcelain Wood-Block Printing Grand Canal Coinage Standardization
Tang Dynasty (approx. 618-907 ce.)	Tea Gunpowder Civil Service Exams Flame-thrower
Five Dynasties period (approx. 907 - 960 ce.)	Tea Trade Paper Money Taoism
Song or Sung dynasty (approx. 960-1279 ce.)	Magnetic compass Rocket and multi-stage rockets Printing (movable type) Guns and Cannons Chinese Opera Porcelain
Yuan or Mongol Dynasty (approx. 1279 - 1368 ce. )	Paper money Magnetic Compass Blue and white porcelain Guns and Gunpowder Chinese Theater, Opera, and Music

Inventions A to L

Abacus	The abacus was a great invention in ancient China and has been called by some Western writers "the earliest calculating machine in the world." About the abacus Abacus, a counting device
Catapult	The catapult is a simple machine that throws a stone or other projectile further and harder than a human could. The trebuchet is a catapult
Clock	One of the greatest inventions of the medieval world was the mechanical clock. Yi Xing, a Buddhist monk, made the first model of a mechanical clock in 725 AD.
Compass	The compass, invented by the Chinese date unknown, is used widely in planes, boats, and in the wilderness to find directions. The compass works by finding north and helps you get back on track if you are lost so you can to find your way. Exhibit on Compasses Invention of the Magnetic Compass
Fireworks	Fireworks were invented by the Chinese in the seventeenth century BC as entertainment, but were later used to scare off enemies in times of war. Firecrackers
Gun Powder	The Chinese invented gun powder for war uses around the same time as fireworks. Exhibit on gunpowder
Innoculations	Inoculation works by introducing a weak form of a disease to stimulate the human body to fight off the disease. The technique of inoculation was first publicly recognized when the son of Prime Minister Wang Dan (957-1017) died of smallpox. Smallpox innoculation
Kite	China, like all civilization wanted ways to entertain their children and the adults.Kites can be traced to the fifth/fourth century BC. Invention of the Kite

Inventions M to Z

Wheelbarrow	The wheelbarrow was invented in the first century BC. A wheelbarrow allowed people to carry twice as much than if they carried it themselves. The Chinese’s building process was dramatically sped up because of this useful invention. Medieval Inventions Medieval Wheelbarrow
Parachute	First documentation of the parachute was in 90 BC, but the invention of the parachute is assumed to be around the second century BC. History of the Parachute The Parachute
Paper Making and Paper Money	The earliest documentation of paper currency is in the 800 BC and was first introduced by the Chinese. Paper and Paper Money Invention of Paper Money Museum of Paper Making Papermaking Activities
Rockets	Fireworks were invented by the Chinese in the seventeenth century BC as entertainment, but were later used to scare off enemies in times of war. Firecrackers
Rudder	The rudder was invented, date unknown, to help with the turning of a boat. Before the invention of the rudder, boats had to rely on oars to turn, which required a lot of unnecessary time and energy.
Printing	Printing was actually invented by the Buddhists in the eighth century for dissemination of religious images and texts. But in the Song Dynasty, the government promoted the publication of the Confucian texts called "The Canons." Glory of Chinese Printing Invention of Block Printing
Toys and Games	China, like all civilization wanted ways to entertain their children and the adults. They did this through toys and games. The oldest toy in the world is the doll. The second oldest toy in the world is the yoyo. Kites can be traced to the fifth/fourth century BC. Toys and Games Invention of the Kite

Procedure:

This page will list a step-by-step process of the tasks you must complete in order to create your project.

You will also be given a procedure checklist that you will need to have the teacher sign-off on when you complete each task. This checklist will be factored into your overall grade for the project.

____________________________________________________________________________

Procedure:

1. Choose an invention that your group will complete your project on. (everyone should agree on the selected invention)

2. Assign group roles

Group Manager

Group Faciliator

Head of Research

Head of Design

3. Research your invention to learn about its:

History

Different Uses

How It's Made

Influence on our world

Interesting facts

4. Design your project. You will create a:

Poster Board and Prezi presentation demonstration your project’s work.

5. Present your finished presentation. You will give an oral presentation to your class and your project will be displayed at the History Expo.

6. Evaluate the work and effort that you and your group members put into this assignment. This will be factored into your overall grade.

Grading Rubrics:

Project Design Rubric

CATEGORY	7	6	5	4
Content - Accuracy	At least 7 accurate facts are displayed on the project.	5-6 accurate facts are displayed on the project	3-4 accurate facts are displayed on the project.	Less than 3 accurate facts are displayed on the project.
Required Elements	The project includes all required elements as well as additional information.	All required elements are included on the project.	All but 1 of the required elements are included on the project.	Several required elements were missing.
Graphics - Relevance	All graphics are related to the topic and make it easier to understand.	Most graphics are related to the topic and most make it easier to understand.	Some graphics relate to the topic.	Graphics do not relate to the topic.
Attractiveness	The project is exceptionally attractive in terms of design, layout, and neatness.	The project is attractive in terms of design, layout and neatness.	The project is acceptably attractive though it may be a bit messy.	The project is distractingly messy or very poorly designed. It is not attractive.

Oral Presentation Rubric

CATEGORY	5	4	3	2
Content	Shows a full understanding of the topic.	Shows a good understanding of the topic.	Shows a good understanding of parts of the topic.	Does not seem to understand the topic very well.
Comprehension	Student is able to accurately answer almost all questions posed by classmates about the topic.	Student is able to accurately answer most questions posed by classmates about the topic.	Student is able to accurately answer a few questions posed by classmates about the topic.	Student is unable to accurately answer questions posed by classmates about the topic.
Preparedness	Student is completely prepared and has obviously rehearsed.	Student seems pretty prepared but might have needed a couple more rehearsals.	The student is somewhat prepared, but it is clear that rehearsal was lacking.	Student does not seem at all prepared to present.
Collaboration with Peers	Almost always listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group. Tries to keep people working well together.	Usually listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group. Does not cause "waves" in the group.	Often listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group but sometimes is not a good team member.	Rarely listens to, shares with, and supports the efforts of others in the group. Often is not a good team member.

Group Roles:

7th Grade History Expo

Group Roles & Job Descriptions

No matter what, everyone must work until the job is done. No one can say “I did my job, I’m done,” while others are still working. Find something to do to help make the project better.

Manager

I am the team leader. I am responsible for checking the quality of our group project and making sure it is being done correctly.

I am the only one that can talk to Mr. Reisfelt about our group’s questions.

I am in charge of keeping all of the group’s paperwork (checklists, poster materials, etc.)

I am responsible for borrowing materials we need and for returning them to Mr. Reisfelt every day.

Head of Graphic Deisgn

I am responsible for designing the layout of our group’s informational project.

I will also decide which symbols and visual representations should be included on our poster.

I will make sure that our poster clearly expresses our group’s mastery of knowledge by frequently checking the project checklist.

Facilitator

I am responsible for making sure that every team member is working on the project during assigned work times, including myself.

I will keep track of the time and alert my group members on when it is time to start cleaning up.

I must be flexible in terms of working on whatever part of the project that needs the most help at the moment.

Researcher

My job is to make sure my group has properly researched our invention.

I will be responsible for making sure that all of the group members have a key part to play in our research.

I will assign each group member a different topic to research for our project so our time is used effectively.

I will make sure that our information is organized properly on our project.

Photos:

Alex, Eddie, Thomas, and Alma picking their invention.