Unit 1: I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade (14th Century Mongolia)

Middle School Social Studies

Unit 1:  I Rode A Horse of Milk White Jade; 14th century Mongolia

Time:  5 weeks

Materials:

1.  class notebook

2.  I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade by Diane Lee Wilson

3.  Maps of Asia

4.  National Geographic magazines

Activities

1.  Students will locate the Mongol Empire geographically and chronologically on map of Asia and on class time line, and will identify other world events that occured during the years of the Mongol Empire.

2.  Students will create a map of modern Mongolia showing cities and topographical features.

3.  Using previous and experiential knowledge, information presented in class, and interviews with religious individuals, students will discuss the basic elements of all religions.

4.  Students will create montages showing the diverisity of religious practices worldwide.

5.  Students will participate in a discussion of shamanism with a guest speaker.

6.  Students will read and discuss the novel I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade by Dianne Lee Wilson and will identify elements of Mongol history and culture as presented in the book.

7.  Students will visit the Atlanta Police Mounted Patrol stables and learn how horses are used today by police departments.

8.  Students will outline the life of Genghis Khan and the early years of the Mongol Empire.

9.  Students will explore elements of the Mongol culture though individual projects which they will create and share with their classmates.  (This project will span both Unit 1 and Unit 2.)

Objectives:

1.  Students will identify Mongolia on a world map, indicate the capital city and major topographical landmarks.   Learning evaluated on quiz.

2.  Students will identify elements that all religions share and give examples from their own experiences or from classroom discussions.  Learning evaluated on quiz and exam.

3.  Students will describe basic elements of shamanism as a religion.  Learning evaluated through class discussions and essay question on exam.

4.  Students will describe basic elements of Mongol culture from the 14th century as described in the novel.  Learning evaluated though classroom discussion and essay question on exam.

5.  Students will consider the importance of horses in ancient Mongol culture, present-day Mongolia, and in our own society.  Learning evalulated through classroom discussion and homework assignment.

6.  Students will learn basic facts about the life of Genghis Khan and the development of the Mongol Empire.  Learning evaluated on quizzes and exam.

6.  Students will explore in depth a element of culture, technology, or history from the Mongol Empire and will present what he or she has learned to the class in the form of an individual project.  Learning evaluated through individualized rubric for project and presentation.  (This project and its evaluation will span both Unit 1 and Unit 2.)