UKS2 Topic: Earliest Civilisations: The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China Block B: Farming and Food
Discover the farming and cookery of the Shang Dynasty. Explore farming practices, ingredients, and the importance of the silk worm in this early civilisation.
Block B: Farming and Food[4 Sessions] / Main outcome: History
Other outcomes: Art, Science and D&T
By the end of this block you will have achieved the following outcomes: / · Pupils should regularly address and sometimes devise historically valid questions about change, cause, similarity and difference, and significance.
· Undertake an in-depth study of The Shang Dynasty of Ancient China.
· Improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials.
· Describe the differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect and a bird.
· Find out and describe how plants need water, light and a suitable temperature to grow and stay healthy.
· Describe how animals obtain their food from plants and other animals.
· Know where and how a variety of ingredients are grown, reared, caught and processed.
Session 1: History, D&T and Science
Where does food come from?
Learn about farming and cooking in China; recreate the irrigation farming of the Shang Dynasty in miniature. / Children will:
· Describe what plants and animals need to grow.
· Describe the growing and processing of plants and animals.
· Recreate irrigation farming of the Shang Dynasty in miniature.
Session 2: History and D&T
Shang food
Describe ingredients
Devise a Shang recipe of your own using a selection of ingredients that the Shang farmers would have grown. / Children will:
· Describe the ingredients.
· Devise a Shang recipe of their own using a selection of ingredients.
· Observe safe and hygienic cooking practices.
· Learn to follow a recipe.
Session 3: History and Science
Silkworms
Investigate the life cycles of different classes of organisms; research the life-cycle of the silkworm; discover how silk is made from silkworms and was harvested by Shang farmers. / Children will:
· Depict the life-cycles of different classes of organisms.
· Discuss the different between the life-cycles of different classes of organisms.
· Describe how silk is made from silkworms.
· Explain some of the methods of Shang farmers.
Session 4: History and Art
Inspired by the Shang
Look back at what you have learnt about Shang farming and the silk worm; compose and paint a picture of an aspect of this series of sessions onto silk. / Children will:
· Choose historical information to depict in a piece of artwork.
· Sketch a plan of the artwork.
· Paint on silk.
Resources
Session 1
Provided: Farming bingo; Presentation about Shang agriculture; How to make irrigation channels.
You will need: Trays, compost, clay, gravel, water, seeds.
Session 2
Provided: Ingredients available to peasants in the Shang Dynasty’ sheet; Sample recipe template.
You will need: Some additional recipes; Selection of ingredients, cooking utensils, and kitchen.
Session 3
Provided: Presentation about silkworms; Presentation on life-cycles of other organisms; Guide to creating a life-cycle of a mammal, plant, insect and bird.
You will need: Access to computer and internet for additional information.
Session 4
Provided: Guide to painting on silk.
You will need: Access to computer and internet for additional information. Pieces of white silk or polyester, silk paint, silk resist, cardboard frames; You can order plain white silk handkerchiefs on the internet.
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