Build the Great Wall

1. Construction of the Great Wall of China began over 3,000 years ago as a way to fortify China's northern border. It spans 13,171 miles (21,196 km). Have students reasearch its history, such as who designed and built it, the materials used in its construction, other purposes it served, etc. Encourage them to discuss how it might feel to walk the Great Wall.
2. Ask students to form small teams and create a model of one section of the wall. To begin they can draw images of rocks on dark paper. A recycled tissue box or other small cardboard box can become a guard tower. Ask them to arrange the pieces in a meandering line and then link the sections by gluing the rock-decorated structure together.
3. Students can embellish and enhance the creation using Model Magic. They can add features to the wall and also create some surrounding landscape, such as trees, hills, people, etc. For mountains they can begin with an armature of aluminum foil and then cover it with Model Magic.

SS: Culture: Through experience, observation, and reflection, identify elements of culture as well as similarities and differences among cultural groups across time and place.

SS: Time, Continuity, and Change: Read, reconstruct, and interpret the past. Imagine the future. Place oneself in various times and spaces and reflect on change.

Have students research the Qin Dynasty, which established the first empire in China beginning in 230 BCE. Have them learn about the engineering of the "Straight Road," which was the pathway used to transport materials used in the construction of the Great Wall.

Invite someone who has visited the Great Wall to talk about it. Have students prepare questions for the visitor in advance.