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Along the Silk Road

Students will explore the history of the Silk Road, then create a diorama depicting it.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

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  • Recycled Cardboard Box

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have students explore the history of the Silk Road, which connected China and the Far East with the Middle East and Europe. It was established in 130 BCE and remained in use until 1453 CE. What route did it follow? What sort of goods were transported? How was the road responsible for the spread of different religions in the regions? How did the products transported impact economy? How was it responsible for bringing new products and techniques to different places? How did it contribute to understanding new cultures?

  • Step 2

    Have students create a diorama depicting regions of the Silk Road. They can create a base using markers on construction paper and then gluing the paper to the bottom of a recycled box. Then they can make characters, items to trade, travelers, and embellishments out of Model Magic.

  • Step 3

    Have students present their dioramas and discuss some of the facts they learned about this historic trade route.

Standards

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. 

SS: Global Connections: Become aware of how things that happen in one part of the world impact other parts of the world and the global connections within basic issues and concerns. 

Adaptations

Read a book such as "Chengli and the Silk Road Caravan" by Hildi Kang or "The Silk Road" by Kathy Ceceri. Discuss the regions visited by characters in the book.

Have students learn about Marco Polo, the Venetian merchant and explorer who travelled Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295.