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Suggestions for Using Material
in the Unit |
The lesson plans in this unit were primarily designed
for use in a United States history course. However, we have tried to create
activities and materials which can be used independently of one another and
in various combinations so as to be of use in other Social Studies subjects.
The following table suggests clusters of activities that would fit in well with
the curriculum of a variety of courses taught in the Middle School and High
School Social Studies.
| SUBJECT |
RELATED ACTIVITIES |
| Geography |
| Lesson 1: |
Early Trade Routes to China
Extension Activity #1: Ships’ Logs |
| Lesson 2: |
Commodities of the Trade |
| Lesson 4: |
Exploring Mercantilism
Log of the Empress of China
The Sea-Man’s Vade Mecum
John Swift’s Letter Home |
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| Economics |
| Lesson 1: |
Exploring Mercantilism |
| Lesson 2: |
Supply and Demand
The China Trade in Context
Extension Activity (deals with balance of trade) |
| Lesson 3: |
American Ideas about Trade
Europe’s Economic Tradition
Chinese View of Trade |
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| American Studies |
| Lessons 3 and 4: |
Reading suggestions are included in resource lists to help teachers
integrate literature and fiction into these lessons. |
| A number of museums have artifacts and
artwork relating to the early American trade with Asia and the East Indies
in their collections.
Examples from the collections can be viewed on museum websites. (See reference
list) |
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| World History |
| Lesson 1: |
Exploring Mercantilism |
| Lesson 3: |
American Ideas about Trade
Chinese View of Trade |
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| Curriculum Integration |
| Math: |
Lesson 2: Students can utilize math skills like computing percentages
and creating graphs when analyzing the economic data.
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| Science: |
Lesson 2: The activity, Fortune and Failure in Furs, touches on the
issue of environmental depletion and the over-harvesting of a natural resource,
in this case animal furs.
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Lesson 4: Students can complete projects relating to trade winds, ocean
currents, and navigation equipment when studying sailing ships. |
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