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3rd grade · Social Studies · Unit 6 of 10

Ancient India & China

Dynasties, beliefs and inventions

What your child practices

The Indus Valley and Yellow River, Chinese dynasties and the Mandate of Heaven, Confucius, Hinduism and Buddhism, and inventions such as paper and zero.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 3.4.19.1; 3.4.21.1 · daily life in ancient India and China, and inventions that changed life

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. Ancient India grew along the Indus River. Ancient China grew along the Yellow River.
  2. Hinduism and Buddhism began in India. Confucius taught respect and order in China.
  3. Chinese dynasties ruled under the Mandate of Heaven. Inventions include paper and the number zero.

Example: Who founded Buddhism? Buddhism began in ancient India. Its founder was a prince called the Buddha. Answer: Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha

Ancient India & China in Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 6 of 10 in 3rd grade Social Studies, after Mesopotamia & Egypt and before Greece & Rome.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Silk was made in China from…

    • The cocoons of silkworms
    • Cotton plants
    • Sheep's wool
    • Tree bark

  2. Question 2

    Who was the first emperor to unite China, in 221 BCE?

    • Qin Shi Huang
    • Julius Caesar
    • Confucius
    • Hammurabi

  3. Question 3

    The Harappan (Indus Valley) civilization grew along which river?

    • The Euphrates
    • The Indus
    • The Yangtze
    • The Nile

  4. Question 4

    The Han dynasty is known for…

    • Writing cuneiform
    • Opening the Silk Road and inventing paper
    • Building the pyramids
    • Founding Athens

  5. Question 5

    What is a dynasty?

    • A series of rulers from the same family
    • A farming tool
    • A kind of temple
    • A trade route

  6. Question 6

    Why did the Yellow River get the nickname "China's Sorrow"?

    • It was always dry
    • Its floods often destroyed homes and crops
    • It was very sad music
    • It was frozen

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