PBS LearningMedia Gives Students A Chance to Explore Chinese History

Students of all ages undoubtedly see summer as a “break from school,” but it is a fact that those who do not use their time off to build upon skills learned during the school year and expand their knowledge, are more likely to need to relearn materials and garner lower skills on standardized tests.  In tandem with the launch of upcoming family-friendly docu-series “Story of China,” premiering on PBS beginning June 20, the award-winning PBS LearningMedia would like to provide parents and teachers alike, high-quality, interactive and educational resources in a way that most children and teenagers consume content: online.

Even if summertime doesn’t involve a family trip to Asia, the Around the Globe: China collection allows students to take a virtual trip to China to learn more about their society and culture as well as the art of China throughout the centuries. They can explore significant events in Chinese history, the history of U.S.-China relations and the experiences of Chinese Americans through videos, images, documents, and lesson plans, made more exciting and student-friendly through games, quizzes and interactive videos

Tweens and teens grades 6-12 can:

Test their China geography through a virtual journey to Shanghai: http://to.pbs.org/2pLHQVj

Assess their knowledge of the Chinese dynasties by matching major historical events to the dynasty in which they took place: http://to.pbs.org/2qxeJI5

Imagine how they would run their own empire and take a quiz to find out which famous empire they might have been: http://to.pbs.org/2pFbXiw

Learn how to read Shang, the world’s very first written language and the basis on which modern Chinese characters were developed: http://to.pbs.org/2pFbzAC

Hope your children and students take the opportunity to stretch their minds this summer.  And don’t get forget to tune in to The Story of China, a six-part, three-night docu-series, exploring the 4,000-year history of this emerging superpower.  Hosted by historian Michael Wood, who believes that in order to understand China today, we must examine it’s past, the program premieres on June 20 at 8pm ET on PBS (check local listings).  For a tease, check out this trailer.