GRADE LEVEL: 5

LESSON DURATION: 30 minutes

SUBJECT: Social Studies

  • AIM: General: Acquisition of Information

    Specific: To tell of the journey of Marco Polo to the "Enchanting East".

    BASIC METHOD: Narrative

    PREPARATION: Teacher has prepared illustrations, a chalk outline map and an incomplete chalkboard summary. A map and globe of the world is at hand.

    References:

  • Animated map: Journeys of Marco Polo. Encarta 96, Search: Marco Polo
  • PRESENTATION
    •

    • CONTENT
    PROCEDURE

    Step 1:

    "A man who said he had hunted with tame tigers, seen rocks burning and magic liquid coming from the ground, would be thought strange.Such a man did exist."

    13th century Venice - world believed flat -illustrate with reference to globe and map

    SETTING

    Following an introductory statement the teacher establishes the setting of the story, a time reference, the locality and beliefs of the age.

    Step 2:

    • Nicolo Polo's decision to take son to see Kublai Khan. Sea route to Acre - Friars desert.
    • In Iraq, a fountain of oil; in Persia metal craftsmen. Join caravan.
    • Attacked by bandits.On to the Gobi and the Singing Sands.The Great Wall and arrival in Shangtu.
    • Splendour of Kublai Khan's palace. Customs, animals, craftsmanship, communications, defence, discoveries e.g. coal.
    • Marco as envoy and governor.Return to Venice, capture and recording of adventure

    NARRATIVE

    Teacher narrates the story, pausing to introduce illustrative material, make reference to maps at points indicated. The dangers of early whaling are emphasised.

    Locating map references, and indication of the extent of the journey.

    Board sketches of the Great Wall and Tartar houses.

    Step 3:

    Cards: Venice,Iraq, Persia, Peking

     

    Illustrations: Attack by bandits.In Khan's palace.Riches of the East.

    Summary:

    Marco ....................... travelled

    Across ...................... to .................... to see

    Ruler of China, ...........................................

    C ............., s........................ jewels,

    Odd ................................. were treasures of the East. 

    CONSOLIDATION

    Children position flashcards on the chalk outline map.

    Children arrange illustrations in sequence and through reference to the map, recall essential points of the story. Questioning is employed to develop and extend answers.

     

     

    A summary is revealed and completed at the board by selected pupils. Class read aloud the completed summary.
    Possible follow up activities:

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