China at KS3 and KS4
Discover the history and culture of China, including the first emperor and his terracotta army, the Great Wall of China, everyday life and the three religions.
Resources for visits
Online resources
Useful books
China loan boxes
Bring China into your classroom with this set of replicas and other items based on objects in the British Museum's collection, covering themes such as food and drink, celebration and decoration. This boxes come with information and notes for teachers.
Download:
loan box
slideshow (ppt 923kb)
loan box
handout (pdf 318kb)
Loans are free. To borrow a box, contact the Schools Team on 020
7323 8510/8850 or learning@britishmuseum.org
Resources for visits
China: Journey to the East
An exhibition touring the UK from 2009
exploring one of the most important and influential civilisations
in world history.
Full list of
teaching resources
Exhibition venues and dates
Chinese Art
Jade jewellery, lacquer boxes, porcelain vases, bronze weapons.
Find out about Chinese art
materials and techniques.
Download Word
(1.2Mb) pdf (714Kb)
Online resources
Explore the collection: ancient
China
Explore the collection: imperial
China
Find detailed information, background articles and images of many objects from the Chinese galleries.
Online tours
Chinese New Year
A look at the lucky red money envelopes that are given as gifts to celebrate Chinese New Year.
Chinese Jade
A selection of jade objects from the Selwyn and Ellie Alleyne Gallery (Room 33b)
Mountains and Water: Chinese Landscape Painting
A look at the tradition of Chinese landscape painting.
British Museum websites
Early imperial China
Find a slideshow of the Great Wall and original sources
describing the first emperor's reign. Includes activities and
lesson plans.
Ancient ChinaExplore a wealthy lord's tomb, watch master craftsmen at work and try your hand at silkworm farming. The staff room contains resources for teachers.
Ancient Civilisations
Explore ancient civilisations from around the world across
time.
Other useful websites
Royal Academy of Arts - The
Three Emperors 1662-1795
Treasures of the Silk Road at the British Museum
The Silk Road
Online
British Library education website exploring the culture of the Silk
Road including travel, trade, Buddhism, medicine and book
binding.
Useful books
Suitable for KS3 history
J. Brooman, Imperial China (Longman, 1992)
C. Gleisner, Imperial China (Oxford University Press, 2000)
H. Martell, Imperial China (Evans Brothers Limited, 1998)
A. Paludan, Chronicle of the Chinese Emperors (Thames and Hudson, 1998)
F. Reynoldson, Imperial China (Heinemann Educational, 1991)
A. Cotterell, Eyewitness Guide: China (Dorling Kindersley, 1994) Introduction to the history and culture of China, richly illustrated with objects in the British Museum collection.
For teachers
J. Rawson (ed.), The British Museum Book of Chinese Art (London, The British Museum Press, 1992) A comprehensive survey of British Museum Chinese objects from the Neolithic to the Modern Period.
Books which are published by the British Museum Press, can be purchased at the museum shop, online or at any bookshop.
Teachers receive a 10% discount* when they quote teacher1011 in Museum shops.
For discount online, visit www.britishmuseumshoponline.org
and enter teacher1011 on checkout.