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The Emperor’s Silent Army. By Teacher Jasmine. Big Question. What can we learn about the past by examining its relics?. Main Idea and Details. The topic of a selection can usually be stated in a few words. The main idea is the most important idea about the topic.
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The Emperor’s Silent Army By Teacher Jasmine
Big Question What can we learn about the past by examining its relics?
Main Idea and Details • The topic of a selection can usually be stated in a few words. • The main idea is the most important idea about the topic. • Supporting details tell more about the main idea. • P.204-205 • http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/book_buddy/rosie/skill_pre.html • http://www.pspb.org/blueribbon/games/burger/burger.html
Suffixes • -al “of” or “like • -ful “full of” or “showing” • -ly “in a way” or “of or from” • P.206-207
Vocabulary • Approximately • Divine • Excavated • Pottery • Restore • Superstitious • Terra cotta • Watchfully • Mechanical
Approximately • More or less exact; about
Divine • Supremely great or holy, god-like
Excavated • Uncovered, unearthed, or dug out
Pottery • Pots, bowl, dishes or other objects made from clay and hardened by heat
Restore • To bring back to its original condition by rebuilding or fixing
Superstitious • Characterized by having unreasonable beliefs
Terra cotta • Hard, reddish-brown clayware or ceramic material used to make bricks, tiles, and other objects
Watchfully • Characterized by being observant; looking closely
Mechanical • Having to do with a machine or machinery.
Explore • What kind of treasure would an emperor leave in his tomb? • What does the amount of buried treasure say about its owner? • Why would an emperor want an army made from clay near his tomb?
Expository Text • Organized by topic and/or time and provides information about real people, objects, ideas, or events. Expository nonfiction text may include subheads, maps, diagrams, photos, and captions.
Guide Questions • Draw a picture of the main idea of the first two paragraphs. • What details do you learn about the clay figurines on P. 211? • How well do the photos of the soldiers on pages 210-211 help explain the text? • Think about other archeological finds you have read about. What kinds of information about the past do you think these discoveries provide?
Guide Questions • How many soldiers does the caption state are in this army? • What have excavators uncovered in addition to soldiers? Why do you think these were included in the buried army? • Why the author chose the title “Emperor’s Silent Army”? • The author states that this discovery is one of the true wonders of the ancient world. Do you agree with this statement? What details support your claim?
Guide Questions • What does the map on P.214 reveal about the Qin Empire? • What background knowledge about China helped you understand the text? • Why do you think the author included a description of what Qin did to extend his life? • On P. 215, the author states that news of Qin’s death when he was away from the capital might have caused a revolt. Why might this event have led to an uprising? • Under what conditions do similar situations occur today?
Guide Questions • Look at the diagram on P. 217. Why do you think Pit 4 was empty? • What do the protective terra cotta warriors reveal about the emperor?
Guide Questions • The topic about Pit 2. What does the author state about this topic? • The author states that the soldiers in Pit 3 were probably in army head quarters. How do the details support this claim? • Why does the author include a drawing with the photo on p. 219? • Why do you think the arrangement of soldiers in Pit 1 was considered an effective attack formation?
Guide Questions • The author states that each clay figurine is a “distinct work of art”. Do you agree? • What caused Qin to create this huge army?
Guide Questions • How do the supporting details help you visualize how much work went into hiding this silent army? • Today’s artisans cannot replicate these ancient terra cotta soldiers. What does that tell you about the ancient potters? • What effect do you think this discovery has had on modern society?