Transcript The Emperor’s Silent Army - T. Jasmine's English Class

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
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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/burge
r.html
Suffixes
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-al “of” or “like
-ful “full of” or “showing”
-ly “in a way” or “of or from”
P.206-207
Vocabulary
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Approximately
Divine
Excavated
Pottery
Restore
Superstitious
Terra cotta
Watchfully
Mechanical
Approximately
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More or less exact; about
Divine
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Supremely great or holy, god-like
Excavated
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Uncovered, unearthed, or dug out
Pottery
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Pots, bowl, dishes or other objects
made from clay and hardened by heat
Restore
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To bring back to its original condition
by rebuilding or fixing
Superstitious
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Characterized by having unreasonable
beliefs
Terra cotta
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Hard, reddish-brown clayware or
ceramic material used to make bricks,
tiles, and other objects
Watchfully
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Characterized by being observant;
looking closely
Mechanical
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Having to do with a machine or
machinery.
Explore
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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?