We're off to China!

Onward we go to another country! On Wednesday we packed our bags and headed East to Asia, landing in the third largest country in the world - China! We checked out photographs, maps, the flag, and important structures in China to get our brains ready for this study. To kick off the unit, we participated in a "question carousel". Students were split into groups of 6, and each had one minute to answer a specific question (or check out a nonfiction China book). At the end of the minute, the chime signaled a rotation to a new question.

1. What do you think you know about China?
2. What do you want to know about China?
3. What would you tell people in China about where you live?
4. What things do you think come from China?
5. Why is it important to know about different places?

The answers we shared were really thoughtful and reflective. Here are some examples...

1. I know why the Great Wall of China was built. I know there are a lot of pandas and bamboo.
2. How many people live there? How many factories do they have there?
3. I would tell them about our beautiful ocean.
4. China makes waving kitties and lots of food!
5. You need to learn about other places. You will grow up and be smart.

To add an element of inquiry to this Social Studies unit, we will continue to explore and research questions that we have. We might be able to answer some, and other wonderings may be sparked too. I'm looking forward to seeing where this takes us! Some of the most authentic learning happens when we are able to guide our own discoveries and research.

Zài jiàn!