This subject examines interactions across the Eurasian continent between Russians, Chinese, Mongolian nomads, and Turkic oasis dwellers during the last millennium and a half. As empires rose and fell, religions, trade, and war flowed back and forth continuously across this vast space. Today, the fall of the Soviet Union and China's reforms have opened up new opportunities for cultural interaction.

In this 6th grade humanities lesson, students prepare fresh pasta with Gremolata as they study the exchange of ideas, goods, and foods between Rome and other regions along the Silk Road. This is the third of four Silk Road lessons.

In this 6th grade humanities lesson, students prepare Vegetable Curry as they study the ideas, goods, and foods that India shared with other regions along the Silk Road. This is the second of four Silk Road lessons.

In this 6th grade humanities lesson, students prepare Steamed Dumplings as they study the exchange of ideas, goods, and foods between China and other regions during the Han dynasty. This is the first of four Silk Road lessons.

In this 6th grade humanities lesson, students trade with each other to obtain all the ingredients needed to prepare Rice Pudding. This is the fourth and final Silk Road lesson.

Marbling paper is a form of art that produces "monotypes"--every piece is unique because of the process! It also has a long history as a form of art and decoration. This resource includes a video tutorial detailing how to marble paper yourself. Use it to support Maryland Visual Arts Standards for Grades 6-8 or Maryland Social Studies Frameworks for Grade 7. For Visual Arts Standard 1, indicator I:6-8:1, have students first research the history of sumi, ebru, or monotyping, then plan a marbled work to reflect the same motivations as historic artists using one of those forms. For example, sumi may reflect concerns about the future since some historians believe it was related to ink divination, so a student could marble over a calendar that is relevant to them, a sketch of a future event, a saying about the future, or even try to marble a pattern like a calendar page. For Grade 7, Content Topic "Geographic Characteristics" have students map different appearances of paper marbling mentioned in the video along with their date and express whether they think the spread can be attributed to a single discovery that traveled, multiple discoveries that spread, or multiple independent discoveries. Students could even marble over these maps. If you evaluate or use this resource, please respond to this short (4 question) survey here bit.ly/3dfwEK8

This Ology website for kids focuses on Anthropology. It includes activities, things to make, quizzes, interviews with working scientists, and more to help kids learn about Anthropology.

An overview of how the early Silk Road(s) facilitated trade and the spread of ideas, technology, disease and religion across Eurasia in the beginning of the Common Era.