Xia Dynasty – Myth or Reality?

This 45-slide PowerPoint lesson is always the first session I deliver in my unit on Ancient China. The lesson commences with an Odd One Out Starter Activity, during which students select one falsehood about Oracle Bones from a selection of four statements. Subsequently, there is an explanation of what Oracle Bones were and how they relate to the Xia Dynasty. The lesson title and progressive objectives (all will/most will/some will) are then introduced, followed by five slides of contextual information about the period for teacher exposition. The primary activity involves students walking around the classroom in groups to peruse information displayed in a Gallery Walk (consisting of 13 pictures, which need to be printed and affixed around the room). Groups are tasked with assigning roles within their team (coordinator, recorder, timekeeper, researcher, presenter, and proofreader — these can be doubled up if smaller groups are preferred). Some of the information presented during the Gallery Walk suggests the existence of the Xia Dynasty, while other aspects question whether it was merely a myth fabricated by later Dynasties. It’s an engaging lesson that allows students to explore beyond the classroom confines, potentially showcasing their activities to a wider audience within the school. The students collectively complete their information grids and share their findings from the Gallery Walk, leading to an extended writing task centred around the Key Question. The lesson objectives are revisited, and the session concludes with a plenary activity where students indicate their stance on whether they believe the Xia Dynasty was real or a myth by physically positioning themselves to the left or right of the room. I crafted this lesson during my tenure teaching History in China, so it holds sentimental value for me to share it with fellow educators. It is tailored for Key Stage 3 high school students but could be adapted for slightly younger learners as well. The content is presented in UK English.