Marco Polo Teachers Guide.pdf

Marco Polo

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Teacher’s Guide

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Marco Polo Dear Educator, rek 15,000 miles through China, India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia with one of the greatest explorers and storytellers of all time! With KIDS DISCOVER Marco Polo, your young voyagers will learn about the fascinating topics at right.

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This Teacher’s Guide is filled with activity ideas and blackline masters to help your students enjoy and learn more from Marco Polo. Select or adapt the activities that suit your students’ needs best. Thank you for making KIDS DISCOVER a part of your classroom.

PAGES W H AT ’ S I N MARCO POLO 2–3 The Most Famous Traveler of All Where did Marco travel and did he make it to China?

4–5 Around the World in Marco Polo’s Time A map of what was happening across the globe

6–7 The Polos of Venice The trading ties to the port city nicknamed the “Queen of the Adriatic”

8–9 Go East, Young Man Marco’s route to China

10–11 Kublai Khan Welcomes Marco Polo A colorful illustration of Kublai Khan, Marco Polo, and a hunting party

12–13 Friends of the Khan Marco Polo’s 17 years with Kublai Khan

14–15 Homeward Bound The three Polos head home after 17 years in China

Sincerely,

KIDS DISCOVER

16–17 Marco Millions Marco’s memoirs—are they true or lies?

18–19 Student Activities

P.S. We would love to hear from you! E-mail your comments and ideas to [email protected]

Make international noodles, plus an acrostic, match-up, and resources

• IN THIS TEACHER’S GUIDE • Meeting the Standards ✔ World History: Era 5 Intensified Hemispheric Interactions, 1000-1500 CE – National Standards for History ✔ Visit www.kidsdiscover.com/standards to find out more about how KIDS DISCOVER meets state and national standards.

2 Prereading Activities 3 Get Set to Read (Anticipation Guide) 4 Discussion and Writing Questions 5–6 It’s in the Reading (Reading Comprehension) 7 Everything Visual (Graphic Skills) 8 Cross-Curricular Extensions 9–12 Answer Keys to Blackline Masters

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MARCO POLO 1

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efore distributing KIDS DISCOVER Marco Polo, activate students’ prior knowledge and set a purpose for reading with these activities.

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Discussion

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o get students thinking about how this topic relates to their interests and lives, ask: ✔ Where would you like to go on a long trip? ✔ How do you think travel is different today than it was in 1271?

KWL Chart

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n chart paper, draw three columns and label them K (“What we Know”), W (“What we Want to know” or “What we think we Will learn”), and L (“What we Learned”). Ask: What do you already know about Marco Polo? List students’ responses in the K column. In the W column, list students’ questions and comments about what they want to learn or what they think they will learn by reading Marco Polo. (See box below for key terms students may bring up.) At the end of the unit, have students fill in the L column listing what they learned. Finally, ask students to correct any inaccurate information written in the K column.

KEY TERMS ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

A Description of the World Venice Southeast Asia Constantinople China India

✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Kublai Khan Mongol Silk Road trade Il Milione Rustichello

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PREREADING ACTIVITIES

Marco Polo

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Get Set to Read (Anticipation Guide)

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opy and distribute the Get Set to Read blackline master (page 3 of this Teacher’s Guide). Explain to students that this Anticipation Guide will help them find out what they know and what misconceptions they have about the topic. Get Set to Read is a list of statements—some true, some false. Ask students to write whether they think each statement is true or false in the Before Reading column. Be sure to tell students that it is not a test and they will not be graded on their answers. The activity can be completed in a variety of ways for differentiated instruction: ◆ Have students work on their own or in small groups to complete the entire page. ◆ Assign pairs of students to focus on two statements and to become “experts” on these topics. ◆ Ask students to complete the Before Reading column on their own, and then tabulate the class’s answers on the chalkboard, on an overhead transparency, or on your classroom computer. ◆ Review the statements orally with the entire class. If you predict that students will need assistance finding the answers, complete the Page Number column before copying Get Set to Read.

Preview

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istribute Marco Polo and model how to preview it. Examine titles, headings, words in boldface type, pictures, charts, and captions. Then have students add new information to the KWL chart. If students will only be reading a few pages at one sitting, preview only the selected pages.

BE WORD WISE WITH POWER VOCABULARY!

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ou have exclusive access to additional resources including Power Vocabulary blackline masters for every available KIDS DISCOVER title! These activities introduce students to 15 specialized and general-use vocabulary words from each KiDS DISCOVER title. Working with both types of words helps students develop vocabulary, improve comprehension, and read fluently. Follow the links from your Teacher’s Toolbox CD-ROM and find your title to access these valuable resources:

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

Vocabulary cards Crossword puzzle Word find Matching Cloze sentences Dictionary list

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Marco Polo

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Name ____________________________________________ Date _________________

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Get Set to Read What do you know about Marco Polo? In Before Reading, write true if you think the statement is true. Write false if you think the statement is not true. Then read KIDS DISCOVER Marco Polo. Check back to find out if you were correct. Write the correct answer and the page number where you found it. CHALLENGE: Rewrite each false sentence in a way that makes it true. Before Reading

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After Reading 1. Marco Polo took a 24-year journey

Page Number

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

_____________

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in the 1200s. _____________

2. In Marco Polo’s lifetime, the

Mongols ruled one-fourth of the world. _____________

3. Marco Polo’s father was a merchant

in Rome. _____________

4. Marco Polo’s book contained

accurate and detailed reporting. _____________

5. Marco Polo traveled to China on the

Silk Road. _____________

6. The Chinese and Mongols built a

1000-mile long canal in the 1200s. _____________

7. Kublai Khan provided 14 ships for

the Polos to return home. _____________

8. The Polos’ friends did not recognize

them when they returned home. _____________

9. Marco Polo wrote a book telling of

all he had seen. _____________

10. Marco Polo was an excellent

geographer.

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DISCUSSION & WRITING QUESTIONS se the following questions as oral discussion starters or for journaling. For additional in-class discussion and writing questions, adapt the questions on the reading comprehension blackline masters on pages 5 and 6.

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Pages 2–3 Marco Polo left home when he was 17 and returned when he was 41. If his stories are true, he had one of the most amazing trips ever chronicled. However, it must have been difficult. Ask: ✔ What do you think are some of the positive aspects of leaving home when you are 17 and returning 24 years later? What do you think are some of the negative aspects? Would you want to leave home at 17 and return at 41? Explain. Pages 4–5 ✔ If you could travel back in time to Polo’s time to one of the places on the map, where would you like to go? Why? Pages 6–7 Marco’s hometown was Venice, Italy. Ask: ✔ Has anyone been to Venice? What is it like? Has anyone been to other cities in Italy? What did you see and do there? Pages 6–7 After students read that Marco has left on his journey, a cartoon on the bottom of page 7 reads: “Dang! Did I remember to lock the door?” Ask: ✔ What words and image can you think of that would express the same emotion?

Marco Polo

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Pages 8–9 On page 9, students read: “Marco described the Mongols’ culture, as well as their lifestyle, including the use of yurts, felt tents that could be packed up and carried to the next grazing ground.” Nomads are people who move from place to place, with no permanent home. Ask: ✔ What do you think are the advantages of this kind of lifestyle? Disadvantages? ✔ What are some reasons why people adopt a nomadic lifestyle? Would you like to live the life of a nomad? Why or why not?

Promote reading, speaking, and listening skills by having students read KIDS DISCOVER aloud in pairs.

Pages 10–11 ✔ What do you think is happening in this illustration? Who are the people in the box? Who are the people outside? What are they all doing? Pages 12–13 ✔ How do you think Kublai Khan’s openness to new ideas influenced his view on Marco Polo? How might the Polos’ meeting with Kublai Khan have been different if Kublai Khan was not open to new ideas? Pages 14–15 To get to China, the Polos traveled the overland Silk Route. To get home, they went by way of the watery Spice Route. Ask: ✔ What are some advantages and disadvantages to traveling over land? Over water? Pages 16–17 ✔ Do you think Marco Polo actually went on the trip he said he went on? Explain why you feel the way you do. ✔ Why do you think some people are skeptical of his tales? ✔ If Marco Polo’s tales were exaggerated, why do you think he would embellish them?

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Marco Polo

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It’s in the Reading After reading KIDS DISCOVER Marco Polo, choose the best answer for each question. Fill in the circle.

Find your answers on the pages shown in the book icon next to each question.

1. Marco Polo’s main accomplishment was _____. ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. being away from home for 24 years B. getting to China safely C. dictating a book that inspired others to travel D. being the first European to visit China

2 3

2. The Crusades were fought between_____. ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. European kings and their knights B. European Christians and Muslims C. African kingdoms D. Indians and Mongols

4 5

3. Rockets were invented by the _____. ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. North American Indians B. Africans C. Asian Indians D. Chinese

4 5

4. Venice was an appropriate home for merchants and travelers because _____. A. it was near Asia B. it was a thriving port C. it had the best education in Europe D. it was a very wealthy city

❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

6 7

5. The Polos went to China in 1271 in order to _____. ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. bring back valuable goods to trade B. enable Marco to write a book C. take Catholic missionaries D. find out about people in Asia

6 7

6. The route to China was known as the Silk Road because _____. ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. it was very smooth B. Europeans used it to carry silk to China C. it was used to trade European goods for Asian silk D. traders on it wore silk shirts

© KIDS DISCOVER

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MARCO POLO 5

It’s in the Reading

(continued)

7. A yurt is a_____. ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. boat bound with coconut fiber B. hole that oil flows from C. green place in the desert D. movable tent made of felt

8 9

8. Kublai Khan greeted the Polos warmly because _____. ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. they brought many riches to him B. he was interested in meeting new people C. he wanted them to work for him D. he wanted them to help him conquer China

12 13

9. Kublai Khan allowed the Polos to leave China because _____. ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

10. ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

11. ❍ ❍ ❍ ❍

A. they were needed to help the Persian king B. he was dying C. they were going to fight wars for the Mongols D. he had grown tired of them The Polos’ route home took them _____. A. across the mainland of China B. north of the mainland of China C. through the South China Sea and Indian Ocean D. across the Pacific Ocean Marco Polo’s book was published because _____. A. he had kept a detailed journal during his trip B. his friends begged him to tell his stories C. he needed to make money D. he told his story to a writer in prison

14 15

14 15

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12.

The knowledge most medieval Europeans had about the rest of the world was _____. ❍ A. from wide travel ❍ B. from magazines and newspapers ❍ C. from legends and superstitions ❍ D. from religious leaders

13.

16 17

Are there any travelers or explorers who could match Marco Polo’s achievements today? If so, who? If not, why not?

____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ © KIDS DISCOVER

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Marco Polo

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Name ____________________________________________ Date _________________

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Everything Visual A map can show specific routes taken by specific people. Look at the map of Marco’s route on page 3. Then answer the questions.

1. What are the present-day names of Constantinople, Persia, and Khanbalik? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

2. Compare the routes Marco took on his way from Venice to Tabriz and on his way back from Tabriz to Venice.

______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

3. What are two cities Marco went through both on his way to China and on his way back? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

4. Name five bodies of water Marco went through on his way back to Italy. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

5. How did Marco avoid the Himalayas on his trip to China and his trip back? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

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CROSS-CURRICULAR EXTENSIONS

H aa vned si nt ut edreenstts itnr yMtahrecsoe Paocltoi.v i t i e s t o e x p a n d t h e i r k n o w l e d g e Math Marco Polo traveled approximately 15,000 miles in three and a half years. Have students do some math problems using those numbers. Ask students: If Marco traveled an equal number of miles each day of his trip, on average, how many miles did he travel per year? Per month? Per day?

Marco Polo

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G e o g r a p h y, H i s t o r y, Language Arts, Art Use KIDS DISCOVER to model how to summarize ideas by writing main points on sticky notes and attaching them to the pages.

Math, Geography Have students find China on a map or globe that has time zones. Explain to students how time zones work. Guide students to find out how many hours difference there are between their home and Beijing, China, which, in Polo’s time, was called Khanbalik. Have students figure out the time in Beijing if, for example, it is 8 a.m. on Sunday where they live; 12 noon; 6 p.m. Then have students figure out what time it is in their hometown if it is 3 p.m. on Friday in Beijing; 9 p.m.; 6 a.m.

Language Arts On page 12, students learn that Kublai Khan was impressed with the advanced thinking of the Chinese civilization. He surrounded himself with Confucian scholars. Many insightful sayings are attributed to Confucius. Write the following sayings on the board and have each student choose one to write about and explain. Students should put the saying in their own words and give an example of how the saying applies in life:

Have students imagine they are creating a travel brochure for a tour called “The Marco Polo Trail.” The purpose of the brochure is to try to interest people in taking a vacation that follows all or some of Polo’s route. Bring in several brochures from local travel agencies as samples. Have students come up with 5 to 10 places of interest along the route. In addition to a description of each site, students should include illustrations and a catchy cover for the brochure.

History The Mongol ruler Genghis Khan helped create the Mongol empire, which his grandson Kublai Khan later ruled. Have students do a research paper on the Mongol Empire. Students should find out when it existed, what it included, how the Mongols were able to overcome people, and why the empire fell. Students should also include information on its rulers.

Language Arts Have students write down the three most important character traits they feel a person needs in order to take a long journey, such as Marco Polo’s journey. Students should write a paragraph on each, explaining why they feel that trait is important.

1. To go beyond is as wrong as to fall short. 2. The superior man is satisfied and composed; the mean man is always full of distress. 3. If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand. 4. Have no friends not equal to yourself. 5. When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them.

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Marco Polo

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ANSWER KEY

Name ____________________________________________ Date _________________

SILK IF BY LAND SPICE IF BY SEA TALE S FRO M JAIL !

Get Set to Read What do you know about Marco Polo? In Before Reading, write true if you think the statement is true. Write false if you think the statement is not true. Then read KIDS DISCOVER Marco Polo. Check back to find out if you were correct. Write the correct answer and the page number where you found it. CHALLENGE: Rewrite each false sentence in a way that makes it true. Before Reading

After Reading 1. Marco Polo took a 24-year journey

Page Number

True

p. 2

True

p. 5

False

p. 6

False

p. 8

True

p. 8

True

p. 12

True

p. 14

True

p. 15

False

p. 16

False

p. 17

in the 1200s. 2. In Marco Polo’s lifetime, the

Mongols ruled one-fourth of the world. 3. Marco Polo’s father was a merchant

in Rome Venice. 4. Marco Polo’s book contained accu-

rate and detailed reporting few dates and describes things he did not actually see. 5. Marco Polo traveled to China on the

Silk Road. 6. The Chinese and Mongols built a

1000-mile long canal in the 1200s. 7. Kublai Khan provided 14 ships for

the Polos to return home. 8. The Polos’ friends did not recognize

them when they returned home. 9. Marco Polo wrote dictated a book

telling of all he had seen “only half of what he had seen.” 10. Marco Polo was an excellent not a

geographer.

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Marco Polo

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ANSWER KEY

Name ____________________________________________ Date _________________

SILK IF BY LAND SPICE IF BY SEA TALE S FRO M JAIL !

It’s in the Reading After reading KIDS DISCOVER Marco Polo, choose the best answer for each question. Fill in the circle.

Find your answers on the pages shown in the book icon next to each question.

1. Marco Polo’s main accomplishment was _____. ❍ A. being away from home for 24 years ❍ B. getting to China safely ● C. dictating a book that inspired others to travel (main idea) ❍ D. being the first European to visit China

2 3

2. The Crusades were fought between_____. ❍ A. European kings and their knights ● B. European Christians and Muslims (details) ❍ C. African kingdoms ❍ D. Indians and Mongols

4 5

3. Rockets were invented by the _____. ❍ A. North American Indians ❍ B. Africans ❍ C. Asian Indians ● D. Chinese (details)

4 5

4. Venice was an appropriate home for merchants and travelers because _____.

❍ A. it was near Asia ● B. it was a thriving port (cause and effect) ❍ C. it had the best education in Europe ❍ D. it was a very wealthy city

6 7

5. The Polos went to China in 1271 in order to _____. ❍ A. bring back valuable goods to trade ❍ B. enable Marco to write a book ● C. take Catholic missionaries (cause and effect) ❍ D. find out about people in Asia

6 7

6. The route to China was known as the Silk Road because _____. ❍ A. it was very smooth ❍ B. Europeans used it to carry silk to China ● C. it was used to trade European goods for Asian silk (details) ❍ D. traders on it wore silk shirts

© KIDS DISCOVER

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MARCO POLO 10

It’s in the Reading

(continued)

7. A yurt is a_____. ❍ A. boat bound with coconut fiber ❍ B. hole that oil flows from ❍ C. green place in the desert ● D. movable tent made of felt (word meaning)

8 9

8. Kublai Khan greeted the Polos warmly because _____. ❍ A. they brought many riches to him ● B. he was interested in meeting new people (draw conclusions) ❍ C. he wanted them to work for him ❍ D. he wanted them to help him conquer China

12 13

9. Kublai Khan allowed the Polos to leave China because _____. ● A. they were needed to help the Persian king (cause and effect) ❍ B. he was dying ❍ C. they were going to fight wars for the Mongols ❍ D. he had grown tired of them

10.

The Polos’ route home took them _____.

❍ A. across the mainland of China ❍ B. north of the mainland of China ● C. through the South China Sea and Indian Ocean (visual information) ❍ D. across the Pacific Ocean

11.

14 15

14 15

Marco Polo’s book was published because _____.

❍ A. he had kept a detailed journal during his trip ❍ B. his friends begged him to tell his stories ❍ C. he needed to make money ● D. he told his story to a writer in prison (cause and effect)

16 17

12.

The knowledge most medieval Europeans had about the rest of the world was _____. ❍ A. from wide travel ❍ B. from magazines and newspapers ● C. from legends and superstitions (draw conclusions) ❍ D. from religious leaders

13.

16 17

Are there any travelers or explorers who could match Marco Polo’s achievements today? If so, who? If not, why not? Answers will vary. Students may say that space explorers could match Marco Polo’s achievements by exploring parts of the universe that most people have only vague ideas about. Others may say that there can be no modern Marco Polos because the world is too wellknown and well traveled.

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MARCO POLO 11

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Marco Polo

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ANSWER KEY

Name ____________________________________________ Date _________________

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Everything Visual A map can show specific routes taken by specific people. Look at the map of Marco’s route on page 3. Then answer the questions.

1. What are the present-day names of Constantinople, Persia, and Khanbalik? Istanbul; Iran; Beijing

2. Compare the routes Marco took on his way from Venice to Tabriz and on his way back from Tabriz to Venice. On the way to Tabriz, he sailed down the Mediterranean to Acre and then sailed to Layas and went by land to Tabriz. On the way back, he sent by land to the Black Sea, sailed across it and then sailed up the Mediterranean to Venice.

3. What are two cities Marco went through both on his way to China and on his way back? Tabriz, Hormuz

4. Name five bodies of water Marco went through on his way back to Italy. Pacific Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea

5. How did Marco avoid the Himalayas on his trip to China and his trip back? On his way to China, he went across land north of the Himalayas. On his way back, he went south of India by water.

© KIDS DISCOVER

MARCO POLO 12