The mythical story of Shennong, the Chinese inventor of agriculture, introduces a video that traces the history of tea, the various methods of brewing, and the wars sparked by the attempts to prevent the spread of tea growing. 

Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Have groups research and conduct a variety of tea ceremonies
• Flip the lesson; ask class members to view the video, complete the comprehension check, and research some of the links out of class before returning for a whole class discussion
• Include the video in a unit on the Opium Wars or the history of China

Classroom Considerations

• The video does not explain why tea is so popular

Pros

• The resource includes the video, a comprehension check, links to articles that permit viewers to research the topic in greater depth, and a discussion question

Cons

• None

Common Core

SL.9-10.2 SL.11-12.2