The Great Wall of China

We are still learning about China, and our favorite book this week is Ms. Frizzle's Adventures:  Imperial China by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen.  During a Chinese New Year's celebration, Ms. Frizzle (the teacher from the Magic School Bus series); a Chinese-American student, Wanda; Wanda's older brother Henry; and the ever-reluctant Arnold travel back in time 1000 years and arrive in a farmers' village in China. While there, they learn to grow rice, eat with chopsticks, and make silk. Ms. Frizzle and her students travel by barge, cart, and foot to the Great Wall and finally to the capital city. The endnotes explain which aspects of the story are historically accurate and where the author and illustrator have taken small liberties.  Small panels on each page highlight facts about Imperial China, such as items first invented in China, how to bow, and the basics of writing.

C and R made their own Great Wall out of blocks.  I loved that they kept looking at the picture of the Great Wall in the book to try to make their wall as accurate as possible.  They are both very intrigued by the Great Wall and have asked when we can go see it (not any time soon!).