China Unit Study | Geography Curriculum & Hands-On Activities for Kids

Discover the culture, geography, and traditions of China with our hands-on, secular China Unit Study. Designed for Grades 1 to 6, our literature-rich geography curriculum includes engaging activities in mapwork, science, writing, and hands-on cultural experiences, such as bamboo ink painting, tangram design, cooking, and traditional games. Perfect for homeschoolers, co-ops, classrooms, or Montessori continent studies.

✅ What You're Purchasing:

Global Explorers unit studies are literature-based frameworks built around curated books, mapwork, journaling, and cultural activities. Books and some media resources are referenced but not included. Each study provides structured lesson plans and ready-to-use printables, guiding families as they gather materials and explore together.

✅ Learning Highlights:

• Read The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin and explore traditional Chinese folk tales
• Investigate animal behavior and conservation with DisneyNature’s Born in China
• Build geography and research skills with mapwork and notebooking activities
• Create bamboo ink paintings, make paper, design tangram puzzles, and explore traditional Chinese music
• Cook fried rice and play Pong Hau K’i and Dou Shou Qi, two traditional games from China

✅ What’s Included:

• China Mapwork & Notebooking: Students label major cities, landforms, and cultural landmarks while customizing their own maps. Notebooking pages invite students to document facts, sketch discoveries, and color the national flag.
• Literature Study: Read The Gate, the Girl, and the Dragon by Grace Lin, a fantasy adventure inspired by Chinese folklore.
• Circle Round Folktales + Writing Revolution Activities: Build writing skills with sentence-based exercises using Judith C. Hochman's The Writing Revolution method.
• Science Notebooking: Complete science lessons based on DisneyNature’s Born in China, learning about animal behavior, biodiversity, and conservation efforts.
• Math Practice: Build real-world math skills by solving elapsed time problems connected to places throughout China.
• Creative Arts: Paint with bamboo brushes and ink, learn about the invention of paper by Cai Lun, and play with tangram puzzles to build spatial reasoning.
• Musical Explorers: Discover traditional Chinese music with Qian Yi through Carnegie Hall’s Musical Explorers series.
• Cultural Cooking Projects: Learn how to cook fried rice and explore the use of chopsticks.
• Global Games: Play Pong Hau K’i and Dou Shou Qi, two traditional Chinese strategy games, using our printable game boards and instructions.

✅ Bonus Materials:

• Printable Global Explorers Cookbook Page for China
• Discover China: Bingo Challenge activity sheet
• China Unit Overview Sheet
• Access to our optional digital planning tool in Notion
• Plus, more than a dozen extra printable resources, such as book passports, food chain pyramid templates, and more!

Format: Printable PDF + Optional Digital Access

Best For: Homeschoolers, co-ops, enrichment, Montessori continent studies, and classroom geography units

Why Choose Global Explorers?

At the Global Explorers Club, we believe geography should feel like an adventure. Our flexible, secular unit studies are designed to spark curiosity, celebrate cultural diversity, and connect children to the world around them. Whether you use every activity or choose a few, our unit studies can be easily adapted for different learners and teaching styles.