Terracota army (Lesson for A2+, Past Continuous)

Terracota army

What do you see in this picture?Where do you think these statues are from?What material are they made of?Who do you think built the Terracotta Army and why?Why do you think the army is underground?

Go on a virtual tour

Terracota army.

More pictures

Subtitle

Let's learn some new words

Terracota army.The brief history

The Terracotta Army is a group of over 8,000 life-sized statues that were created to protect the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. These statues were made from clay and include warriors, horses, and chariots. The army was built more than 2,000 years ago, around 210 BC, during the Qin Dynasty. The statues were buried underground in a large tomb near the city of Xi'an, in northern China. The emperor believed that these soldiers would protect him in the afterlife and help him rule in the next world, just as he had ruled in this one. The Terracotta Army was discovered by accident in 1974. A group of farmers were digging a well near the tomb site when they found the first statue. Soon, archaeologists and experts arrived and began excavating the area. Over the years, they uncovered thousands of statues, each with different facial features and expressions. Some of the statues were still in excellent condition, while others had been damaged over time. Today, the Terracotta Army is one of the most famous archaeological discoveries in the world, and millions of visitors come to see it each year. It gives us a fascinating glimpse into ancient China and the beliefs of its rulers.

Terracota army.The brief history

The Terracotta Army is a group of over 8,000 life-sized statues that were created to protect the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. These statues were made from clay and include warriors, horses, and c________. The army was built more than 2,000 years ago, around 210 BC, during the Qin Dynasty. The statues were b________ underground in a large t______ near the city of Xi'an, in northern China. The emperor believed that these soldiers would protect him in the afterlife and help him r_____ in the next world, just as he had ruled in this one. The Terracotta Army was discovered by ______ in 1974. A group of farmers were d________a well near the tomb site when they found the first statue. Soon, archaeologists and experts arrived and began excavating the area. Over the years, they u_______ thousands of statues, each with different facial f_______ and expressions. Some of the statues were still in excellent condition, while others had been damaged over time. Today, the Terracotta Army is one of the most famous archaeological discoveries in the world, and millions of visitors come to see it each year. It gives us a fascinating glimpse into ancient China and the beliefs of its r_______.

Grammar

A group of farmers were digging a well when they found the first statue.

Grammar

1. The archaeologists _________ (dig)carefully when they discovered the ancient statue of a warrior. 2. While the team _________ (excavate) the tomb, they were uncovering more and more chariots. 3. The workers ______ (dig) slowly to protect the fragile statues they ________(discover) in the ancient ruins. 4. As the scientists _______(examine) the statues, they discovered new details about the civilization. 5. The archaeologists ______ (excavate) the site when they realized they _________(uncover) the tomb of an ancient ruler. 6. While the researchers _______(dig) near the chariots, they discovered hidden treasures in the tomb.

More practice

Rule:

"When" is used to refer to a specific point in time (a complete action that interrupts or happens at a moment). "While" is used to describe actions that were happening at the same time or over a period of time

Grammar: When or While

Exercise: Choose "when" or "while" 1) The archaeologists were digging for hours ______ they found the first statue of a warrior. 2) ______ the team was excavating the tomb, they discovered several ancient chariots. 3) The workers were carefully removing the dirt ______ they uncovered the old pottery. 4) The scientists were studying ancient scrolls ______ they realized they had discovered something very important. 5) ______ they were digging near the tomb, the researchers found a hidden chamber. 6) The archaeologists were taking notes ______ they were examining the statues of the warriors.

Video

Watch a short video. Try to catch 3 new facts that were not given in the text. Tell the class

Production

Imagine you were a farmer who discovered the first warrior. Write how this happened.Begin like this "It was a nice sunny day..."