This lesson plan was developed by Diane Luu, Middle School Teacher, Jane Lathrop Stanford Middle School, Palo Alto, CA, and advisor for Teaching China with the Smithsonian, and has been adapted for DCPS 's 7th grade Ancient History Unit 4, Forming Philosophies for Politics: Ancient China. 

Students will look closely at a painting depicting the Buddha, Laozi, and Confucius, learn about Chinese philosophies, and make inferences about these three belief systems through asynchronous reading and writing assignments. Then, students will conduct research to assist with the formal assessment: create a timeline of ancient China that includes the Warring States Period and the Shang, Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties.

Essential Questions:

• What are the basic tenets of Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, and Legalism? 
• How can Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism integrate harmoniously? 
• How can art have the power to produce or affirm belief systems of its time?