RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS - British Museum

PRIMARY SCHOOL ACTIVITY SHEET
PEOPLE
The First Emperor used the ordinary people of his empire as workers. He had thousands of officials of
different kinds to run his government.
See if you can find objects that different types of people would have used.
The Emperor’s army included skilled archers.
Try to find the weapons an archer would have used.
His soldiers used weapons such as swords, spears and a special kind of axe.
Try to find a weapon that looks like an axe.
When you come to the cases containing the coins and the bronze weights, think about:
• Was it a good thing for the ordinary people that the First Emperor made all money and weights and
measures the same?
• Do we all use the same weights and measures today?
Only the Emperor and his officials had things made out of gold and jade.
Try to find something an important person would drink out of.
The Emperor had workers in factories all over the empire.
Try to find a group of workers making something. What are they making?
When you come to the model of people making of the terracotta figures, think about:
• Do you think the workers were happy to be doing this job for the Emperor?
• Do we still make things this way today?
Many of the emperor’s workers were prisoners.
Try to find something a prisoner would have worn.
When you go into the dark part of the exhibition, you will see some of the famous terracotta warriors and
other figures buried with the Emperor.
• Look really closely at every one of the warriors to see how they are all different.
• Make sure you see:
the strong man the crane with a fish in its mouth
the Emperor’s chariot the musician sitting down
the acrobat the painted figures
The Emperor’s tomb has never been opened since it was sealed up more than 2000 years ago.
Nobody knows exactly what is inside. Perhaps one day you will be lucky enough to find out…