The incredible voyages of Zheng He
I can describe some of the voyages of Zheng He.
The incredible voyages of Zheng He
I can describe some of the voyages of Zheng He.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Zheng He was a Chinese admiral and explorer and made his final voyage of discovery in 1432, which would be his furthest.
- First stopping at Changle on the Chinese coast, he ordered the inscription of granite stele describing his journeys.
- Zheng He had made six other voyages in the seas of South East Asia and across the Indian Ocean.
- These voyages, made in huge 'treasure ships', were to show off Chinese power and force foreign rulers to pay tribute.
- Having travelled to East Africa, the expedition returned, but without Zheng He, who had died and was buried at sea.
Keywords
China - China is a country in Asia
Admiral - an admiral is a person in charge of many ships and sailors
Seafarer - a person who often explores new places by sea is a seafarer
Stele - a stele is a large piece of carved rock showing a story or information
Common misconception
Pupils may think that Zheng He went on his voyages by himself.
He was admiral of the Chinese fleet. He took many ships and lots of sailors on the voyages.
To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: The incredible voyages of Zheng He, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 1 history lesson on: The incredible voyages of Zheng He, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 1 history lessons from the William Adams and Brunel unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
a person in charge of ships and sailors
a rock with information carved into it
a person who often explores new places by sea
a country in Asia