This Week's Lesson Activities

1 THIS WEEK'S LESSON ACTIVITIES 2 INSTRUCTOR___Ratchada Scott____ DATE______CLASS LEVEL__B-Beginning Basic Education ______3 Length of Unit ______5 days____ Length of each lesson ___2 hours/lesson___ Topic: Close Read China Today Chinese Culture Text Available at: http://www.topscorewriting.com/pdf/passages/china_today_chinese_culture.pdf

Lesson Objectives: The students will: 1) Describe about Chinese culture and Chinese New Year. 2) Be able to see what Chinese writing and Chinese New Year look like. 3) Demonstrate their understanding about Chinese New Year by summarizing the text and develop a short essay.

CCR Standards Aligned to this Lesson:

RI.3.2; RI.3.3; RI.3.4; RI.2.6; RI.2.8; W.3.2; W.3.8; SL.3.2; SL.3.4; SL.3.6; L.2.1&3.1; L.2.2&3.2; L.2.4; RF.2.3&3.3

Reading: (to include text dependent questions and pre-reading strategies as needed, such as vocabulary, grammar, spelling, phonics, sentence structure) Vocabulary: advanced, civilization, influenced, cultures, invented/inventions, compass, symbols, calligraphy, annual, movements, firecrackers, tradition, forgives, grudges Grammar Point: passive voice in present and past simple tenses Sentence Structure: use of commas

Text Dependent Questions Possible Student Answers What are some of the things that we use today were invented in Lines 2-4; They are paper, silk, gunpowder, and the compass. China? What is the main idea of this passage? Lines 5-21; To understand important elements of Chinese culture. How would you summarize about Chinese writing? Lines 6-13; Chinese writing is a very important part of Chinese culture. There are thousands of Chinese symbols which are used instead of letters. Also, the symbols are written on silk or paper to form an art and it’s called calligraphy.

1 Explain how Chinese people celebrate Chinese New Year. Lines 21-27; Chinese celebrate the New Year with parades, decorations, and gifts with their families and friends. They get together for a feast and stay up playing games and watching firecrackers. They welcome the New Year by opening doors and windows of the house and let out the old year. What is the definition of “grudges”? Why do Chinese people Students may refer to lines 24-27. Chinese people wish for peace forgive old grudges for the New Year? and happiness and would like to let the old year out and welcome the new one.

Writing: “China’s most celebrated annual holiday is the Chinese New Year”. Summarize about the festival and explain how Chinese people celebrate the New Year. Compare and contrast how you celebrate the New Year.

Paragraph one may include the following: Lines 16-20: This holiday is also called the Spring Festival. China’s calendar is based on the movements of the sun and the moon. The New Year happens sometime in January or February and an animal represents each New Year.

Paragraph two may include the following: Lines 21-27: Chinese celebrate the New Year with parades, decorations, and gifts with their families and friends. They get together for a feast and stay up playing games and watching firecrackers. They welcome the New Year by opening doors and windows of the house and let out the old year.

Paragraph three may include the following: Write how you celebrate the New Year and compare and contrast with how Chinese celebrate their New Year.

Listening/Speaking:

Teacher teaches students pronunciation for the –ed ending sounds. There are three sounds; /d/, /t/, and /ɪd/. In Groups, students will take turns reading the passage out loud and discuss the text dependent questions and compare and contrast their cultures with Chinese culture.

How I will scaffold my lessons to reach all of my students' levels:  Go over the vocabulary with students and use pictures to explain the meanings if possible.

2  Teach Grammar points and use the examples from the passage.  Provide students with pictures of Chinese New Year’s Festival and Chinese writing. (http://www.ancientscripts.com/chinese.html)  Explain and show students about the animals that Chinese use to represent each New Year which is called Chinese Zodiac. Students can find out the animals that represent the years that they were born.  Use peer-reviews to help review students’ essays.  Read the passage by repeating after the teacher and practice reading aloud in small groups.

How I will assess my students' mastery of the lessons:

 Teacher and students have the whole class discussion about the passage and have students come to the board to make a list of what they have learned about it.  Review students’ writing and answers.  Observe small group discussion.

Suggested Five Day Plan:

Day One: Have a small discussion about Chinese culture and Chinese New Year after reading the title. What can students explain or describe from the title? Students follow the text along while teacher is reading it to the class. In pairs, students practice reading aloud. Students highlight vocabulary and teacher goes over and provide examples.

Day Two: Teacher teaches grammar points; passive voice in present and past simple tenses and practice using them.

Day Three: In groups, students read the text together, discuss, and answer text-dependent questions. Explain and show students Chinese writing and Chinese Zodiac. Students can find out the animals that represent the years that they were born.

Day Four: Students summarize about the festival and explain how Chinese people celebrate the New Year. Compare and contrast how you celebrate the New Year.

Day Five: Students share their writings with classmates and help each other checking their paper. Teacher reviews students’ writing and look for any mistakes. Then, students edit and write their final drafts. 4 5 Sources: 1. Murphy, Raymond. 1997. Essential Grammar In Use. 2nd edition. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press. 6 2. http://files.prokerala.com/general/calendar/images/chinese-zodiac.jpg

3 7 3. http://www.ancientscripts.com/chinese.html 8 4 https://www.google.com/search? 9 q=chinese+new+year+festival&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS476US477&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ggmJU_ycPNLooAS 10 2moGADQ&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1366&bih=607 11

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