Topic : Chinese New Year Festival

Prescribed Learning Outcomes:

Communicating

It is expected that students will:

• use appropriate forms of formal and informal address

Acquiring Information;

It is expected that students will:

• identify specific information from age-appropriate Chinese-language resources to complete authentic tasks
• convey acquired information in oral, visual, and simple written forms

Experiencing Creative Works

It is expected that students will:

• view and listen to creative works with visual and contextual support, and respond to them in various ways

Understanding Culture and Society

It is expected that students will:

• identify elements of Chinese cultures in the local community, British Columbia, Canada, and the United States

Overview

• booklets or posters
• group presentations

Planning for Assessment and Evaluation

• To introduce the unit, the teacher asked students to list (in English) familiar Chinese New Year activities. They were encouraged to collect the information from family, friends, and community resources. Students then shared their information to create a class chart.

• The teacher introduced Chinese vocabulary related to the festival. Students recorded the new words and phrases in their notebooks.

• A calligraphy artist was invited to the classroom to demonstrate his art. Students then created rhyming couplets using the traditional brush and ink techniques they had observed.

• A guest speaker from a local Chinese-Canadian family visited the class to talk about how the Chinese New Year is celebrated in her family. Students were given opportunities to ask questions. Afterward, the teacher demonstrated how to write, in Pinyin and Chinese characters, some of the key words and phrases used in the presentation. Students recorded these in their notebooks.

• Students visited a local Chinese facility (e.g., Chinatown, cultural centre, supermarket, bakery, restaurant) to observe festival foods and decorations and participate in Chinese New Year festivities.

• Students demonstrated their understanding of new vocabulary and phrases by creating booklets or posters showing various activities related to the festival. These were displayed around the room.

• In small groups, students then produced and presented short dialogues or skits that demonstrated various aspects of the festival. They used Chinese words and expressions wherever possible; however, English was also permitted.

Defining the Criteria

Booklet or Poster

To what extent does the student:

• provide written information (in Pinyin, Chinese characters, and English where needed) that is accurate and complete
• provide relevant information
• include some Chinese characters that are accurately written using traditional brush and ink techniques
• clearly organize the presentation

Group Presentation

To what extent does the group:

• provide relevant and accurate information
• include interesting or unusual details to engage the audience
• use and respond appropriately to common Chinese expressions related to the festival
• correctly use relevant language patterns
• pronounce Chinese words so they can be understood; make an effort to distinguish among the tones
• use mime, gesture, and pictures to help convey meaning

Assessing and Evaluating Student Performance

Booklet or Poster

Rating	Criteria
Excellent	Includes key features of Chinese New Year and is relatively detailed. Labels or captions are easy to understand and enhance the work. Chinese characters, written using traditional brush and ink technique, are correctly formed and add appeal. Presentation is clear. Includes interesting or unusual detail and/or language not practised in class.
Good	Includes key features of Chinese New Year with some detail. Most labels or captions are easy to understand and clarify or add to the information. Includes some Chinese characters. Presentation is clear.
Satisfactory	Includes key features of Chinese New Year but little supporting detail. Captions or labels may be very brief or difficult to understand in places. Chinese characters may be difficult to read.
Requirements Not Met	Omits several key features. Labels or captions may be omitted, inappropriate, or difficult to read.

Group Presentation

Criteria	Rating	Comments
provides relevent, accurate, and detailed information
includes appropriate Chinese expressions and responses to the festival
includes interesting or unusual details
correctly uses appropriate Chinese language patterns
pronounces Chinese words so they can be understood; distinguishes among the tones
uses mime, gestures, and pictures to help convey meaning

Key: 

3-Outstanding
2-Good
1-Satisfactory
0-Not Demonstrated

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