Unit Title:   Culture of China

Unit Author:    Barb Borek

Grade Level:   2

Unit Overview:
This standards-based unit introduces children to Chinese culture through hands-on activities , such as oral
learning of the language, writing Chinese characters, retelling Chinese folk tales and eating with chopsticks.
A slide show is shown to introduce life in China to the class.

This unit can be completed in 10 hours.

Essential Question
What is important to learn about the Chinese culture that would be helpful to teach other students
in our school?

Culminating Activity
Each second grader will have a second grade partner who has not studied China.  The 2nd grader from the
class learning about China will say 3 Chinese phrases to the visiting student, count to 10 in Chinese and write
the corresponding characters, tell 3 similarities and 3 differences between our cultures, retell a Chinese folk tale
and proverb, show 5 pictures of Chinese landmarks and tell details about them, and teach the visitor to use
chopsticks while sharing a snack with them.

Vermont Standards
Vital Results:
1.13c Students listen actively and respond to communications.  This is evident when
          students respond through discussion, writing and using art forms.
1.3c   Students read for meaning, demonstrating both initial understanding and
          personal response to what is read.  This is evident when students make connections
          among various parts of a text.
1.5     Students understand and appropriately demonstrate competence in the
          writing process in terms of the following dimensions: organization and details.
1.9a    In written narratives, students recount, in sequence, several parts of an experience
          or event.
2.2     Students use reasoning strategies, knowledge and common sense to solve
          complex problems related to all fields of knowledge.
Fields of Knowledge Standards:
5.19    Students speak and listen in a non-native language.
5.21a   Students write simple messages that are clear to the reader in a non-native
            language.
6.13a  Students understand the concept of culture in various locations world
           wide. This is evident when students identify the cultural groups in the world and
           describe by using characteristics of culture (food, housing, language, customs,
           beliefs, arts, literature).
      c   Describe how cultural traditions are passed down in families and
           communities and how traditions change over time (holiday festivals, world
           wide, oral histories, writing and other media).
Learning Opportunities:
Small and large group learning opportunities, individual tasks, media
presentations and hands-on learning.
 
 
 

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