As part of my student teaching experience, I was required to design and create a nine-lesson unit about life and culture in China and how it is both similar to and different from the United States. I had the wonderful opportunity to teach this unit to my second graders at my practicum placement in Spring of 2021. Through teaching this unit, I was able to gain and strengthen many skills that include making adjustments to my practice, lesson planning, reflective practice, and meeting the needs of diverse learners.
Essential Question:
How is life and culture in China both different and similar to the United States?
Unit Goals:
- Students will examine and identify the fundamental differences and similarities between China and the United States across multiple areas.
- Students will identify where China is on a map and label it.
- Students will examine two popular cities in China and identify/ locate them on a map of China.
- Students will examine the different landforms located throughout China and identify how they are different and similar to those in the United States.
- Students will examine Chinese Holidays and Traditions and articulate how they differ from those in the United States.
- Students will compare and contrast Chinese literature and American literature.
- Students will explore Chinese calligraphy and characters by practicing writing them.
- Students will compare and contrast rural and urban life in China and discuss how it is similar and different from what they have experienced in the United States.
Overview of Lessons
Lesson 1: Want To Learn About China?!: Chinese Symbols and Crafting Travel Journals
Students will examine some of the most famous Chinese symbols and learn about their meaning in regards to Chinese culture. They will craft and decorate the cover page to their travel journals that will be utilized throughout the unit and for the final project by using the Chinese symbols that they learned during the lesson. They will test their knowledge of the different symbols and their meaning with a kahoot quiz.
Lesson 2- Traveling Around China: Where is China? Shanghai & Beijing
Students will take a virtual field trip of China to gain basic introductory information and will “travel” to some of China’s most popular cities: Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong. Students will locate China on a map of the world and locate Shanghai and Beijing on a map of China.
Lesson 3- Chinese Landforms & Landmarks
This lesson is intended to last over the duration of two days: Students will learn about the difference between landforms and landmarks and examine the most famous landforms and landmarks located in China. They will build the landforms/landmarks on a map of China by creating a topographical map. Students will discuss the similarities and differences between Chinese landmarks and landforms from those in America. Students will test their knowledge on these landmarks and landforms through a kahoot.
Lesson 4- Rural, Urban, & Suburban Life in China
Students will learn about the difference between rural, urban, and suburban life and see multiple examples of these contrasting environments in China. Students will participate in a gallery walk, where they will examine photographs of different areas in China and identify whether they are rural or urban. We will read Yikang’s Day together and discuss the similarities and differences between Yikang’s life in a Chinese city and our lives here in Massachusetts. A homework assignment on urban and rural life in China will be assigned.
Lesson 5- Chinese Culture at a Glance
Students will get the opportunity to learn about different aspects of Chinese culture and peer-teach what they have learned with the class. Stations will be located throughout the room targeting a specific aspect of Chinese culture at each one (food, holidays, sports, arts, inventions etc…). Students will be split up into groups and will be assigned a station. Students will become experts on the aspect of Chinese culture that they were assigned by using the texts: Look What Came From China and Spotlight on China as well as fact sheets prepared prior to the lesson. Students will create a poster with all of the information they have gathered and will present their knowledge to the whole class one group at a time. The class will then complete an exit ticket reflecting on how what they learned in the lesson is both similar to and different from what they know about and have seen in the United States.
Lesson 6- What is the Chinese New Year?
Students will learn about the Chinese New Year and how it is celebrated. Students will identify the fundamental differences and similarities between the Chinese New Year and how they celebrate the New Year. Students will identify their Chinese zodiac sign and participate in an arts and crafts activity where they design their Chinese zodiac signs and collectively create a classroom poster with all of our names and Chinese zodiac signs.
Lesson 7- Chinese Calligraphy and Characters: Can You Write in Chinese?
Students will learn about the different languages spoken in China and will learn about Chinese calligraphy and characters through a slide show presentation. They will examine the intricate stroke patterns of Chinese characters and will learn different words in Chinese. Students will then be given a sheet of the different Chinese words learned during the lesson and practice writing in Chinese using paint and paper. Students will test their knowledge and participate in a kahoot quiz and identify the meaning (English translation) of Chinese characters.
Lesson 8- Chinese vs. American Literature: Examining Little Red Riding Hood & Lon Po Po
Students will listen to and read along with two readings of the same story: Little Red Riding Hood and Lon Po Po. Students will compare and contrast the two stories and identify the fundamental similarities and differences between the two works of literature. Students will examine how culture from two different countries can impact how the same story is told.
Lesson 9- Culminating Class Project: How is China Different From and Similar to the U.S?
Students will reflect on the information learned throughout the unit. They will be placed into groups and will create a presentation that compares and contrasts China and America across multiple areas. Each group will be assigned a different aspect to compare and contrast and each group will present their work to the entire class. They will use all of the notes and activities collected over the unit in their travel journals to support them while gathering information during the project.
Students will examine some of the most famous Chinese symbols and learn about their meaning in regards to Chinese culture. They will craft and decorate the cover page to their travel journals that will be utilized throughout the unit and for the final project by using the Chinese symbols that they learned during the lesson. They will test their knowledge of the different symbols and their meaning with a kahoot quiz.
Lesson 2- Traveling Around China: Where is China? Shanghai & Beijing
Students will take a virtual field trip of China to gain basic introductory information and will “travel” to some of China’s most popular cities: Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong. Students will locate China on a map of the world and locate Shanghai and Beijing on a map of China.
Lesson 3- Chinese Landforms & Landmarks
This lesson is intended to last over the duration of two days: Students will learn about the difference between landforms and landmarks and examine the most famous landforms and landmarks located in China. They will build the landforms/landmarks on a map of China by creating a topographical map. Students will discuss the similarities and differences between Chinese landmarks and landforms from those in America. Students will test their knowledge on these landmarks and landforms through a kahoot.
Lesson 4- Rural, Urban, & Suburban Life in China
Students will learn about the difference between rural, urban, and suburban life and see multiple examples of these contrasting environments in China. Students will participate in a gallery walk, where they will examine photographs of different areas in China and identify whether they are rural or urban. We will read Yikang’s Day together and discuss the similarities and differences between Yikang’s life in a Chinese city and our lives here in Massachusetts. A homework assignment on urban and rural life in China will be assigned.
Lesson 5- Chinese Culture at a Glance
Students will get the opportunity to learn about different aspects of Chinese culture and peer-teach what they have learned with the class. Stations will be located throughout the room targeting a specific aspect of Chinese culture at each one (food, holidays, sports, arts, inventions etc…). Students will be split up into groups and will be assigned a station. Students will become experts on the aspect of Chinese culture that they were assigned by using the texts: Look What Came From China and Spotlight on China as well as fact sheets prepared prior to the lesson. Students will create a poster with all of the information they have gathered and will present their knowledge to the whole class one group at a time. The class will then complete an exit ticket reflecting on how what they learned in the lesson is both similar to and different from what they know about and have seen in the United States.
Lesson 6- What is the Chinese New Year?
Students will learn about the Chinese New Year and how it is celebrated. Students will identify the fundamental differences and similarities between the Chinese New Year and how they celebrate the New Year. Students will identify their Chinese zodiac sign and participate in an arts and crafts activity where they design their Chinese zodiac signs and collectively create a classroom poster with all of our names and Chinese zodiac signs.
Lesson 7- Chinese Calligraphy and Characters: Can You Write in Chinese?
Students will learn about the different languages spoken in China and will learn about Chinese calligraphy and characters through a slide show presentation. They will examine the intricate stroke patterns of Chinese characters and will learn different words in Chinese. Students will then be given a sheet of the different Chinese words learned during the lesson and practice writing in Chinese using paint and paper. Students will test their knowledge and participate in a kahoot quiz and identify the meaning (English translation) of Chinese characters.
Lesson 8- Chinese vs. American Literature: Examining Little Red Riding Hood & Lon Po Po
Students will listen to and read along with two readings of the same story: Little Red Riding Hood and Lon Po Po. Students will compare and contrast the two stories and identify the fundamental similarities and differences between the two works of literature. Students will examine how culture from two different countries can impact how the same story is told.
Lesson 9- Culminating Class Project: How is China Different From and Similar to the U.S?
Students will reflect on the information learned throughout the unit. They will be placed into groups and will create a presentation that compares and contrasts China and America across multiple areas. Each group will be assigned a different aspect to compare and contrast and each group will present their work to the entire class. They will use all of the notes and activities collected over the unit in their travel journals to support them while gathering information during the project.