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Richard Rosales.
AnonymousAnother great resource for the city of Hiroshima is
AnonymousThis site is like another LA Times news online. Take a look at
AnonymousThis is a great link to a pre-made Jeopardy Game for elementary teachers. The categories focus on China's geography, cultures, animals, food, and inventions. Although the questions may be too easy for upper-grade teachers, the template can be easily adapted to make it more challenging.
AnonymousI have noticed that my students enjoy it when I talk about chineese culture and how they do things differently. They like to here things in story formats. So when I teach I try to play the role of a story teller. I can easily notice the reduction of noise in my room when I tell stories. Let it be known that I teach sixth graders.
A better story telling, is showing movies. I have been reading many comments about good chinese movies that other folks have watched. I tried a couple of movie rental places near my house. I could not find any of the topics that I had on my list. What I could easily locate in the international sections were nothing but movies that promoted violence. The titles and cover pictures resembled that. I simply refuse to promote any of that Hollywood style China culture in my classroom. I have enough guilty feelings as a parent to last me a lifetime( Show me a parent who does not!).
Would it be too much if I asked other colligues to give the source of the movies that they share with others. It would really help those of us who are interested in watching the same movies.
Thanks.
AnonymousHey Christine,
Is this game computer based? Have you used it in the classroom? Would I be able to use a projector for this game (assuming that it is on a web site). I think that I have seen this used for math and science classes.
Thanks,
jemila
AnonymousI haven't used it...but I think it would prove useful as a review before a test. I would use an LCD projector and make it a class game - boys against the girls is always fun!
AnonymousI absolutely enjoy bringing games into the classroom - it makes the kids so motivated to learn. Anyway, here's another Jeapordy-like game. The five categories include the 5 major religions of the world. This can be so easily adapted if you want to change any of the questions to make it more effective for your students. ENJOY!!!
AnonymousThe book Ruby's Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges shares a story of a girl growing up in China. The pictures are beautiful done and the story is well written. This story could be shared from 2nd-5th grade.
There are many different extension activities that you could incorporate with this book.
1. Students could write their own autobiography since the story discusses her life
2. Students could write a poem since Ruby shares a poem she wrote in the story
3. Students could write about a celebration from their culture because Ruby talks about Chinese New Year
4. Students could write about family traditions and relationships
AnonymousLittle Oh by Laura Krauss Melmedis a folktale-type story involving an origami girl that comes to life.
During reading, the students could discuss how the illustrations help in comprehending the text. They could also discuss the style of the illustrations. There is one particular landscape illustration that has a lot of empty space. This discussion could lead to a larger one about how space is used in painting.
After reading the story, the students could practice making origami, take a well-known folktale and rewrite it with a new twist, or compare and contrast Little Oh, with Pinnocchio or another come-to-life story.
AnonymousI think it would be beneficial to incorporated Chinese art and music into the classroom. I really like the idea of teaching the students different Chinese characters through the use of watercolors and paint. My students are currently learning to speak Chinese trough physical education. At the beginning of their PE class, the teacher reviews Chinese characters and words that the students have learned. I think it would be beneficial to start a word study book for Chinese characters. This journal could be used for new vocabulary words the students learn. The students could paint the new characters and write the meaning or the word. This could become an excellent resource that the students could continue to add to and use as a reference.
AnonymousOrigami is a great way to incorporate Chinese art into the classroom. There are numerous books that provide step-by-step instructions. The students will benefit from learning how follow directions and procedural steps while making an animal or object to share with friends and family.
Another idea I had was to incorporate Chinese art is the use of tangrams in Language arts or mathematics. The Tangram idea comes from China. The students can create their own tangram design to represent something they have learned about the Chinese culture
AnonymousI absolutely agree with you. Origami poses so many benefits to our students. They gain an appreciation of a different culture and perhaps open a doorway to further exploration and increased tolerance of differences. Additionally, students must watch closely and listen carefully to specific instructions and then carry them out with neatness and accuracy in order to be successful (this is often something that we really need to work on with our students). Transforming a flat piece of paper into a three dimensional crane (or other origami figure) provides a unique exercise in spatial reasoning. It’s also an excellent tool for teaching symmetry. Moreover, the fundamental idea of “whatever is done to one side” must be done to the other” leads to algebraic reasoning.
As a mathematics teacher, I use origami quite often in my classroom. I have discovered that children who are not "stars" in other academic areas are often quick to learn origami and help their classmates master the steps. This boosts self-esteem and drives motivation to do finish the lesson. I believe that origami engenders a patience that leads to pride in one’s work and the ability to focus one’s energy. Students are always eager to learn another fold.
One book that I particularly enjoy using with my students is titled Origami Math (ISBN: 0439539927), which is geared towards 4th- 6th grade students. The folds aren’t too challenging and there is a good selection of folds to choose from.
AnonymousSADAKO AND THE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES, by author Eleanor Coerr, is a wonderful and truly powerful children’s novel. The story is depicts Sadako Sasaki, a young Japanese girl, who experienced the atomic bombing at the age of two. Struck by leukemia ten years later due to the effects of radiation, Sadkako folds 1000 paper cranes for the gods in a desperate hope to make her well again. Surely, this story symbolizes the long-term consequences of war and one person’s ability to create change. I think it’s a great tool to use with children of all ages.
One useful link I found to use with this poignant book can be found at the Kids Peace Station Hiroshima. This is a great website in which students can watch an animated clip about Sadako’s life and the effects of the atomic bomb. It even has a link in which kids can write letters to Sadako and post their letters on the Internet. One last idea for your class is to actually construct 1000 paper cranes, string them on garlands of 100 cranes each, and send them to Japan. The address is as follows:
Children's Monument in Hiroshima's Peace Park
Office of the Mayor, City of Hiroshima
6-34 Kokutaiji-Machi, 1 Chome Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730 Japan.
AnonymousGreat lesson! I use one much like this for my fifth grade students. There are many other books that lend to this type of unit; "Number the Stars", "In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson", "Zlata's Diary" etc.
AnonymousI too have used the previous mentioned books and oragami in the classroom. They are great. I started working on my lesson plans during winter break and I picked up a great book. It is called Science in Ancient China by George Beshore. It is a short children's book, but very informative for its level. It includes Alchemy, medicine, math, and star gazing.