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Why is the Cat not in the Zodiac?. project-based learning and world language and culture. What is project-based learning?. Students show through projects what they can do with what they know Start with open-ended question that require critical thinking and research
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Why is the Cat not in the Zodiac? project-based learning and world language and culture
What is project-based learning? • Students show through projects what they can do with what they know • Start with open-ended question that require critical thinking and research • Let students decide what they want to communicate in Chinese
What they know: • Lesson 7 Animals in Far East Chinese for Youth I • Most animals in the zodiac: 鼠,牛,虎,兔,?蛇,马,羊,猴,鸡,狗,猪 • Animals not in the zodiac: 鸟,熊猫, 鱼 • Different verbs: 飞,跑,叫,爬 • Sentence Structure: 会。。。吗?会不会。。。?
What they learned from research • Chinese culture through folklores • The way of keeping time and Chinese astrology • Different traits of animals: cultural symbols
What they do • Puppet skit to present to the school community on what they know about the Chinese zodiac • Show creativity when they want to add Bird to the story • Connect with other subjects such as art when making the props and design costume
R.E.A.L principle and the project • Main aspects of the project fit the principles used in the classroom • R: Relevant • E: Engaging • A: Autonomous • L: Live
R: Relevant • The project was done during Chinese New Year of 2010-relevant and appropriate content • Students reported that it is much easier to understand and remember the order of the zodiac after the skit project
E: Engaging • Students love the story and the stuffed animals, so they are naturally engaged and motivated. • Researches show different parts of the brain: Left Side of Brain Right side of Brain -Facts and rules -Emotions (vocabulary, grammar) (expression, fun )
A: Autonomous -project-based learning does not require a right or wrong answer -Give student the autonomy of choosing the most enticing story and ownership in writing, acting and editing. -Teamwork: Class needs to agree on one story -Controlled Autonomy: Required contents (previously learned vocabulary and structures) to use
L: Live • Presentation in School’s Chinese New Year Assembly • Keep Chinese live within the community outside the school • I-movie uploaded on school website for parents
Vocabulary and structures used • Textbook content comes alive through skit