Why is the Cat not in the Zodiac?

1
Why is the Cat not in the Zodiac?

• project-based learning and world language and
  culture

2
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

3
What they know

• Lesson 7 Animals in Far East Chinese for Youth I
• Most animals in the zodiac ?,?,?,?, ? ?,
  ?,?,?,?, ?,?
• Animals not in the zodiac ?,??, ?
• Different verbs ?,?, ?, ?
• Sentence Structure ?????? ???????

4
What they learned from research

• Chinese culture through folklores
• The way of keeping time and Chinese astrology
• Different traits of animals cultural symbols

5
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

6
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

7
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

8
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 )

9
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

10
L Live

• Presentation in Schools Chinese New Year
  Assembly
• Keep Chinese live within the community outside
  the school
• I-movie uploaded on school website for parents

11
Vocabulary and structures used

• Textbook content comes alive through skit