FANtasy

Deadline Date

Zhang Wenjie (2017-2018) received, with mentor teacher Ivy Yiu (2017-2018), a CLP grant to hold, at the North Warren Multi-cultural fair, an event that will introduce the folk art of Chinese fan-making to the school district and community. As part of the FANtasy project, students enrolled Mandarin I and those in the North Warren Chinese Club will perform a traditional Chinese fan dance and sing a traditional Chinese folk song.

Terracotta Warrior Exploration

Deadline Date

Mentor teacher Debby Page (2016-2018) and exchange teacher Li Chunping (2017-2018) organized a unit (using the Franklin Institute's Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor K-12 Educators' Guide) focused on the story and science behind the terracotta warriors, exploring Chinese culture, history and language with their students. Working with library media specialists at their school, Ms. Page and Ms. Li Chunping guided students in a virtual field trip to the Museum of Qin Terracotta Warriors and Horses in Xi’an, China.

Spring Festival at LaSalle

Deadline Date

Bridget Veitch (2016-2018), a TCLP mentor teacher at LaSalle Language Academy in Chicago, Illinois, used the CLP grant she received to organize the first Spring Festival held at her school. The event significantly raised awareness of Chinese Language education at the school and showcased student dedication, involvement, and learning, promoting community building around Chinese language and culture. Over 300 attendees joined the festivities, a very strong showing in comparison with other types of the “language events” sponsored by the school.

Chinese Culture Festival

Deadline Date

With funding from a CLP grant, Cui Yi (2017-2018) hosted the Chinese Culture Festival at Suder Montessori School in Chicago, Illinois. This was an opportunity for students to showcase their work and for parents and community members to see the positive impact the Mandarin program has on their school. The festival activities focused on the traditions of the Chinese Spring Festival and utilized musical and art performances by students, as well as classroom activities, to highlight the progress students have made throughout the year.

Chinese Exhibition Show

Deadline Date

This CLP, awarded to Li Jing (2017-2018) supported Nasalle Grays River Valley School's Chinese Exhibition Show on February 24, 2018. The show was open to parents and community members and featured three parts. Students learning Mandarin at the school performed traditional Chinese dances, including a fan dance, ribbon dance, and lantern dance, all set to Chinese songs. The second part of the show had an exhibition of students’ work from the 4th and 5th grades, including students’ calligraphy, drawing, crafts and research about China.

Discover China! (Student-lead Learning Center Activities)

Deadline Date

Ivy Yiu, mentor teacher at North Warren Regional, was awarded a CLP grant to take students enrolled in Chinese classes, as well as students in the Chinese club, on a field trip to Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor exhibit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA. Students who participated in the field trip then collaborated with Mrs. Yiu and the 2017-2018 exchange teacher Zhang Wenjie to plan a week-long Discover China! event held at the school in order to raise awareness and enthusiasm about Chinese language and culture and the North Warren Chinese program.

Chinese Art and Food Appreciation

Deadline Date

Ji Guanping’s (2017-2019) project aimed to enhance students’ cross-cultural understanding and increase their interest in learning about Chinese language and culture. Activities included Chinese New Year poster making, Chinese calligraphy for decoration, appreciating artwork of China and other Asian countries, and trying Chinese food by ordering in the target language in an authentic Chinese restaurant. A culminating event was held simultaneously with parent/teacher conferences for the students to share their experiences and knowledge and celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Chinese Cultural Immersion Trip: Art Work, Food and Festivals

Deadline Date

TCLP teacher Zhu Xiaohong collaborated with the Philadelphia World Affairs Council to take 45 students to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and then to Philadelphia’s Chinatown to experience authentic Chinese food and Lunar New Year festival activities. Prior to the field trip, students learned new vocabulary and content relating to Chinese art, food, and festivals, highlighting the connection between Chinese language and culture.During the field trip, students participated in an hour long Chinese art lesson at the museum, led by one of the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s student educators.