Increase mutual understanding between U.S. and exchange teachers schools and communities

Ivy Yiu received a CLP for “A Taste of China,” which is a unit of study and part of the curriculum for the Mandarin Chinese classes. Students currently enrolled in the school’s Mandarin Chinese class learned about Chinese Tea history, Gongfu Tea Ceremony - how to conduct the tea ceremony, and Chinese tea culture. The culminating learning activity was to show case what students have learned of language and culture at the North Warren Regional Multicultural Fair. Each year, North Warren Regional School hosts a community-wide Multicultural Fair. During this fair, students and community members organize booths and tables to showcase diverse cultural traditions from around the world. "A Taste of China" was a simulation of a traditional Chinese tea house where customers experience Tea Ceremony, sample teas and light foods while enjoying the finer aesthetics of Chinese culture like calligraphy writing, painting, and Chinese music. Student facilitators were responsible for overseeing three activities at the "Taste of China" booth.

Zhao Xin (Plantation Middle School, 2018-2019) and Roxana Rivero-Taube (Plantation Middle School, 2018-2019) received a CLP grant to hold a Chinese New Year Celebration for the students, teachers, parents, faculty, community members, and guests. From a series of activities, like lectures, assemblies, cross-culture fair, and Chinese Club, the people in the community will get a basic understanding and full engagement of Chinese Culture. The idea to spread the knowledge and understanding of Chinese culture, history, and traditions, as well as the language to the community at large in order to increase people's interest in Chinese culture and language learning. We will focus on the activities in Plantation Middle School as well as activities in elementary schools and high schools.

Sean Fredericks (2016-2018), a mentor teacher from John W. Lavelle Preparatory Charter School in Staten Island, New York, received a CLP grant to take, with Adel Ghattas (2017-2018), the 34 Arabic students at Lavelle on a field trip to the United Nations in Manhattan. The field trip will occur in 2018, the 70th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. On this field trip, students will have the opportunity to learn about the history of the United Nations and Middle East Policy from a UN representative. Students who attend the field trip will then share their experiences with their community at the Lavelle International festival.

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. Additionally, students evaluated and analyzed information on the topic found in print and multimedia sources. 50 students then participated in a field trip to the Franklin Institute and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. At the Franklin Institute, they explored the interactive Terracotta Warriors of the First Emperor exhibit. At the Philadelphia Museum of Art, students participated in a docent led tour of Chinese art. Students then visited Philadelphia's Chinatown to partake in an authentic Chinese meal. Following the field trip, students engaged with focus questions and worked collaboratively to create a class presentation and video which was shared at grade level assemblies. The video was also shared at the school-wide Morning Show, a reception for Board of Education members, and a PTO Meeting, providing an opportunity for students to highlight the advantages of studying Chinese language and culture in order to promote support for the Chinese program and to encourage enrollments. .