Students in our Chinese classrooms engaged in various activities to practice speaking Chinese. The school year began with learning greetings and introductions. Students of all grades introduced themselves with the 'All About Me’ projects. After that, students learned about 'The Moon Festival'. They enjoyed hearing the legend about the Moon Lady and the traditions of this important festival in China. Third and fourth grade students also compared the Moon Festival with Thanksgiving and other harvest festivals around the world. We also spent some time in class to learn about the famous Chinese philosopher, Confucius, his quotes and his significant influence on Chinese culture. His teachings included the virtues of respect, loyalty and kindness.  

The three main topics in October are Famous places in China, Numbers and Halloween.

Students in all grades enjoyed a virtual tour of China with more places included for each grade. The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Harbin Ice Festival and the Giant Panda Reserves in Chengdu are among students' favorites. All of our students participated in singing songs, playing games and other activities to learn numbers.

First grade students learned how to say and write numbers 1-10. Students in second grade were very proud to fill in the October calendar to show they know how to say and write Chinese numbers 1-31. Third grade students learned how to make numbers up to 100, and fourth grade students learned how to make numbers all the way to 1,000. Fourth graders also learned how to show numbers on a Chinese abacus.

All of our students had fun learning vocabulary words related to Halloween. They practiced their new words by asking each other what is in the haunted house.

In November, our curriculum centered around the themes of family bonds and the joyous celebration of Thanksgiving. First grade students acquired vocabulary related to immediate family members, while students in grade two through four gradually expanded their knowledge to include extended family members. Moreover, students learned how to express their love for family and explore creative ways to vividly describe the unique qualities of their family members through songs and projects.

Thanksgiving provided us an opportunity to compare and contrast cultural celebrations and traditions. Students across various grades engaged in comparing Thanksgiving with the Moon Festival and the Korean Thanksgiving holiday, Chuseok. Lessons also encompassed Thanksgiving-related food vocabulary, along with ways for students to express gratitude for the important people in their lives. November truly unfolded as a month filled with love, learning and cultural connections.