Mid Autumn Festival

Grade Level:

12th Grade (AP Chinese Class)

Duration:

60 minutes

Class Size:

10 students

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) Alignment:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-12.1:
Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.11-12.1:
Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on topics, texts, and issues, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.11-12.2:
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.11-12.6:
Acquire and use accurately general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Cultural Understanding:
Analyze and discuss the significance of the Mid Autumn Festival within Chinese culture and its symbolism.
Language Skills:
Demonstrate competency in reading and interpreting authentic Chinese texts about the festival, including vocabulary related to traditional customs.
Speaking and Listening:
Engage in collaborative discussions using relevant vocabulary to share personal reflections and cultural insights.
Writing:
Compose a well-organized, culturally informative paragraph in Chinese describing the Mid Autumn Festival's traditions and personal cultural comparisons.

Materials Needed:

Printed copies of a short authentic Chinese text about the Mid Autumn Festival (approx. 250-300 characters).
Visual aids: images of mooncakes, lanterns, moon-gazing, Chang'e mythology.
Handouts with vocabulary list (traditional characters with pinyin and English meaning).
Whiteboard and markers.
Writing paper or devices for typing.

Lesson Procedure:

Introduction (10 minutes)

Warm-up Discussion:
Begin by asking students what they already know about traditional Chinese festivals, especially the Mid Autumn Festival. Prompting questions:
- Have you ever celebrated the Mid Autumn Festival or a similar harvest festival?
- What symbols or customs do you associate with it?
Visual Engagement:
Show images related to the festival (mooncakes, lanterns, full moon) and elicit vocabulary. Write key terms on the board and review pronunciation as a class.

Reading & Vocabulary (15 minutes)

Reading Activity:
Distribute the authentic Chinese text about the Mid Autumn Festival (short passage including origin myths, symbolic foods, and customs).
Vocabulary Exploration:
Guide the class through the text, focusing on 10-12 key vocabulary items relevant to the festival context (e.g., 月亮 yuèliàng - moon, 月饼 yuèbǐng - mooncake, 家庭团聚 jiātíng tuánjù - family reunion).
Close Reading & Annotation:
Students annotate the text, highlighting unfamiliar but important vocabulary or culturally significant phrases.

Collaborative Discussion (15 minutes)

Small Group Discussion:
Divide the class into pairs or groups of three. Students discuss the significance of the festival based on the text and personal opinions. Discussion prompts:
- Why is family reunion important during the Mid Autumn Festival?
- How do the symbols (mooncakes, moon lanterns) deepen cultural meaning?
- Can you compare this festival to any American or other cultural celebrations?
Class Sharing:
Reconvene and have groups share key points from their discussions. Use the whiteboard to capture new ideas and vocabulary.

Writing Activity (15 minutes)

Prompt:
Students write a short paragraph (80-100 characters minimum) in Chinese, explaining the traditions of the Mid Autumn Festival and reflecting on its cultural significance compared to a festival in their own culture.
Language Support:
Provide a scaffolded outline or sentence starters on the handout, integrating newly learned vocabulary and sentence structures to assist writing fluency.

Wrap-up & Assessment (5 minutes)

Exit Ticket:
Each student orally shares one new thing they learned about the Mid Autumn Festival, using at least one new vocabulary word correctly.
Formative Assessment:
Evaluate students’ written paragraphs for cultural accuracy, use of vocabulary, and clarity of expression to inform next steps in their AP Chinese language development.

Extensions (Optional):

Assign a creative project for homework: students create a visual poster or digital presentation about the Mid Autumn Festival combining vocabulary, images, and cultural notes.
Practice a short oral presentation describing the festival, enhancing speaking and pronunciation.

Teacher’s Reflection Tips:

Monitor students’ use of newly acquired vocabulary during discussion and writing.
Encourage connections between the text and students’ personal cultural experiences to deepen engagement.
Incorporate multimedia for future lessons—such as videos of moon-gazing rituals or festival celebrations—to enrich cultural immersion.

This lesson plan thoughtfully integrates language proficiency, cultural literacy, and critical thinking while adhering to Common Core standards, empowering students to appreciate and articulate cultural nuances of the Mid Autumn Festival in Chinese.

Teaching Instructions