What Is The Weather? Mandarin Chinese, Novice
Please Note: Many of the activities on the Pathways Project OER Repository were created by upper-division students at Boise State University and serve as a foundation that our community of practice can build upon and refine. While they are polished, we welcome and encourage collaboration from language instructors to help modify grammar, syntax, and content where needed. Kindly contact amberhoye@boisestate.edu with any suggestions and we will update the content in a timely manner. — The Pathways Project
Looking for the English Version of this activity to adapt for your language? CLICK HERE
About the Boise State World Languages Resource Center (WLRC) Language Activity Repository
The activities provided by the Boise State World Languages Resource Center (WLRC) serve as foundational activities which can be adapted by any language and scaled up or down on the proficiency scale. Many of these activities offer an English Version that is “language-agnostic” to provide language instructors from around the country a platform to remix these instructional materials, infusing them with their target language and culture! The activities within the Pathways Project OER Repository seek to help students solidify their interpersonal speaking and interpretive skills through task-based situations or communicative activities. These activities should be facilitated in the target language for approximately 90% (or more), per the recommendation of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
How to use the WLRC Repository’s Activities:
1. Use the Activity as is:
Before you begin:
- Most activities are 30 minutes in duration, unless otherwise specified.
- Be sure to read through the activity description, and review the list of required materials. You will notice that the activity materials are also highlighted in yellow throughout the activity instructions.
If you have any suggestions about grammar, syntax, and content, please kindly contact amberhoye@boisestate.edu.
2. Remix for Your Language Classroom:
When you are ready to begin remixing the activity, in order to adapt it for the needs of your language classroom, simply click the blue “Remix This Resource” button at the top of your screen. This will then take you to a screen with a NEW, editable version of this activity. The text provided in purple is a suggestion of what you might say to your students in the target language, and may be altered for different levels and age groups. All activities have “NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do” statements, a warm-up, a main activity, and a wrap-up.
Many of the activities include printable cards and other instructional materials such as Google Slideshows. If you would like to make changes to these materials in Spanish, follow the instructions below:
- Google Slideshows:
- To begin, go to File -> Copy to create an editable version of the slideshow.
- Once finished with your changes, please complete the following steps to share:
- Click on Share
- Who Has Access
- Ensure link sharing is on and allow external access.
- Materials Saved as PDF: Please email WLRCLAR@gmail.com and we will provide you with an editable copy. Please allow up to two business days for a response. For YouTube videos and other websites, hyperlinks are provided.
3. Adapt for Another Language:
- See the linked English Version at the top of the activity (English Version may not be available for all activities)
What is the Weather?
Description:
In this activity students will play an “around the world” game to express and explain their preferences when it comes to weather and temperature. Each round, students will choose a photo that best represents their opinion and will then explain to other students why they have that opinion.
Proficiency Level:
Novice-High
Keywords:
Chinese, weather, temperature, winter, summer, sports
World-Readiness Standards:
Standard 1.1- Students engage in conversations, provide and obtain information, express feelings and emotions, and exchange opinions in Chinese
Standard 1.2- Students understand and interpret written and spoken language on a variety of topics in Chinese
Standard 3.1- Students reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the study of Chinese
Standard 4.1- Students demonstrate an understanding of the nature of language through comparisons of the Chinese language with their own
Idaho Content Standards for World Languages:
COMM 1.1 - Interact and negotiate meaning (spoken, signed, written conversation) to share information, reactions, feelings, and opinions
COMM 2.1 - Understand, interpret, and analyze what is heard, read, or viewed on a variety of topics
COMM 3.1 - Present information, concepts, and ideas to inform, explain, persuade, and narrate on a variety of topics using appropriate media in the target language
CLTR 1.3 - Function appropriately in diverse contexts within the target culture
NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
I can express basic preferences in Chinese
I can explain why I prefer one thing over the other
I can use the target language to find common interests with others
Materials Needed:
Warm Up
As a group, view the warm up question on the slideshow. Each student should give their answer to the rest of the group.
Main Activity
1. Students will play an "Around the World" game, using the weather and temperature cards, to practice talking about the weather and what they like to do in different seasons
2. Have all students get up and stand around the table
3. Place the cards that say “冬天，秋天，春天， 夏天” at each corner or edge of the table face up.
Say to students:
“你们最喜欢哪个季节？请站在你最喜欢的季节照片的旁边。
“Which season is your favorite? Please stand next to the picture of your favorite season.”
4. Students will move to the picture of the season they enjoy most. Once they have moved to the photo, they will turn to the other students or students who is standing at the same photo and tell them why they chose that photo. After all students at each photo has explained why they like that season, one person will speak for the group and explain to the whole group why they all like that season.
“告诉你的同学们你为什么喜欢那个季节。然后，告诉大家你有多喜欢哪个季节。“
“Talk to the other students who chose the same photo why you chose that picture. After, tell the whole group what you all like about the season you chose.”
5. Next, flip the four season cards over to reveal 4 cards with winter sports. Students will repeat the same process with these cards, sharing with the partners which winter sport they prefer.
“请站在你们最喜欢的冬季运动的照片的旁边。然后，请跟同学们讨论为什么你们喜欢那个运动。最后，告诉大家你有多喜欢那个运动。“
“Please stand next to the photo of your favorite winter-time activity. Then, talk to the others who chose that activity about why it is your favorite. Finally, tell the whole group about what you all like about the activity you chose.”
6. Next, remove the 4 cards you used in the last two rounds and place the 3 cards that say “晴天，雨天，下雪” face up around the table.
7. Students will do the same as the last two rounds, but this time they will choose which type of weather they prefer
“请站在你最喜欢的天气的照片的旁边。然后，请同学们讨论为什么你们喜欢那种天气。最后，告诉大家你有多喜欢那种天气。”
“Please stand next to the photo of your favorite type of weather. Then, discuss with the other classmates who chose that photo why you chose it. Finally, tell the whole group what you all like about the weather you chose.”
8. Next, flip the three cards that are currently face up over so three images of summertime activities are face up
Studetns will repeat the same activity again and talk about which activity they like best
“请站在你们最喜欢的夏季运动的照片的旁边。然后，请跟同学们讨论为什么你们喜欢那个运动。最后，告诉大家你有多喜欢那个运动。“
”Please stand next to the photo of your favorite summertime activity Then, discuss with the other classmates who chose that photo why you chose it. Finally, tell the whole group what you all like about the activity you chose.”
Wrap Up
Wrap Up Questions:
“除了那些户外活动和天气以外，你们也喜欢哪些天气和户外活动？“
Besides these photos of weather and outdoor activities, what other weather or outdoor activities do you enjoy?
End of lab: Can-Do statement check-in... “Where are we?”
Read can-do statements and have students evaluate their confidence with cards or holding up fingers 1-5
Encourage students to be honest in their self evaluation
Pay attention, and try to use feedback for future labs!
NCSSFL-ACTFL Can-Do Statements:
I can express basic preferences in Chinese
I can explain why I prefer one thing over the other
I can use the target language to find common interests with others