Classroom Resource

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Subject Area

World Languages

Grade(s)

K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

This Chinese lesson revolves around the novel Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, an English language novel that children learning Chinese will find exciting and culturally relevant to their language studies. While the posted age maybe elementary school, this unit is especially useful for intermediate high Chinese language learners, even in high school. After reading the children's novel in Chinese (available for purchase at online retail sites), students can identify how the book illustrates the themes of courage and generosity. Following the activities (using Chinese in class rather than English) students will create their own personal narrative in the target language.

World Languages (2017) Grade(s): KG-08 - World Languages

WL17.WL.NLP.4

Investigate, explain, and reflect on the relationship among the products, practices, and perspectives of the target cultures.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.NLP.4

Knowledge

K-2
Students know:
  • typical activities and events of the target culture.
  • children's songs, poetry, and rhymes from the target culture.

3-5
Students know:
  • typical activities and events of the target culture.
  • children's songs, poetry, and rhymes from the target culture.

6-8
Students know:
  • landmarks from target language.
  • information from target language.
  • cultural information linked to themes taught.
  • songs, poetry and rhymes from the target culture.

Skills

K-2
Students are able to:
  • identify cultural products such as music, art, sports, games, and entertainment.
  • identify cultural practices of the target culture.

3-5
Students are able to:
  • identify cultural products such as music, art, sports, games, and entertainment.
  • identify cultural practices of the targte culture.
  • identify common beliefs and attitudes within the target culture.

6-8
Students are able to:
  • identify patterns of social behavior and interactions typical of the culture.
  • identify cultural products such as music, art, sports, games, and entertainment.
  • identify cultural practices of the target culture.
  • analyze cultural perspectives.
  • identify common beliefs and attitudes within the target culture.

Understanding

K-2
Students understand that:
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better understanding of my own language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.

3-5
Students understand that:
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better understanding of my own language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.

6-8
Students understand that:
  • an ability to communicate in another language fosters a better understanding of my own language and culture.
  • the study of a foreign language develops insights into the nature of language and culture.
  • custom and tradition vary within a culture, as well as between cultures.
  • other understandings will vary according to theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): KG-08 - World Languages

WL17.WL.NMP.5

Link target language and other subject areas to acquire information and begin to develop diverse cultural perspectives.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.NMP.5

Knowledge

K-2
Students know:
  • information specific to theme taught.

3-5
Students know:
  • information specific to theme taught.

6-8
Students know:
  • information specific to theme taught.

Skills

K-2
Students are able to:
  • use information taught in the target language in other aspects of their lives.
  • use the target language to learn information about other subject areas.

3-5
Students are able to:
  • use information taught in the target language in other aspects of their lives.
  • use the target language to learn information about other subject areas.

6-8
Students are able to:
  • use information taught in the target language in other aspects of their lives.
  • use the target language to learn information about other subject areas.

Understanding

K-2
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.

3-5
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.

6-8
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): KG-08 - World Languages

WL17.WL.NHP.5

Link target language and other subject areas to acquire information and develop diverse cultural perspectives.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.NHP.5

Knowledge

K-2
Students know:
  • information about other school subjects can be learned in the target language.
  • how to apply material learned in the target language to other classes.

3-5
Students know:
  • information about other school subjects can be learned in the target language.
  • how to apply material learned in the target language to other classes.

6-8
Students know:
  • information about other school subjects can be learned in the target language.
  • how to apply material learned in the target language to other classes.

Skills

K-2
Students are able to:
  • use information taught in the target language in other aspects of their lives.
  • use the target language to learn information about other subject areas.

3-5
Students are able to:
  • use information taught in the target language in other aspects of their lives.
  • use the target language to learn information about other subject areas.

6-8
Students are able to:
  • use information taught in the target language in other aspects of their lives.
  • use the target language to learn information about other subject areas.

Understanding

K-2
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.

3-5
Students understand that:
  • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
  • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
  • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
  • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.

      • 6-8
      Students understand that:
    • proficiency in a foreign language is a vehicle to gaining knowledge that can only be acquired through that language and its culture.
    • world language learning offers opportunities to uncover big ideas in and about other disciplines.
    • strategies used to acquire a language are transferable to other areas of learning throughout life.
    • a second language facilitates the acquisition of information about the world outside our experiences.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L4.2

Interpret, restate, and react to what is heard, read, or viewed on familiar and new topics.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L4.2

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the target language vocabulary for specific topics.
  • how to communicate in a variety of tenses and moods.

Skills

Intermediate Mid Level
Students are able to:
  • understand basic information from advertisments and announcements, audio or print.
  • understand the main idea(s) of voice messages and videos
  • understand basic statements and questions in an interview.
  • understand questions in a survey or questionnaire.
  • understand information in a variety of print formats (ex: brochures, magazines, labels, etc.).
  • understand information in interpersonal communication.
  • understand main ideas, supporting details, themes, settings, characters and plot lines in literary texts.
Intermediate High Level
Students are able to:
  • understand basic information from advertisments and announcements, audio or print.
  • understand interpersonal exchanges, spoken or in print.
  • understand information in a variety of print formats (ex: brochures, magazines, labels, etc.).
  • understand main ideas, supporting details, themes, settings, characters and plot lines in literary texts.

Understanding

Students understand that:
Intermediate Mid Level
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
Intermediate High:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L4.3

Present information on familiar and new topics in various time frames and aspects using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L4.3

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the target language vocabulary for specific topics.
  • how to communicate in a variety of tenses and moods.

Skills

Intermediate Mid Level
Students are able to:
  • describe past experiences and events.
  • create announcements for upcoming events.
  • present or write about academic topics.
  • describe steps needed to complete a task.
  • write emails, letters, blog posts, etc. on a variety of topics.
  • present or write about current or past events/issues.
  • present or write about entertainment topics.
Intermediate High Level
Students are able to:
  • write emails, letters, blog posts, etc. on a variety of topics.
  • describe past experiences and events.
  • summarize information from academic topics.
  • describe steps needed to complete a task.
  • explain point of view on a topic or issue.

Understanding

Students understand that:
Intermediate Mid Level
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
Intermediate High Level
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L5.2

Understand the main idea and a few details in texts on a variety of topics related to everyday life and personal interests in various time frames and moods using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L5.2

Knowledge

Students know:
  • variety of time frames.
  • the target language vocabulary for specific topics.
  • the target language vocabulary for various types of documents (written or audio/video) (i.e., literary texts, newspapers, magazines, websites, radio/tv ads, announcements, or live presentations).

Skills

Intermediate Mid & High Level
Students are able to:
  • relate the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures as presented on TV, radio, video, or live presentations.
  • describe the main themes and significant details on topics from other subjects and products of the cultures as found in printed sources for target language audiences.
  • identify the principal characters and discuss the main ideas and themes in selected literary texts.
  • comprehend spoken and written messages in the target language.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
World Languages (2017) Grade(s): 07-12 - World Languages

WL17.WL.L5.3

Present information on a wide variety of both familiar and new topics using varied vocabulary and more complex sentence structure in various time frames and moods.

Unpacked Content

UP:WL17.WL.L5.3

Knowledge

Students know:
  • the target language vocabulary for specific topics.
  • how to communicate in a variety of tenses and moods.

Skills

Intermediate Mid & High Level
Students are able to:
  • create materials about their community for visitors from the target culture.
  • prepare stories or brief written reports about personal experiences, events, or other school subjects to share with others.
  • create and narrate a presentation on a current global concern.
  • prepare an oral or written summary of the plot and characters in selected pieces of literature.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • effective communication requires knowing how when and why to say what to whom.
  • the purpose of language study is to communicate so one can understand others and be understood.
  • other understandings will depend on the theme being taught.
Link to Resource
https://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plans/where-mountain-meets-moon

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

Edsitement
Accessibility
License

License Type

BY

Approved Date

ALSDE LOGO

This site may contain links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness by us. WE DO NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OFFERED BY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LINKED THROUGH THIS SITE.
Alabama Learning Exchange © 2002-2023 by Alabama State Department of Education is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Design by Adaptive Theme