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When Classics Meet the Future: A Comprehensive Record of Innovative Practices for Winter Break Learning as Demonstrated by the Middle School Chinese Department — Triple Play: Deep Reading • Media Empowerment • Literacy Cultivation

March 10, 2025

During the recent winter break, students experienced a wondrous fusion of modern media and classical works in their Chinese studies. The Chinese Department designed creative and groundbreaking assignments for students in native Chinese classes from Grade 6 through 8. Students immersed themselves in cultural heritage through reading, showcased linguistic creativity by composing original works, and explored new possibilities of expression using multimedia tools. Let us step into the vibrant world of these three grade-level projects and feel the unique charm of learning that blends classics, innovation, and technological power!

I. Deep Reading: Grade 6 Challengers Unlock Creative Explorations of the Journey to the West

Sixth graders embarked on a profound dialogue with the Journey to the West during the break. After completing this literary masterpiece, students crafted unique “Pilgrimage Passport Handbooks”—going far beyond traditional book reports. Teachers set creative requirements that merged reading reflections with gamification. Some designed “Character Cards” featuring exquisite portraits and personality profiles of mythological figures; others created “Adventure Maps” annotating key locations along the pilgrimage route with “travel journals” based on plot details. Several students even developed quiz questions, reinforcing textual knowledge while exercising creative thinking.

Outstanding works were showcased in class exhibitions, with some classrooms hosting Journey to the West trivia competitions using student-designed questions. These visually rich and imaginative projects demonstrated students’ original interpretations of the classic novel.


II. Media Empowerment: Grade 7 Editors Master Cross-Media Storytelling

Seventh graders transformed into WeChat public account editors, using tools like Xiumi and Jianying to create multimedia “preview posts” integrating text, images, videos, and even live-stream elements. Ten optional themes were provided, including:

Exploring Literary Masters’ Spiritual Legacies; Historical Echoes in Architectural Diversity; Poetry Appreciation and Creation; Neighborhood Micro-Investigations; Unboxing and Shop Review Series; Theater/Film Reviews; Overseas Chinese New Year Experiences; Cultural Clashes through Foreign Perspectives; lastly, 2024 Campus Slang Roundup.

Students produced 1-2 preview posts and engaged in peer review through group discussions. Teachers guided reflections on key questions: What defines excellent content? How does multimedia writing differ from traditional composition? What were your strengths and areas for growth?



This project bridged life experiences with digital expression, showcasing students’ keen observations, creativity, and media literacy through vibrant multimedia narratives.


III. Cultivating Literacy: Grade 8 Visionaries Design Chinese Practice Projects

Eighth graders embraced the “Future Strategist” challenge—designing comprehensive Chinese-themed practice programs. After conducting student-focused surveys, each with a minimum of 10 participants, and synthesizing research materials, they developed full-cycle projects from concept to presentation, submitting A3 creative posters or formal proposals.

Proposals required seven key components: inspiration rooted in literary/cinematic works; social research implementation; subtask planning; timeline development; anticipated challenges and their solutions; educational objectives and rubric design; finally, the integration of literary, logical, and practical elements.

Students presented their schemes in class, receiving feedback on their content’s depth, structural coherence, and creative expression. This innovative approach to winter break studies transcended traditional pedagogy, cultivating students’ information synthesis, project management, and problem-solving skills through hands-on learning.


From sixth-grade pilgrimage passports to eighth-grade strategic proposals, these differentiated assignments nurtured a passion for reading, expressive abilities, and innovative thinking. Students grew through cultural immersion, self-expression, and further exploration of the world—gaining not just a fulfilling winter break, but also foundational skills for future learning.



The Chinese Department remains committed to exploring diverse, open-ended, and creative assignment formats, making language learning both engaging and impactful. We strive to empower every student to discover their unique brilliance within the world of Chinese!

Written  by ZhangXinyi      

Pictures by Chinese Department teachers  

Reviewed by Chen Fan