At the beginning of April, the 5th grade Chinese group in SHSID Puxi and Pudong campuses jointly launched the activity of Chinese Reading Month. In order to let students better appreciate the history and culture of the Han and Tang dynasties, students experienced the long history and splendid culture of the Han and Tang dynasties through a series of activities such as reading literary works, reading quizzes, solving puzzles, and adapting. The Reading Month series activities not only attracted students to take the initiative to understand and pass on the charm of Chinese culture, but also cultivated their critical thinking, creative thinking, and inquiry ability.

H Level: A Dream of Prosperity in Chang'an

Week 1: The Great People in the Tang Dynasty

In week one, students made cards featuring Tang Dynasty historical figures. They researched and drew or printed photos with descriptions, showcasing creativity and unique styles. Famous figures included Wu Zetian, Li Bai, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

Making historical figure cards helped students learn more about the culture and history of Tang Dynasty, and also helped them develop literacy skills. They gained hands-on skills and exercised creative thinking through the activity as well.

Week 2: Cultural Notes

In the second week's reading task, students identified five cultural proper nouns from The Great Tang City of Chang'an and completed cultural notes. They researched information online to learn the meanings and stories, depicted pictures, and shared with classmates, broadening their cultural horizons, and gaining a deeper understanding of Chinese history and culture.

Week 3: Back to the Tang Dynasty

This week, the teachers gave the students a creative writing topic — If you were to travel back to the Tang Dynasty, what kind of adventure would you have? The students' stories showed their endless imagination as they "went back to the Tang Dynasty" and used words to show their strange encounters in the Tang Dynasty, as if Emperor Tang Xuanzong, Princess Taiping, Wu Zetian and Li Guinian were right in front of the readers ...

This creation allowed the students to feel the depth of history and the thickness of culture, further stimulating their curiosity and creativity. Not only did the students expand their knowledge span, but they also expanded their imagination and improved their writing skills.

Week 4: From Words to Reality — Microfilm Production

In the second week's reading task, students identified five cultural proper nouns from The Great Tang City of Chang'an and completed cultural notes. They researched information online to learn the meanings and stories, depicted pictures, and shared with classmates. The students mobilized all forces, worked during lunch and vacation, and completed script revision, casting, costume prep, filming, and post-production. They studied Tang Dynasty customs and blended modern elements with historical facts in their microfilm.

S Level: Right and Wrong of Han Wu Di

Week 1: The Great People in the Han Dynasty

Students made cards of Han Dynasty historical figures by hand-drawing or printing photos, gaining a deeper understanding of the history and culture, and developing their literacy and creativity skills. They chose figures like Zhang Qian, Wu Zetian, Li Si and Wei Qing carefully.

Week 2: A Look into the Great Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty

Week 2 reading assignment is to discuss Emperor Wu of Han's merits and faults. Students formed opinions on his achievements and practices. Some appreciated his introduction of the imperial examination system and support for literature and art, while others criticized his excessive military focus and burden on the people. The activity aimed to encourage students to analyze historical figures from multiple perspectives and to cultivate their critical thinking and inquiry abilities, as well as to stimulate more creative thinking and interest in history.

Students created ten intriguing history questions about "Emperor Han Wu" and asked friends or family to answer them. This encouraged collaborative learning and improved reading and history skills. Questions covered topics such as governance, policies, and foreign affairs, etc. This question-and-answer activity not only increased the peer friendship of students, but also made the relationship between parents and children become more intimate and beautiful, and realized the joint progress of home and school.

Week 3: Dialogue with the Han Dynasty

Students dressed up as Han Dynasty figures and conducted a lively interview using "Celebrity Interviews" format. They researched deeply to demonstrate knowledge and understanding, discussed significant events of the era, and shared creative ideas. By playing the role of historical figures, students were able to gain a deeper understanding of the social background and political environment of the time, showing their growing creativity and discernment.

Reading Month activities ended with May flowers. Students gained diverse experiences and skills beyond their Chinese studies. Writing and shooting videos boosted their creativity, teamwork, and communication with their audience. In addition, the events also connected students' different disciplines, requiring them to cover language, math, and art in topics such as chapter organization and video production. Presenting their work helped them win praise and recognition, boosting their confidence and motivation to grow in an enjoyable study atmosphere.

Written by Mixi

Pictures by G5 Teachers

Edited by Serene Yang, Niall Keenan