2 Mar 2018

Mandarin Monthly Update #6

Y1 – We will start our Mandarin standalone unit “Sharing the Planet” in Mandarin lessons. The central idea will be “Plants and animals depend on each other for survival in the environments”. By the end of this unit, student will understand that all living things are connected and the choices that we make affect living things. Students will also learn related Mandarin words, phrases and sentences such as 大熊猫，水，空气，竹, etc.

Y2 – Students in Year Two have started to learn 我去学校。 They have been reading and writing the following Chinese characters 开学，真高兴，说，见，你们，好。Students will also learn how to use these words and phrases in sentences, e.g., 我去学校，云云坐车，同学们学中文。

Y3 – Students in Year Three have been learning 我感冒了，健康歌和小白狗。At the end of this unit, they should be able to describe how they are feeling when they are sick.

Y4 – Students in Year Four have had lots of fun creating artwork of the traditional Chinese courtyard design as part of the Mandarin link to UOI in classroom. They will now move on to 我家附近有公园 learning to name various places in our community including 商场，超市，游泳池，诊所，etc.

Y5 – Students in Year Five have started their Mandarin link to the Big Business unit. They will be busy working on advertising posters/slogans and drama scripts in Mandarin. They will also continue with 中文第五册的课文 “狐狸和葡萄”， “成语故事”。

Y6 – Students in Year Six have been revising topics that they have learnt in the past to prepare for the ESF Y6-Y7 Chinese Benchmark Test which will take place in the weeks beginning March 12 and March 19. The test will include three parts – listening comprehension, reading comprehension and writing. Students are encouraged to continue with the revisions at home by reading the textbook in google classroom and visiting the Mandarin Matrix website.

Y1 – Students have finished their unit of “My body”. Our next topic will be “Colours”. At the end of the unit, students should be able to name different colours in Mandarin and begin to read Chinese characters such as 红，黄，蓝，绿，黑，白。They will also begin to speak and read simple sentences such as 我喜欢红色，我不喜欢黑色。

Y2- We have finished about Body Parts. Children should be able to describe the person with 高，矮，胖，瘦。Now we have been busy learning about the customs and traditions of the Chinese New Year. They have had opportunities to listen to stories and learn songs that are related to CNY.

Y3- We have nearly finished the topic “Nationality” and soon will start the new topic “All about me”.

Y4- We have completely finished the Chinese Made Easy Book 1. We will start CME 2 after making connections during Mandarin to their UOI in class (How purpose affects the design of structures) by making inquiries and creating artwork of the traditional Chinese courtyard design.

Y5- We are on chapter 20 猫和老鼠。In February, students will be linking Mandarin to the Big Business unit in the classroom by working on advertising posters/slogans and drama scripts in Mandarin.

Y6- We have done lots of creative writing during the Mandarin lessons. We are going to revise the vocab before the benchmark in March.

Y2- The kids have practised the CNY couplets orally and with Chinese brush. They have also learned about Chinese Lantern Festival.

Y3- Students in Year Three have practised “春联” orally and with Chinese brush. They have also learned about Chinese Lantern Festival:汤圆，灯谜etc.

Y4- Students in Year Four have practised “春联” orally and with Chinese brush. They have also learned about Chinese Lantern Festival:汤圆，灯谜etc.

Y5- Students have started doing their Mandarin link to the Big Business unit in the classroom by working on advertising posters/slogans and drama scripts in Mandarin.

Y6- Students in Year 6 have been continuously practising their Listening, Reading and Composition Writing for the upcoming benchmark test.

Getting organised for Mandarin lessons

If your child has been given a Mandarin folder (including textbooks, activity books and exercise books), she/he needs to bring it to every Mandarin lesson.

Home Learning

All children are encouraged to take a reading book home on the days when they have Mandarin lessons.
Home learning is now given out in the year group weekly update under the heading Home Learning. It is the responsibility of the students to check the weekly update and make sure that they finish their home learning before the due date.
The amount of home learning varies from class to class. It usually includes reading aloud, copying Chinese characters, writing sentences, reading storybooks, writing book reports etc. Some classes will have weekly written tasks while other classes may be given oral practice only.
Please let your teacher know if you have trouble completing your home learning on time.

Taking Care of Books

The replacement costs for books lost are as follows: