Unit 2 I think that mooncakes are delicious! Section A Period 1 1a-2d 1

Look at the pictures and say what festivals they are.

Chinese Spring Festival 春节

The Lantern Festival 元宵节

Mid-Autumn Festival 中秋节

The Dragon Boat Festival 端午节

The Water Festival 泼水节

Christmas Day 圣诞节

April Fool’s Day 愚人节

Match them Chinese Spring Festival 圣诞树 放鞭炮 赏月 Christmas Day 火鸡 赛龙舟 Thanksgiving Day Mid –Autumn Festival The Dragon Boat Festival

Discussion What is your favorite festival? Why do you like it most? What do you do at the festival?

Match the pictures with the descriptions. _____ The Water Festival in Thailand _____ The Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong _____ The Chinese Spring Festival in Beijing _____ The Lantern Festival in Jiangxi d a b c

Listen and circle T for true or F for false. 1b Bill thinks that the races were not that interesting to watch. Mary thinks that the teams were fantastic. Bill wonders whether they’ll have zongzi again next year. Bill and Mary believe that they’ll be back next year to watch the races. T F T F T F T F

Listen again and answer the question. Why does Bill like the races best? What festival are they talking about? Because he thinks they are really interesting to watch and the dragon boat teams are fantastic. The Dragon Boat Festival.

Make a dialogue about one of the four festivals. Pair Work Make a dialogue about one of the four festivals. A: What do you like best about …? B: I love the … I think that …

Chinese Spring Festival The Lantern Festival The Dragon Boat Festival The Water Festival What do you like best about the Dragon Boat Festival? I love the races. I think that they’re fun to watch.

Free Talk Do you know anything about the four festivals?

The Water Festival is the New Year's celebrations that take place in Southeast Asian countries such as Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand as well as Yunnan, China. It is called the “Water Festival” by Westerners because people splash / pour water at one another as part of the cleansing ritual (仪式) to welcome the new year. The act of pouring water is also a show of blessings and good wishes. It is believed that on this Water Festival, everything old must be thrown away, or it will bring the owner bad luck.

The Dragon Boat Festival, also called the Duanwu Festival, is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month according to the Chinese calendar. For thousands of years, the festival has been marked by eating zong zi and racing dragon boats. The festival is best known for its dragon-boat races, especially in the southern provinces where there are many rivers and lakes. This Regatta (赛舟会) is given honour to the memory of the death of Qu Yuan.

The Spring Festival is the most important festival for Chinese people and is when all family members get together, just like Christmas in the West. All people living away from home go back. The Spring Festival originated in the Shang Dynasty (c. 1600 BC-c. 1100 BC) from the people's sacrifice (献祭) to gods and ancestors at the end of an old year and the beginning of a new one.

The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the 1st lunar month, usually in February or March in the Gregorian calendar. As early as the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25), it had become a festival with great significance. Today's important activity is watching lanterns. Lanterns of various shapes and sizes are hung in the streets, attracting countless visitors. “Guessing lantern riddles” is an essential part of the Festival.

Listen and circle the correct words. Wu Ming and Harry are cousins / strangers / friends. Wu Ming went to Singapore / Hong Kong / Macao for his vacation. Wu Ming visited his relatives / friends / classmates. Wu Ming liked eating out / shopping / the Dragon Boat Festival best.

Listen again and answer the questions. Does Wu Ming put on weight? How much? What was the best part of Wu Ming’s trip? Yes. He has put on 5 pounds. The Dragon Boat Festival.

Dragon Boat Festival in June Listen again and fill in the chart. 2b Fun activities Downsides Eating out put on weight spent money Shopping Dragon Boat Festival in June weather is hot

Free Talk Have you ever had any downsides when travelling in a place? What were they?

A: What did you do on your vacation? B: I visited my cousins. I think that we ate five meals a day! I’ve put on five pounds! A: I guess the food was delicious, right?

Free Talk Have you ever been abroad? Do you know where Chiang Mai is?

Read and answer the questions. Where is Clara going? When is Clara going to Chiang Mai? How do you know? She is going to Chiang Mai. In April. Because Ben said April was the hottest month of the year there.

Homework: Read 2d again and review the new words.