Unit 1 Festivals around the World
The reading passage entitled FESTIVALS AND CELEBRATIONS briefly describes the origins of different festivals, and then introduces four kinds that are celebrated in most parts of the world. It is important for students to appreciate the values of festivals and learn to attach importance to their culture. Through comparison and contrast, students will be able to evaluate their own culture as well as exotic culture, keep up their own advantages and learn from others, thus cultivating an international outlook.
1. Knowledge Objectives:
(1)Students know the origins of different festivals.
(2)Students learn about history and basic knowledge of festivals both at home and abroad.
2. Skill Objectives:
(1) Students can practice their reading ability and learn different reading skills.
(2) Students can express ideas about festivals and how people celebrate these different festivals.
3. Emotional Attitude and Values:
(1) Students can get familiar with the origins of festivals both at home and abroad.
(2) Students can develop love for their own national culture and customs.
(3) Students also can develop the sense of gratitude.
4. Learning Strategies:
Students can use reading skills to collect and analyze the significant information in the text. They can also work with their partners or work in groups to practice.
5. Cross-culture Awareness:
Students will cultivate an international outlook through comparison and contrast.
Teaching Important Points:
1. Students learn more about history and basic knowledge of festivals.
2. Students learn different reading skills.
Teaching Difficult Points:
1. Students enhance their reading ability.
2. Students can talk about festivals and celebrations.
3. Students will fully understand and keep up the values of festivals.
Teaching Methods
Elicitation, discussion, listening, group work
Teaching Aids
A computer, a blackboard
Step1 Warming up
Play a guessing game. Try to guess what festival it is.
Step2 Fast Reading
Choose the right main idea for each part.
Part1. (Para.1) ___________
Part2. (Para.2-5) ___________
Part3. (Para.6) ___________
A. Different kinds of festivals around the world
B. The reasons why people celebrate the festivals
C. The origins of the festivals
2. Fill in the blanks
Today’s festivals have many________:
some ________,
some ________,
some ____________________________.
Match the origins with the examples.
Step3 Careful Reading
1. Festivals of the Dead
Complete the table.
Festivals
Celebrations
Obon
clean graves, light incense
light__________ and play music
The Day of the Dead
eat shaped food
offer food, flowers and
__________ to the dead
Halloween
play a trick on people
________ up and go to their neighbor’s homes to ask for _________
2. Festivals to Honor People
Who are mentioned in this part?
3. Harvest Festivals & Spring Festivals
Do a True or False.
Only China has mid-autumn festival.
Spring festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the coming of spring.
There are dragon boat race and carnivals at the Spring Festivals in China.
4. The Last Paragraph
Why do people celebrate festivals?
Step4 Consolidation
There are all kinds of festivals and ___________ (celebrate) around the world. Some festivals are held to ________ the dead or satisfy the _________(ancestor) in case they might return either to help or to do _______, while other festivals are _______ ( hold ) to honor famous people. Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals are happy events because the food is _________ (gather) for the winter and the __________ (agriculture) work is over. And the most __________ (energy) and important festivals are the ones that look ________ to the end of winter and to the ________ (come) of spring.
Step5 Language points
Festivals are meant to celebrate important times of year.
mean: 1) 打算,意欲mean+ n/ pron/ to so
He means what he says.
He means to cause trouble.
2) be meant for“打算给予；打算作……用”。
English Weekly is meant for you.
英语周报是打算给你们用的。
3) mean+ n/ pron/ v-ing/ that从句
What does the sentence mean?
Missing the bus means waiting for another two days.
meaning (n) 意思 meaningful (a) 有意义的
take place, happen, break out的比较
take place 指经过安排的事情
happen 偶然发生，碰巧发生
break out 灾难、疾病、战争等突然爆发
The World War ________ in 1914.
The football match will _________ tomorrow.
A terrible traffic accident ________ last night.
3. Festivals and celebrations of all kinds have been held everywhere…
1) Books of this kind ____ (sell) well in the bookstore.
2) This kind of books ____ (sell) well in the bookstore.
all kinds of 各种各样的
the same kind of 相同种类的
different kinds of 不同种类的
a kind of 某种
4. starve
(1) v. 挨饿， 饿死
Millions of people starved to death during the lacking year.
(2) 缺乏， 渴望获得某事物（被动）
The homeless children were starving for love .
(3) 感觉很饿（进行时）
When will the dinner be ready? I’m starving.
(4) starvation : n. 挨饿， 饿死
die of starvation
starvation wages
5. a year of plenty days/ year… of plenty 富裕的日子，年月，生活等
(1) plenty n. 富裕
You have a life of plenty, what would you be worried about?
(2) plenty pron. 大量; 充足
6. lead…to 领导，指向
Chairman Mao lead us to revolution.
7. satisfy vt. 满足,使…满意; satisfy sb.
satisfied a. 感到满意的; be satisfied with
satisfying a. 令人愉快的
satisfactory a. 令人满意的
satisfaction n. 满意; to one’s satisfaction
satisfactorily ad. 满意地
8. harm : do harm
(1) harm : n.身体上、精神上或道义上受到损害
do harm to sb. = harm sb.
come to harm :
If we solve the problem in this way, it may do more harm than good.
(2) harm v.
This event didn’t harm his reputation.
9. offer….to sb. 提供…帮助
offer sb. Sth.
10. in the shape of 呈现某种形状，以某种形式。
The end of the performance show in the shape of Happy New Year.
The roses are placed in the shape of heart.
11. in memory of sb.作为某人的纪念,纪念某人
to the memory of sb.
The Nobel Prize was set up in memory of the famous scientist Nobel.
Duan Wu Festival is to the memory of Qu Yuan.
12. … they can dress up and go to their ...
dress up是“穿上最好的衣服”, 常指“打扮,化装”
dress作及物动词时, 不接clothes之类的表示衣服的名词, 而是接表示人的句词或代词, 意思是“给…穿衣服”。当表示自己穿衣服时, 则用反身代词, 如：
Wake up children and dress them. 唤醒孩子,给他们穿上衣服。
dress的过去分词常用来构成get dressed与be dressed短语, 前者表示动态, 后者表示静态, 穿何种衣服, 则用介词in. 如:
The girl was dressed in red. 这个女孩穿着一身红衣服。
Harry up and get dressed. 快点穿上衣服。
13. Some people might win awards for their farm produce, like …
award. n. 奖, 奖品
v. 判给, 授予
award sb. sth.奖赏某人某物
辨析: award 和reward：
award 后接双宾语
award sb. a prize 授予某人奖
= award a prize to sb.
Sb. be awarded the top prize
= the top prize be awarded to sb.
reward 奖赏, 给…报酬, 不能接双宾语;
reward sb. for sth. 因 …奖赏某人；
reward sb. with sth. 用某物酬劳某人
14. as though = as if 好象， 仿佛， 似乎
as if/ though后面要接虚拟语气表示不太真实，有疑问的事情. as if/ though所带的从句所用的时态比前面真实句所用的时态倒退一个时态.
He behaved as though nothing had happened.
Susan is walking slowly as though she was tired.
但as if/ though引导的句子如果表示很可能的事实就用陈述语气,不用倒退时态
It looks as if it is going to rain.
Step6 Discovering useful structures
情态动词的语法特征：
1. 情态动词有一定的意义，只表示期待或估计某事的发生，不能表示正在发生或已经发生的事情。
2. 没有人称和数的变化，即情态动词第三人称单数不加-s。
3. 不能独立使用，它和后面的动词构成谓语。
4. 情态动词?除ought?和have?外，后面只能接不带to?的不定式。
5. ?情态动词没有非谓语形式，即没有不定式，分词，等形式。
◆ can和could的用法：
1. 表示能力
Can you finish this work tonight? 今晚你能完成工作吗？（表示能力）
Man cannot live without air. 人类离不开空气。
2. 表示请求和允许
— Can I go now??我可以走了吗？?
— Yes, you can. 是的，可以。（表示请求和允许）
【注意】 could也可表示请求，预期委婉，主要用于疑问句，不可用于肯定句，答语应用can（即could不能用于现在时态的简略答语中）。如：
— Could I come to see you tomorrow? 我明晚能来看你好吗？
— Yes, you can. 是的，可以。（否定答语可用No, I’m afraid not.）
3. 表示客观可能性即推测用法，多用于否定句和疑问句中。
— Who is that man? Can it be your uncle? 那人是谁？可能是你叔叔吗？
No, it can’t be him. 不可能是他。
【注意】can 也可以在肯定句中表示可能性，但这种可能性往往具有一般性，说话人是按常理在进行推测, 表示客观、理论上的可能性；
而may, could则是根据说话人当时的具体情况进行推测。如：
Fire can be dangerous at home. 家庭用户哦有时也是很危险的.
Anybody can make mistakes. 任何人都会犯错误。
Even top students can make mistakes in the exam. 即使优秀学生在考试中也可能会出错。
4. can表示惊异、怀疑、不相信的态度。（主要用在否定句、疑问句或感叹句中）
How can you be so careless! 你怎么能怎么粗心？
This cannot be done by him. 这是不可能是他干的。
5. “can(could) + have + 过去分词”的疑问或否定形式表示对过去发生的行为怀疑或不肯定的推测。
He cannot have been to the North America.他不可能去过南美。
Where can he have gone? 他可能到哪去了呢？
【指点迷津】can和be able to
can表示能力时，还可用be able to代替。如：
I’ll not be able to come this afternoon. 我今天下午不能来了。
② can只有现在和过去两种时态形式，即：can和could；而be able to有谓语动词的各种时态变化，还有非谓语动词形式。如：
I haven’t been able to read that report yet. 我还没来得及阅读报告。
I’ve always wanted to be able to speak English. 我总想能说英语。
③can 表示“能力”时，和be able to 相当，许多场合都可以互相替换。但在过去时态中，强调“有能力”时，用could，强调“条件或情况允许”或强调“通过努力创造条件干成某事”时，用was / were able to。
请比较：
He could (=was able to) swim when he was six years old. 他六岁时就会游泳了。(叙述一般的能力)
He was able to swim half way before he was tired out. 他游过一半已精疲力竭。(指经过了努力，所以不用could)。
【高考链接】
1)（2015·浙江卷）It was so noisy that we hear ourselves speak.
A. couldn’t B. shouldn’t C. mustn’t D needn’t
2)（2014·北京卷）___ I have a word with you? It won’t take long.
A. Can B. Must C. Shall D. Should
3)（2014·全国大纲卷）Although you ______ find bargains in London, it’s not generally a cheap place to shop.
A. should B. need C. must D. can
4) (2013天津卷) No one be more generous, he has a heart of gold.
A. could B. must C. dare D. need
5) (2013安徽卷) It be the vocabulary that caused you the problem in the exercise because you know a lot of words.
A. may B. couldn’t C. should D. needn’t
6) (2013湖南卷) He _____ sleep, although he tried to, when he got on such a hunt for an idea until he had caught it.
A. wouldn’t B. shouldn’t C. couldn’t D. mustn’t
7) (2013四川卷) —Why are your eyes so red? You _____ have slept well last night.
A. can’t B. mustn’t C. needn’t D. won’t
◆ may和might的用法
1. may和might表示请求、许可。
表示请求、允许时，might比may的语气更委婉一些，否定回答时要用mustn’t表示“不可以”、“禁止”、“阻止”之意。
may表示“允许”，否定形式为mustn’t，表示“禁止、不允许、不可以”，口语中可用can/could 代替may，但在正式场合要用may; 如：
You may keep the book for a week. 这本书你可以保留一星期。
— Might I use your pen???我可以用下你的钢笔吗？
— Yes, you may/can. 是的，可以。
【注意】
用May I ... 征询对方许可在文体上比较正式，在口气上比较客气。在日常口语中，用Can I ... 征询对方意见在现代口语中更为常见。如：
You mustn’t play with the knife, you may hurt yourself. 你不可以玩小刀，可能弄伤你自己。
2. may和might示推测、可能。
在表示推测的句子中，一般不用于疑问句，may表示的可能性比might要大.
Mother may(might)be cooking now.我妈妈可能正在做饭。
She said I might use her dictionary. 她说我可以用她的字典。
3. “may(might) + have + 过去分词”表示对过去发生的行为的推测。如：
He may not have finished the work.他可能没完成作业。
4. 用于祈使句中表示祝愿。如：
May you succeed! 祝你成功！
【高考链接】
1)（2015·陕西卷） You feel all the training a waste of time, but I’m a hundred percent sure later you’ll be grateful you did it.
A. should B. need C. shall D. may
【高考链接】
2)（2016·江西卷）Life is unpredictable; even the poorest __ become the richest.
A. shall B. must C. need D. might
3) (2017重庆卷) — What are you doing this Saturday?
— I’m not sure, but I _____ go to the Rolling Stones concert
A. must B. would C. should D. might
4) (2017北京卷) — You needn’t take an umbrella. It isn’t going to rain.
— Well, I don’t know. It ________ do.
A. might B. need C. would D. should
◆ 情态动词shall用法
1. shall用在主语是第一人称或第三人称的疑问句中，表示说话人征求对方的意见或向对方请示。如：
Shall I send for the doctor? 要我派人请医生来吗？
What shall I get for dinner? 晚饭买点什么来吃？
—I’m sorry. The kids have been so noisy．Shall they go out for a while？
—No，not at all．They are lovely children．
—对不起，孩子们太吵了。要不要他们出去一会儿？
—不，没事儿，孩子们挺可爱的。
2. shall用在主语是第二人称或第三人称陈述句中表示说话人给对方命令、警告、允诺或威胁、义务、劝慰、告诫或许诺，表示说话者对某人某物所持有的主观立场和坚定的信念。
You shall do it at once! 你必须马上做这件事！（命令）
You shall fail if you don’t work harder. （警告）
If you work hard，you shall have a nice present for your birthday． 如果你努力学习，你过生日时将会得到一份精美的礼物。（允诺）
You shall take some medicine and have a good sleep，my darling！亲爱的，你该吃些药，好好休息一下。(劝慰)
3. shall用在主语是第三人称的条约，规章等文件中表示义务或规定, 常用于官方文件中，表明具有法律效力。而should表示应该，义务。
All payments shall be paid by the end of the month. 本月底所有款项必须付清。
One half of his money and his goods shall be given to the city of Venice and the other half shall be given to the person he has tried to kill．他的钱和财产的一半必须给威尼斯城，另一半必须给他企图杀害的人。
【经典考例】
1) －Will you read me a story, Mummy?
－OK. You _____have one if you go to bed as soon as possible.
A. might B. must C. could D. shall .(陕西卷)
2) －What’s the name?
－Khulaifi. ____ I spell that for you?
A. Shall B. Would C. Can D. Might (北京卷)
3) －Excuse me, but I want to use your computer to type a report.
4) －You ____ have my computer if you don’t take care of it.
A. shan’t B. might not C. needn’t D. shouldn’t (湖南卷)
巩固练习
1. 选词填空：
(1) Professor Smith, many students want to see you. _____ they wait here or outside?
(2) The new regulation _____ take effect on Jan 1st.
(3) All the lights _____ be turned off when you leave the lab．
(4) If you work hard, you _____ have a nice present for your birthday．
(5) You _____ take some medicine and have a good sleep, my darling！
◆ should的用法
1. should 表示职责、义务、劝告、建议、命令，其同义词是ought to； “应该”。在疑问句中，通常用should代替ought to。如：
He should learn to be more polite. 他应该学会更讲礼貌。
【高考链接】
(1) --- I think I’ll give Bob a ring.
--- You ____. You haven’t been in touch with him for ages.
A. will B. may C. have to D. should
(2) I ___ pay Tracy a visit, but I am not sure whether I will have time this Sunday.
A. should B. might C. would D. could
2. should表示推测.一般强调有一定的客观依据，往往指具有一定的客观根据或根据推理对现在某事发生的“可能性”进行描述，语气上不如must强。
It’s nearly seven o’clock. Jack should be here at any moment. 已经快七点了，Jack该到了。
【高考链接】
(1) ---How’s your tour around the North Lake? Is it beautiful?
---It _____ be, but it is now heavily polluted.
A. will B. would C. should D. must （2007全国I卷）
(2) There _____ be any difficulty about passing the road test since you have practiced a lot in the driving school.
A. mustn’t B. shan’t C. shouldn’t D. needn’t (2005 上海)
3. 用“should ＋动词原形”表示说话人的一种情绪，即表示“惊奇、惶惑、不满、惋惜”等这样一种强烈的感彩。
I am surprised that he should eat so little every day．他每天吃得那么少真使我感到惊讶。
Never did he expect that the conditions should be so terrible．他从来没有料到情况竟如此可怕。
Why should you be so late today? 你今天怎么来得这么晚？
4. “should + have + 过去分词”结构一般表示义务，表示应该做到而实际上没有做到，并包含一种埋怨、责备的口气。如：
You shouldn’t have blamed her so seriously; she is still a child.你不应该这么严厉地指责她，她还是个孩子。
I should have helped her, but I never could. 我本来应该帮助她的，但我从来没有这个能力。
【高考链接】
(1) 一Turn off the TV, Jack. ____ your homework now?
一Mum, just ten more minutes, please.
A. Should you be doing B. Shouldn't you be doing
C. Couldn’t you be doing D. Will you be doing（2007辽宁卷）
(2) You can't imagine that a well-behaved gentleman ____ be so rude to a lady．
A．might B．need C．should D．would
5. 考查should用于其它虚拟语气句型的用法。
(1) 用在suggest，insist，require，order等表示“建议，要求，命令等”动词后面的宾语从句以及其名词形式所接的同位语从句、表语从句、主语从句中都应用“should ＋动词原形”结构，且should可以省略。
注：当省略if时，可将should作为助动词放在句首，使句子倒装。
They suggested that the meeting (should) be put off to the next meeting. 他们建议会议推迟到下周。
We all agreed to his suggestion that we（should）go to Hangzhou for sightseeing．我们都同意他的建议我们应该到杭州去观光旅游。
My advice is that we（should）do more eye exercises every day．我的建议是我们每天应该多做眼保健操。
(2) 在主语从句It is necessary（important，impossible，strange，natural，a pity）that…下列三种句型中，主句的谓语动词应用“（should）＋动词原形”。
It is necessary that we should send for a doctor．我们很有必要派人请个医生来。
It is a pity that he（should）be so careless．他竟如此粗心真是令人遗憾。
【高考链接】
--- Don’t you think it necessary that he ___ ___（not send) to Miami but to New York?
--- I agree, but the problem is ___ he has refused to.（2005江苏卷）
(3) should可以用在条件状语从句中，表示与现在、过去或将来事实相反语气。
在if引导的条件状语从句中，若表示与将来事实相反的假设，条件句的谓语动词可以用“should ＋动词原形”；若if省略，should应提到句首，构成部分倒装，主句谓语却不一定用虚拟语气。
Ask her to ring me up if you should see her. 你万一见到她，请让她给我打个电话。
If you should change your mind, please let us know. 万一你改变主意，请通知我们。
Should I (If I should) be free tomorrow I will come. 万一我明天有时间，我就来。
【高考链接】
____ you be fired, your health care and other benefits will not be immediately cut off.（2006湖北卷）
Step7 Writing
如何写好有关节日类书信？
语言的学习离不开文化，在英语学习中，要通过扩大学生接触异国文化的范围，以便提高对中外文化异同的敏感性和鉴别能力，进而提高跨文化交际能力。但是，中外文化交流是双向的，不仅要关注外国语言与文化的输入，更要关注母语文化的输出，这也是《英语课程标准》核心内容之一，同时也在各种的教材版本中都得到了充分的体现。综观近年高考英语写作试题有关跨文化交际的话题很多，特别是母语文化输出类话题增多，体现了对跨文化交际意识的考查。主要有：
1. 有关中国节日文化的输出。如：2009山东卷书面表达“假设你是李华，曾在美国学习半年，现已回国。…… 邀请Tom在春节期间来中国感受中国文化”。再如：2007湖北卷：敬老节的活动；2006江西卷：“中秋节的等待”；等等。这也和高中英语教材（如：人教版必修三Unit 1 Festival around the world、北师大版必修五 Unit 3 Celebration等）的内容和理念是一致的。
2. 有关中国民俗文化的输出。如：2009浙江卷书面表达“Student Volunteers Brought Sunshine to the Elderly”；2009四川卷书面表达“用英语回一封信，向你的外国笔友Jane介绍中国的社交习俗”。
3. 有关中国语言文化的输出。如：2009湖北卷书面表达“假设你是华华，与英国网友汤姆约定用对方的母语通信，以提高各自的外语水平。最近你收到汤姆的电子邮件，发现有一个成语使用不当。请根据要点，用英文回一封电子邮件介绍汉语成语的得体使用”；再如2008年全国II卷书面表达：你的英国朋友Peter来信向你咨询如何才能学好中文；以及2004年全国卷I的写作题：外国人学中文，中文歌曲比赛。
4. 有关中国地方文化的输出。如：2009全国卷II：介绍改建后前门大街；2006四川卷：四川风景名胜介绍。
亮点句式：
1. I’m glad to know that you are interested in...
2. You want to know the similarities and differences between...
3. ...are similar in two ways.
4. However,...are quite different (in ...).
5. As far as I know, Easter is an important religious festival for Christians.
6. I hope my explanations will satisfy your curiosity.
典型范例：
假定你是李华。春节即将来临，你写信邀请你的外国朋友David来中国过春节。除表示邀请外，还要简要介绍中国传统的节日——春节。
话题提示：除夕、年夜饭、团圆、拜年、压岁钱、鞭炮。
注意： 1.?信的开头和结尾已经替你写好，不计入总字数。
2.?字数要求：120左右。
生词：鞭炮firecrackers Dear David, First of all, please allow me to express my heartfelt invitation to you. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
I am looking forward to your reply. ??? That’s all. Thank you! Yours ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Li Hua
思路分析：
对中国学生写作而言，中外文化交流离不开母语文化的介绍输出。而春节又是中国的最传统的节日之一，是最具代表性的中国文化。本文是一种常规的书信式作文，考生只要按下列要点用恰当的语言，条理的句子，合适的句式，表达完整，注意过渡和复杂句使用即可。
内容要点：
邀请David来过春节。
春节对中国人的重要意义。
春节期间的主要风俗活动：除夕团圆吃年夜饭；新年第一天亲友拜年、长辈给压岁钱；放鞭炮。
表达希望。
参考范文： Dear David, First of all, please allow me to express my heartfelt invitation to you. Since the Spring Festival is coming shortly，I sincerely invite you to come to China and spend the holiday with me. I feel very glad to introduce the Spring Festival to you. As you know, Spring Festival is just as important to the Chinese as Christmas to you Westerners. It has a long history and Chinese have attached much importance to the holiday. All the family members try to come back to get together with their families. Usually there’ll be a big dinner on the New Year’s Eve. Everybody will be happy to eat, drink and have a wonderful time together. On New Year’s Day, people will get up early, visit and give their best wishes to their neighbors or friends. Children are always the happiest because they can usually get some lucky money as a gift. Throughout this festival period firecrackers can be heard everywhere. I do hope you can have an opportunity to celebrate the Spring Festival in China.
I am looking forward to your reply. ? That’s all. Thank you!
???????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?Yours ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Li Hua
实战演练：
假定你是李华，你有一位英国网友Ken在网上看到几幅中国剪纸(Chinese paper cut)，Ken很想了解中国的剪纸艺术，给你发来邮件询问有关中国剪纸的信息，请你参考下表内容提示给他回复邮件, 向Ken简单介绍中国的剪纸艺术：
Chinese Paper Cut
历史
起源于公元4世纪，与汉朝造纸术的发明有关。
技法
用剪刀把纸剪成各种装饰图案。
常见
图案
作用
重要节日， 贴于窗户和门上，带来好运。
注意：1. 词数：120左右；
2. 参考词汇：民间艺术folk culture; 手工艺品handicraft;
3. 开头和结尾已写好，不计入总词数。
Dear Ken,
I’m glad you would like to know more about Chinese paper-cuts. Here I’m glad to tell you something about it.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I hope you’ll come to China to see more Chinese paper cuts one day.
Best wishes
Yours,
Lihua
思路分析：
剪纸也是中国最重要的民间艺术之一，对外国人很有吸引力。本文也是一种常规的书信体提纲式作文，只要按要点用地道的英语句子表达出来，并注意上下文的连贯即可。要点有：
1) 剪纸的历史起源：公元4世纪，与汉朝造纸术的发明有关。
2) 什么是剪纸：用剪刀把纸剪成各种富有意义的装饰图案。
3) 剪纸的内容丰富：鸟类、动物、花草、人物以及一些吉祥的中国汉字。
4) 那些场合使用剪纸：在重要节日，把他们贴于窗户和门上，希望为他们带来好运。
参考范文：
Dear Ken,
I’m glad you would like to know more about Chinese paper-cuts. Here I’m glad to tell you something about it.
Paper-cuts refer to handicrafts made by cutting red paper with scissors to form different patterns for celebrations, festivals and home decoration. The first paper-cut dates back to the fourth century and it is said that its origin was closely connected with the invention of paper during the Han Dynasty. Chinese paper-cuts are rich in content. People in northern part of China do well in making paper cut. They cut paper into different patterns, such as birds, animals, flowers, people or sometimes Chinese lucky characters.
They are still widely used today at important festivals, especially for the Spring Festival. It is very important to put paper-cuts on doors and windows to bring good luck to people living in the house. More and more people are interested in it.
I hope you’ll come to China to see more Chinese paper cuts one day.
Best wishes
Yours,
Lihua
Step8 Homework
Write a composition about one of your favorite festivals within 100 words.
略
Unit 1 Festivals and Celebrations
教学模式介绍
探究式教学模式是指在教学过程中，要求学生在教师指导下，通过以“自主、探究、合作”为特征的学习方式对当前教学内容中的主要知识点进行自主学习、深入探究并进行小组合作交流，从而较好地达到课程标准中关于认知目标与情感目标要求的一种教学模式。其中认知目标涉及与学科相关知识、概念、原理与能力的掌握；情感目标则涉及思想感情与道德品质的培养。
探究式课堂教学模式的教学环节：
创设情境——启发思考——自主（或小组）探究——协作交流——总结提高
设计思路说明
1.总体思路
以英语探究式教学为指导思想，将教学内容和学生实际及热点话题相结合，按照新课标对教学的要求来设计本节课的教学。教学中以智慧教学手段为辅助教学手段，以任务型教学法为主要教学方法进行教学。
所设计的任务主要有三个：
一是基本课文阅读任务——运用有效阅读技巧，充分理解课文，输入信息、整合信息；
二是语言交际任务——运用所学语言进行现实交际，选择信息，输出信息；
三是创造性任务——创造一个节日，这个任务可延续到课外。
另外，通过课堂上的头脑风暴、个人阅读活动、猜图竞赛、双人活动和小组讨论等活动，激发学生学习兴趣和求知欲，开启学生思维之门，培养学生相互合作精神。让学生在真实的活动中，亲身体验、相互合作。所有活动的展开力求环环相扣，整节课生动流畅，从而实现本节课的各个教学目标。
本节课所用到的教学方法有：
1. 自主探究法：从探究中发现问题，分析问题，从而提高学生解决问题的能力。
2. 合作学习法：让学生在讨论交流中取长补短，培养学生的合作竞争意识。
3. 自主学习法：对于一些内容，同学们通过思考老师提出的问题、观看微课视频自主学习。使学生由“学会”变为“会学”，通过这些方法，孩子们提高了自主学习和独立思考的能力，学会了总结。
【创设情境】
为了与节日这样的话题内容相匹配，我特意为课件选择了鲜艳精美的图片，使课堂气氛瞬间活跃；而头脑风暴和讨论活动可以使学生的思维活跃，激发学生学习欲望和对阅读内容的期待。
【启发思考】
通过头脑风暴，通过和学生分享节日故事，鼓励学生对“我最喜欢的节日"进行思考，激发学生兴趣，为阅读做好充分准备。
教师可以通过各种方式启发学生不要拘泥现成答案，从多个角度思考问题，充分发挥思维的新颖性、创造性，只要合理、新鲜、有趣，或有其他任何独到见解，都给予鼓励。
【自主或小组探究】
这个环节是对整篇文章信息的归纳与梳理，进一步巩固学生对文章内容的把握，同时培养学生处理信息的能力，并为下一步讨论打下坚实的语言基础。
至此，学生可以说对于文章的内容已相当熟悉，这时教师应该提供给学生充分的思维和表达空间。相对于上课开始时热身部分谈论哪个是他们最喜欢的节日时，这时的学生表达欲望更强，更有话可说，内容更充实深刻。教师应充分把握。同时，让学生二人以对话形式谈论，可以使参与活动的学生面更广，交际更接近真实性。
1. 培养学生运用scanning阅读技巧的能力；
2. 通过浏览、检索、归纳，学生对文章内容进一步熟悉；
3. 激发学生深入理解课文的欲望，我们不应低估学生的能力。
4. detailed questions部分虽然也是对文章细节的把握，但着眼于整个篇章的阅读。
5. 根据上下文猜测词义以及用英文释义部分初步呈现重点词汇，引导学生学习用英文来解释英文。
【协作交流】
学生只有经过了认真的自主探究，积极思考后，才可能进入高质量的协作交流阶段。经过前几个环节，学生已经对文章有了深刻的理解，完成了信息的输入与理解。我设计了一个任务型活动，在我的指导下，学生以小组为单位，选定主题，明确分工，创设一个新的节日。我给出了部分提示，如，节日的时间、理由、活动等，降低了任务的难度。学生们对此环节表现出了极大的热情。（此活动可以延伸到课外或者作为课外作业完成）
用电脑呈现事先收集的节日图片，先呈现特征不明显的，再逐步呈现具有明显特征的图片，让学生竞猜。猜中之后还要对该节日进行简单介绍，才能得分。这个环节可以让课堂气氛达到高潮，既检查了对学生课文内容的理解情况，又迫使学生把刚学的语言用于实际交流。同时这个环节也对文章中出现的新词汇进行重点呈现。
【总结提高】
通过对这个慎对洋节问题的深入讨论可以让学生更深刻理解节日的文化内涵，理解尊重他国文化与保持民族文化的辨证关系，增强学生民族自豪感，培养国际视野。这个问题比较开放，可能会有涉及不同方面的很多不同看法，思维的火花因此而碰撞。但是教师在总结陈词的时候，应该有合适的立场，对学生做出正确的引导。
【课外作业】
课外作业是课堂学习的深化、补充、和延伸。上述第一项作业完成了对课文内容的复习，让学生学反思自己的学习行为与学习效果，让其在写作过程中得到体现。第二项作业旨在督促学生课后再次阅读（或朗读）课文，通过再次阅读，近一步理解课文内容并试着“读而质疑”。
教材分析
本单元的话题是世界各地的节日名称、由来及庆祝方式。通过对这个话题的讨论和学习，让学生在多样的东西方节日、文化中进行比较，并发现节日文化的共性、多样性和民族独特性，从而增进对多种文化节日的理解。
本节课的教学内容是本单元的阅读课文，由Pre-reading，Reading和Comprehending三部分组成。
本节课的教学内容有以下几个方面值得注意：
1. 学生对于节日这个话题比较熟悉，兴趣浓厚，近年来西方国家一些节日在学生这个年龄段也有一定的影响力，应充分加以利用。
2. 课文结构清晰，内容明朗，对于大部分学生来说，对于文章内容的理解并不存在困难，应充分挖掘文章背后的文化、人性内涵。因此，我根据学生认知特点，和话题及课文的特点，对教材内容作如下调整和补充：
（1）读前就本课话题“中外节日及其庆祝方式”做必要的准备和铺垫，鼓励学生分享自己的节日故事。
（2）增加事先从网络收集的关于节日的图片及文字材料。
（3）在学生自主阅读的基础上，将传统教学中的问答式问题形式，改为表格归纳。
（4）通过对热点话题“你是如何看待近年来人们对于传统节日有所忽略，而洋节渐入国门的现象”的讨论，使课堂更具时代感，同时加深学生对于拥有国际视野、文化尊重与理解能力和保持民族独特性之间辨证关系的理解。
（5）增加“创造一个你喜欢的节日”小组活动。
教学目标
【知识与能力目标】
1. Guide Ss to learn some new words and expression.
2. Enable the students to talk about Chinese festivals and customs in English and get to know some information about foreign festivals.
【过程与方法目标】
本课围绕Festivals and celebrations的话题展开教学活动。它适用于培养学生获取信息，整合信息和跨文化理解的能力，着重培养阅读能力，同时培养学生口头表达能力、创造性思维能力、国际视野和文化意识。
【情感态度价值观目标】
1. Enable the students to learn how to talk about Chinese festivals and customs.
2. Develop Ss’ sense of cooperative learning
教学重难点
1. How to talk about the Chinese festivals and social customs at festivals.
2. How to develop the reading ability.
3. How to develop the cross-cultural communitive ability.
课前准备
The facilities of snart teading、worksheet
教学过程
一、创设情境
Activities:
Brainstorm: Guess who “I” am according to my self-introduction and the pictures.
Related Festivals: Spring Festival
Singles?Day
Lantern Festival
Valentine’s Day
Tomb-sweeping Day
Christmas Day
二、启发思考
Activities:
Brainstorming: How many festivals do you know both in and out of China?
Activity 1：Introduce Chinese Festivals & Celebrations
New Year’s Day/ Children’s Day/ National Day/ Labour Day/ Teacher's Day/ International Women’s Day
Guess and say something about the festival according to the pictures.
Activity 2：Brainstorming: Foreign Festivals &Celebrations
Thanksgiving Day/ Easter Carnival/ Mother’s?Day/ Christmas/ Halloween/
Valentine’s?Day/ Fool’s?Day
Guess and say something about these festivals according to the pictures.
自主或小组探究
Activity 1: Discussion
1. What’s your favourite holiday? Why? Give your reasons.
2. What festivals or celebrations do you have in your city or town?
Activity 2: Oral Practice
Which part of a festival do you like best — the activities, the music, the sights, the food or the people who visit?
Tips: My favourite … is …
I like … best.
I prefer ….
I enjoy/like….
Activity 3: Discuss: Why do people like festivals?
Activity 4: Comparision
(1) Which is the greatest and the most important festival to Chinese people?
(2) Which is the greatest and the most important festival to Christian people in Western countries?
(3) Compare the festivals below. Both of them are quite popular around the world. Can you tell the similarities and differences between them by comparison?
Qiqiao Festival VS Valentine’s Day
Dragon Boat Festival VS Easter
Tomb-sweeping Day VS Halloween
Activity 5: Detail Reading Comprehension
(1) Fill in the following chart.
Kinds of Festivals
Names of Festivals
Countries
Festivals of the Dead
?
?
Festivals to Honour People
?
?
Harvest Festivals
?
?
Spring Festivals
?
?
(2) Finish the following tasks according to the text.
a. Festivals of the Dead
Answer the following questions
How do Japanese honour their ancestors?
What do people in Mexico do in memory of the dead?
What do people in Western countries do in memory of the dead?
Compare the festivals of the dead in Mexico, Japan and China. What things are similar and what things are different?
b. Festivals to Honour People
Task: Match the festivals with the proper people.
c. Harvest Festivals
Answer the question:
Compared with Thanksgiving festivals in Western countries, what different activities do China and Japan have in mid-autumn festivals?
d. Spring Festivals
Answer the following questions
How did you spend your Spring Festival this year?
What does Easter celebrate?
Do you know the symbols of Easter?
Do you know the date of Japan’s Cherry Blossom Festival?
四、协作交流
1. Based on the reading passage, what do most festivals seem to have in common? Talk with your partner and fill in the chart below.
Three common things
Reasons why they are important to people everywhere
1.
2.
?
3.
?
2. Discussion
Discuss in pairs which festivals you think are the most important and which are the most fun. Then fill in the chart below with your ideas.
?
Type of festival
Example of festival
Reasons for your choice
Most important
?
?
?
Most fun
?
?
?
五．总结提高
(1) Summary: Festivals ------ Holidays but not more than holidays.
(2) Fill in the blanks:
There are all kinds of festivals and ___________ around the world, which are held for different reasons. The_______ ________ were mainly held at three times a year. Some festivals are held to ______ the dead or satisfy the _________ in case they might return either to help or to ___ _____, while other festivals are held to honor famous people or the gods, such as _______ _____ ______ and Columbus Day.
Harvest and Thanksgiving festivals are happy events because the food is _________ for the winter and the ___________work is over. And the most _________ and important festivals are the ones that look forward to the end of winter and to the ______ of spring, such as the ______ New Year, at which people have a very good time.
Some Western countries have very exciting ________. Festivals let us enjoy ____.
(3) Translation
1. At that time _________________ (人们就会挨饿) if food was difficult to find, especially during the cold winter months.
2. For the Japanese festival Obon, ______ ______________________(人们要扫墓)and light incense ____________ (纪念) their ancestors.
3. At the Spring Festival in China, people eat dumplings, fish and meat and may ____ ___________________ (给孩子们压岁钱).
(4) Discussion
Group Work
Work in groups and create your own festival and then report it to the class.
Tips: Name of the festivals:
Date:
Meaning:
Why it is celebrated:
How it is celebrated:
Homework
1. Write a passage about your favourite Chinese festival in about 150 words.
2. Preview the reading: Festivals and Celebrations
教学反思
本节课采用探究式教学模式来启发学生发现问题，解决问题，让学生体验科学探究活动的过程和方法。根据本节课的内容和学生的认知水平，采取联系生活，创设情境，自主探究，合作探究，归纳总结的教学手段，并充分发挥智慧课堂辅助教学作用。力争做到“授之以渔”，而不是“授之以鱼”。
（1）这堂课通过热身、阅读、竞赛、思考和讨论四个主要教学环节，实了语言学习与应用、信息的输入与整合的有机结合，达到了培养学生语言能力，重点培养阅读能力的目的。
（2）这堂课合理利用信息化智慧教学手段，使课堂更为生动，语言材料更加鲜活，较多的教学环节得以顺利进行。
（3）这堂课充分考虑了学生的认知特点，合理引入现实问题，不拘泥于现成教学材料，而是进行适当整合，使学生对节日文化更为了解，文化素养得以提高，思维得到训练，
总之，我认为语言学习与应用不应局限于语言本身，而应从大处入手，视语言为交流的工具，思维与文化的载体，因为这才是语言的本质。同时语言课堂应充分利用话题优势，深入挖掘文章内涵，重视对学生思维的训练，教学要以人为本，以学生为本。
