Culture, Community, and the Classroom: A Beekeeper’s Journey

By bringing in a guest with an exciting tradition–beekeeping–and allowing students to use English to engage fully with him, this foreign language teacher provided a rich tapestry of experiences and new knowledge that gave students details they would be interested in translating as they wrote a story in Chinese. The teacher prepared students well to listen carefully and to interview the guest. Combining an agricultural tradition, interviewing, and collaboratively writing a story in Chinese offers an ingenious model.
Class Subjects

Themes

Research Topics

Supplies
Graphic organizers, Crackers, Honey (from Scott’s farm), Artist Statement and Artist Portrait, See-Think-Wonder graphic-organizer, Interview worksheet
Downloads

 

Acknowledgements

A Culture, Community, and the Classroom Lesson by teacher Ping Huang.

This CCC project was supported in part by the New York State Council on the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and Individual Donors to Local Learning.

TITLE: A Beekeeper’s Journey

AUTHOR AND TEACHER: Ping Huang
Ping Huang is a 9th grade Chinese Language teacher at HFM BOCES PTECH in Johnstown, NY. 

ARTIST COLLABORATOR: Scott Hart, Beekeeper

LENGTH: Two class periods of 40 minutes

Find the complete lesson plans in the sidebar under “Downloads.”

NEW YORK STANDARD(S) ADDRESSED:

Foreign Language Standards:

Communication- Learners communicate effectively in the target language in order to function in a variety of contexts and for multiple purposes.

New York State ELA Speaking and Listening Standards:

9-10SL1:  Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with diverse partners on complex topics, texts, and issues; express ideas clearly and persuasively, and build on those of others.