Year 9 Mandarin Program
Topic 4: Weather and Tourism
Indicative time: 4-5 weeks
Unit description: Learning in this unit focuses on developing the knowledge, understanding and skills that will enable students to inquire
about and to describe the weather, to indicate future possibilities and length of time, and to talk about seasons in Chinese cities.
Students acquire vocabulary expressions and language structures within this context. Student activities relate to the learn about and
learn to statements and form the basis of a unit of work. Students listen, read and respond to texts and learn to incorporate modelled
linguistic structures in order to produce a series of linked sentences. Using the Interactive Whiteboard, students practice higher order
thinking when electronic interactive activities are incorporated in lessons.
Outcomes A student:
Language functions and structures
5.UL.1:
A student selects, summarises and analyses
information and ideas in spoken texts and responds appropriately.
 What’s the weather today?
今天天气怎么样？
5.UL.2:
A student selects, summarises and analyses
 What will be the weather tomorrow?
information and ideas in written texts and responds appropriately.
明天天气怎么样？
5.UL.3:
A student uses Chinese by incorporating diverse
 Beijing’s weather
structures and features to express own ideas.
北京天气
5.UL.4:
A student experiments with linguistic patterns and
 Weather report
structures in Chinese to convey information and to express own
天气报告
ideas.
 It’s raining again
5.MLC.1:
A student demonstrates understanding of the
又下雨了！
nature of languages as systems by describing and comparing
 To indicate length of time, using ‘dao’
linguistic features across languages.
北京的春天是三月到五月。
5.MLC.2:
A student uses linguistic resources to support the
 Seasons in Chinese cities: ‘It’s warm in Shanghai’s spring’.
study and production of texts in Chinese.
中国城市季节：‘上海的春天很暖和‘。
5.MBC.1:
A student explores the interdependence of language
 Weather in various cities: ‘Sydney is raining today’.
and culture in a range of texts and contexts.
悉尼今天下雨。
5.MBC.2:
A student identifies and explains aspects of the
culture of Chinese-speaking communities in texts.
‘This programme has been produced by the Languages staff at Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney with funds provided by the
Australian Government through the Languages Programme’.
Resources
Ni Hao II Unit 9, CD ROMs, ZGT 1,2 Pg 55, 68, 71, LOTE Stage B
Unit 10, CME II Unit 2, Tai Hao Le, Zou Ba, worksheets, wordcards, China & world map, IWB (Interactive Whiteboard).
Assessment for learning activity – Listening activities, card
matching games, weather report, map reading, presentation
‘This programme has been produced by the Languages staff at Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney with funds provided by the
Australian Government through the Languages Programme’.
Students learn
about:



Students learn to:
ways of
identifying
relevant details
when listening
for specific
information

linguistic
choices made in
texts to
influence
listeners.

ways of
identifying
relevant details
when reading
for specific
information

Integrated teaching, learning and
Assessment activities
make judgements
about the
relevance of
detail in
understanding
text, eg
extracting ideas
and issues
referred to in
text
Teacher
 Outlines the communication goals
of the unit in English
 Presents new vocabulary using
visuals of weather charts
 Provides models of language
structures
analyse the impact
of linguistic
choices made to
achieve
communication
goals, eg to inform
or entertain.
Students
 Mimic pronunciation of
description vocabulary
 Mimic models of language
structures
 Participate in pair work activities
e.g. draw and describe, describe
pictures of weather patterns
make judgements
about the
relevance of
detail in analysing
text, eg
extracting ideas
and issues



Evidence of
Learning
Feedback
Correct
pronunciation of new
vocabulary
Accurate
identification of
specific details
Teacher
observation
Teacher’s oral
feedback on
expression
Complete exercises on adjectives
and agreements
Listen to descriptions of weather
and complete table
Read descriptions of Chinese
cities and complete table
‘This programme has been produced by the Languages staff at Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney with funds provided by the
Australian Government through the Languages Programme’.
referred to in
text




the application
of known
linguistic
structures in
new contexts

reconstruct
information from
a range of sources
eg summarising
information
Teacher

Presents new vocabulary using
visuals cities in the world

Provides models of language
structures
collaborative
and inclusive
ways to achieve
communication
goals

interact with
reference to
purpose, audience
or participants, eg
making
arrangements
Students

Mimic pronunciation of personality
vocabulary

Mimic models of language
structures
ways in which
texts are
formatted for
particular
purposes and
effects

resources
available to
enhance or

explore the way
text content is
developed and how
ideas and
information are
sequenced, eg
headings,
paragraphing,
introductory
sentences, topic
shifts
develop skills in
accessing
appropriate



Write an email to your penfriend
including a weather description
provides models of language
structures
Complete a gap-fill exercise on
adjectives
Read descriptions of seasons and
complete the table
Correct
pronunciation of new
vocabulary
Teacher
observation
and oral
feedback on
expression,
pronunciation
and intonation
Teacher
 Presents new vocabulary using the
world map book
‘This programme has been produced by the Languages staff at Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney with funds provided by the
Australian Government through the Languages Programme’.
promote
independent
learning


additional
information to
expand and
enhance
communication, eg
dictionaries, word
lists, grammar
references,
authentic texts in
print and online
ways to analyse
and explain
features of
language in use,
and their
relationship to
the system

the use of
technology to
express ideas
and create own
text.

Students
 Complete a table of countries and
cities
 Practise the structures by
completing exercises such as
linking words together
 Mimic the different usage of the
term ‘dao 到’
analyse aspects of
language in order
to identify and
explain structures
and patterns in
text
Assessment for learning activity
Speaking (peer assessment)
access websites
to transfer and
manipulate data to
produce a specific
text, eg
multimedia
Students

Mimic pronunciation of terms for
weather report

Read the weather descriptions
Textbook p. 105

Listen to and read the dialogue
Students
 Present weather in different
cities with the use of flashcards
 Read out Pin-yins for bingo
game
 Present and drill the term ‘dao’
and give examples of how it is
used
Correct
pronunciation of new
vocabulary
Correct responses
to sample questions
Production of the
dialogue
demonstrates
students’ ability to
use the language
presented and apply
it to the
construction of
their own text
Teacher
observation
and oral
feedback
Students’
sharing of
responses,
teacher’s oral
‘This programme has been produced by the Languages staff at Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney with funds provided by the
Australian Government through the Languages Programme’.
presentation.




variations of
the message
according to
context,
purpose and
audience.

the importance
of being aware
of the choices
that are made
to convey
precise meaning

the effect of
linguistic
choices on
intended

about descriptions
Read a description of Beijing’s
weather and match the flashcards
to the description
reflect on formal
and informal
language, and
when and where it
is used.

evaluate the
accuracy and
appropriateness
of structures
when constructing
and editing text
Students

Give an oral description of their
home countries’ weather

Revise cities and identify features
of structures to indicate length of
time and extreme condition

Survey the class to find out the
weather patterns of their home
towns and record the information
in a table
make linguistic
choices to
enhance their
intended meaning,


feedback on
details in the
text
Listen to three weather reports
p.107 from textbook and respond
to a list of questions and
comprehension questions
Listen to the Pin-yins and mimic
the sounds of the New words and
expression p.111 textbook
Make up weather reports like the
ones that they have researched on
the internet and students work in
pairs to prepare for a
Teacher
observation
and oral
feedback on
specific
patterns and
rules
Discussion of class
findings
Oral responses and
Teacher’s
‘This programme has been produced by the Languages staff at Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney with funds provided by the
Australian Government through the Languages Programme’.
meaning
drawing on a range
of linguistic
structures
presentation

the
contributions
of diverse
cultures to the
local and global
community

reflect on
attitudes and
practices that
differ from their
own
Teacher

Talk about climate in China

Explain Tourism situation in
Chinese cities

cultural
attitudes that
add meaning to
texts

identify and
discuss cultural
influences in
specific texts, eg
newspapers,
magazines,
advertisements,
video clips, films
Students

Mimic pronunciation of cities’
names

Participate in pair work activities
e.g. battleships to internalise new
vocab

Play language computer games on
weather

Research the climate and weather
pattern of famous Chinese cities
and write a report about it



Design an ideal weather pattern
using dictionaries and internet
resources
Listen to descriptions of weather
and make future appointments
Using the given information to
complete true or false and
matching activities
level of participation
in activities will
demonstrate how
well students
recognise and use
the vocabulary
written
feedback on
structure,
format and
vocabulary,
manipulation
and known
structures and
sequencing of
ideas
Oral responses and
level of participation
in activities will
demonstrate how
well students
recognise and use
the vocabulary
Correct responses
to listening
activities
‘This programme has been produced by the Languages staff at Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney with funds provided by the
Australian Government through the Languages Programme’.



ways in which
texts are
constructed
for specific
purposes

the use of
multimedia for
communicative
purposes.

the
manipulation of
structure,
format and
choice of
vocabulary to
achieve
specific
purposes

identify purpose,
eg to inform,
persuade or
entertain, and
distinguish
between main
points and
specific and
supporting details
in text
Students

Complete exercises such as fill in
the gap with the correct usage of
‘dao’ and ‘si’

Write a short article using
weather terms , ‘dao’, and ‘si’

Respond to basic comprehension
questions about weather in English
e.g What is the weather like in
Beijing’s Spring?
participate in
discussions with
speakers of
Chinese, eg by
using email,
discussion forums
on the internet.

select and
manipulate
particular
structures to
achieve specific
communication
goals,



Correct responses
to written exercises
Listen to dialogues on a CD and
identify the cities being discussed
Virtual Reality game on the Web
to conduct tour to Beijing with
the whole class
Make up a grid with nine squares
with letters of their own choice,
students cross out the letters as
the teacher calls them out. The
winning student calls out ‘Binguo’!
Mimic new expressions from the
situation and present the weather
report situation as a role-play in
groups
‘This programme has been produced by the Languages staff at Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney with funds provided by the
Australian Government through the Languages Programme’.



the need for
consistent
application of
grammatical
rules and
conventions to
achieve
effective
communication

ways to
support and
sustain
communication
in extended
text

meaning
conveyed in
words

use metalanguage
to explain linguistic
structures and
textual features
encountered in
text
Assessment for learning activity –
Listening and Responding
describe features
of text structure,
textual coherence
and cohesion in
sequencing ideas,
eg conjunctions,
ellipsis
Assessment for learning activity –
Reading and Responding
analyse ways in
which words are
constructed, eg
how particles are
used for
grammatical effect
Assessment for learning activity –
Writing
Students
listen to descriptions and complete a
table in English
Students

read a description of 3 weather
patterns and complete a table in
English
Students

write descriptions of weather of
two famous cities
‘This programme has been produced by the Languages staff at Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney with funds provided by the
Australian Government through the Languages Programme’.
Evaluation
‘This programme has been produced by the Languages staff at Presbyterian Ladies College, Sydney with funds provided by the
Australian Government through the Languages Programme’.