Module 5 - How do I love thee assignment

        I am applying embodied thinking into teaching Chinese characters. Eastern culture is very different than Western, and Chinese ancient culture can be especially confusing, challenging and difficult to remember for the people who are born and grow up in the West. Thus, asking students to "act out" an ancient Chinese character is an effective way of learning the content and context from Chinese writing. It also helps the students have a deeper understanding of the Chinese characters' construction and root meanings. For example, the character 川 means big river in English. In order to help the students have a better and deeper understanding of the character, each student can be encouraged to act like a small river by using body movements. The three “small rivers” (students) can gather together and be a big river: 川. While the students are encouraged to use body movements to be a river, it will help them to FEEL the flowing texture of the Chinese character as well as the emotions of being a river. Here are some other examples of using embodied thinking tools to learn Chinese characters.

Embodied thinking activity No.1: Chinese character 山- mountain

Embodied thinking activity No.2: Chinese character 人- people/human

Embodied thinking activity No.3: Chinese character 飞- to fly

Embodied thinking activity No.4: Chinese character 木- tree/wood

Embodied thinking activity No.5: Chinese character 大- big/huge

Embodied thinking activity No.6: Chinese characters transition from 木 to 大- tree/wood to big/huge

Thank you and enjoy! Xin Wang :)