Emergency Lesson Plans

As I have been called for jury duty during the first week of school, I have to come up with lesson plans that will work for new, non-Chinese speaking students.

Since they don't know Chinese, and there's no one there to teach them, what curriculum should I plan? Ah..culture. So I spent some time searching for some ideas.  Here are some that I am going to use, both as lessons during this first week of school when I am (or will be) gone, and as emergency lesson plans in the future:

1. Trivia about China: Make this a research-type of worksheet. Students can also work together as a group to find answers. I require that they cite their sources, but it's up to you.
2. Cultural Comparison Vinn Diagram: In small groups, have the kids brainstorm and list as many cultural differences as possible. It doesn't have to be just Chinese v. American. It can be many other cultures, as long as you have students from other backgrounds.  Then, work with the class as a whole, and make a master list. Then maybe they can debate if they don't all agree on some of them.  Discuss if they like or dislike some of the cultural differences and why.  Maybe talk about why these differences exist.
3. Stereotypes: Have the kids list stereotypes about the Chinese that they have heard or experienced. Talk about why these stereotypes exist, how they impact the society, whether these stereotypes constitute prejudice, and if the themselves or their friends/family have experienced being stereotyped and how it made them feel. Then have the kids write an essay.

Now, for levels 2, 3 & 3H, since I will be starting the penpal program with Taiwan again, I can have the students interview each other about their summer for speaking/listening/writing practice, and have them write about their summer and how they feel about starting school.  I can also have them do an intro letter, since this might be a new group of kids.

As for emergency lessons, I can have reading materials ready and the kids can do some of these activities with the passage:

1. Answer questions: Who, What, When, Where
2. Highlight: Noun, Verb, Adj, Adv
3. Reading Comprehension questions
4. Practice reading out loud
5. Write a summary
6. Make vocab cards
7. Complete Adopt-a-word worksheets

Some other activities that can be used as emergency lessons:

1. Pair listening/write or draw activities: One speaks, the other write (fill in the blank, write down words they know) or draw (location, placement)
2. Make flash cards
3. Creative writing, storytelling, collaborative writing with given words & grammar structure
4. Q&A activities (Family, activities, food, time, routine): 
1. Yes/No
2. Like/Dislike
3. Which one
4. Why/Explain

I think I'll start by preparing some reading passages, since I would like the kids to read more.