Lesson 4.2 米饭 面条: Rice, Noodles and Chopsticks

Steps

1. Warm-up

   Do this together: What did you eat for breakfast? Lunch? In China many families eat rice or noodles every day. Have you ever eaten with chopsticks?

2. Teach the new idea

   Read aloud: The story. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” In China, rice is like daily bread. When we eat, we thank God, who gives us our food.

   Read aloud: How Chinese works. Remember 牛niú (cow) from Kindergarten? 牛niú奶nǎi is cow-milk! 饺jiǎo子zi are dumplings, often made by the whole family together at the New Year.

   Read aloud: Say it out loud. mǐfàn (mee-FAHN), miàntiáo (myen-TYOW), jiǎozi (JYOW-dzuh), shuǐ (shway), niúnǎi (nyoh-NYE). 我要米饭!

3. New words

   Do this: Say each word clearly; your child says it back twice. Point to a picture or the real thing when you can.

   • 米饭 (mǐfàn) [mee-FAHN]: cooked rice
   • 面条 (miàntiáo) [myen-TYOW]: noodles
   • 饺子 (jiǎozi) [JYOW-dzuh]: dumplings
   • 水 (shuǐ) [shway (dipping)]: water
   • 牛奶 (niúnǎi) [nyoh-NYE]: milk
   • 筷子 (kuàizi) [KWAI-dzuh]: chopsticks
4. Show how

   Show: You are thirsty. Ask for water.

   Say this: “I want = 我要.”

   Say this: “Water = 水.”

   Answer: 我要水 (wǒ yào shuǐ).

   Show: What does 牛奶 mean, word by word?

   Say this: “牛 = cow.”

   Say this: “奶 = milk.”

   Answer: Cow milk: milk.

5. Practice together

   Do this: Ask out loud. Let your child try first; help only after a real try.

   Ask: Say rice in Chinese.

   Listen for: 米饭 (mǐfàn).

   Ask: Say water in Chinese.

   Listen for: 水 (shuǐ).

   Ask: What are 饺子?

   Listen for: Dumplings.

   1 more on the lesson page.

6. Project: Chopstick challenge

   Read aloud: Practice using chopsticks with cotton balls or pom-poms.

   Steps:

   1. Hold the bottom chopstick still, like a pencil resting in your hand.
   2. Move only the top chopstick with your thumb and two fingers.
   3. Move the cotton balls from one bowl to the other.
   4. Count them in Chinese as you go.

   Tips for you:

   • Training chopsticks joined at the top make it easier.

   Done when your child can say:

   • I moved five cotton balls with chopsticks.
   • I counted them in Chinese.
7. Sketchbook

   Do this: Your child picks one or more; you write the date.

   1. Draw a bowl of rice and chopsticks. Write 米饭 and 筷子.
8. From history

   Read aloud: Chopsticks have been used in China for more than three thousand years. The word 筷子 sounds like “quick sons,” and chopsticks are a common wedding gift.

9. Watch for
   • Saying 水 shuǐ like “sway.” It is shway, with sh.
   • Sticking chopsticks straight up in a bowl of rice. In China that is thought rude; lay them across the bowl.
10. Game: Waiter, waiter

    The child is the waiter with a notepad. Family members order in Chinese (我要面条!) and the waiter brings toy or paper food.

11. Narration

    Say this: “Tell me what you learned today.”

    Listen for: Say 米饭 (rice), 面条 (noodles), 饺子 (dumplings), 水 (water) and 牛奶 (milk).; Try holding chopsticks: 筷子.; Give thanks before a meal.

12. Scripture

    Give us this day our daily bread.

    In the Chinese Bible (Chinese Union Version), this verse reads: <span class="zh-block" lang="zh-Hans">我们日用的饮食，今日赐给我们。</span><span class="py-line">Wǒ men rì yòng de yǐn shí, jīn rì cì gěi wǒ men.</span> Jesus taught us to ask God for our daily food. Thank Him before every meal.

Spread over the week

3 sessions of 15–20 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.

1. Session 1. Warm-up, then read and teach the new idea and the new words. Show how.
2. Session 2. Practice together, then start the project. Finish the project, then the sketchbook.
3. Session 3. Narration, the game and the Scripture.