DreamcatchersThe Los ALAmos NATioNAL BANk PoPejoy hALL schooLTime series Teaching guiDe

Schooltime SerieSAlways new worlds to explore.

FridAy, JAnuAry 15th, 2016 • GrAdeS: 2 - 12

dreamcatchers teaching Guides align with the common core State Standards and new mexico State learning Standards.

the los Alamos national Bank

the

Pekingacrobats

The Peking Acrobats Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 2

More people live in china than in any other nation in the world. Yet their lives and culture seem very foreign to many americans. even the way we talk about china suggests a sense of vast separation—china and other countries in eastern asia are referred to as the “east,” whereas the United states and europe are the opposite: the “West.” china, a nation of ever-increasing influence in the world arena, offers much to discover. It is one of the few nations in the world today that traces its roots back to the earliest stages of world civilization more than 5,000 years ago. over this storied history, china developed a distinct culture and appreciation of art and beauty, which is witnessed in its performing arts through costumes, movements, music, and stories.

the ability to perform the astounding is rooted in centuries of chinese history and folk art. records of acrobatic acts can be found as early as the ch’in Dynasty (221 b.c. - 207 b.c.) and chinese acrobats through the ages have continued to perfect what has become an evolving folk art form. tradition demands that each generation of acrobats add its own improvements and embellishments. because of the unusual and difficult nature of the feats involved, high honor is conferred upon those skilled

enough to become acrobats. an acrobat can be considered the chinese equivalent of an american opera star. It is telling that the chinese acrobatic tradition just gets stronger due to the continued innovation of the artists and the endless enthusiasm from their adoring public.

a performance by the Peking

acrobats®, therefore, brings

with it the opportunity to

view the epitome of a rich

and ancient folk art tradition,

highlighted by today’s

technology, melding the ancient

and traditional with the modern

wonders of the 21st century.

introductionhe who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance; one cannot fly into flying.”

- FrIeDrIch NIetzsche‘‘

The Peking Acrobats Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 3

history of the chinese government the earliest and longest enduring system of government in china was the Dynasty, beginning around 2070 b.c.e. During this period, an emperor ruled until he died or passed the throne on to his first-born son, nephew, or grandson. as a result of political upheaval in 1911, led by revolutionaries (the most famous of which is sun Yat-sen), the Dynastic government finally ended. Years of war and civil conflict followed and, in 1949, the communist Party of china (under the leadership of Mao zedong) took control of china’s mainland, and it became the People’s republic of china. communism is a form of society where all businesses, property, foods, goods, and services are owned and operated by the government. today, although private enterprise does exist and is flourishing in china in many areas of endeavor and industry, most chinese citizens are still employed (either directly or indirectly) by the chinese government. they receive wages, housing, health care and an education as compensation for their work. In the early part of the 20th century, the city of Peking’s name was changed to beijing (pron. bay-JING) because, as the story goes, foreigners who visited the city kept mispronouncing the word Peking (pēˇKING)!

For many, the chinese government

takes over in the education of the nation where the family leaves off. the chinese government still runs most schools, from kindergarten to college. school begins for children at age 6. after five years of chinese language, arithmetic, physical education, music, art, natural science, and political doctrine, chinese students enter middle school. here, students take classes in politics, chinese language, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, foreign languages, history, geography, basic agriculture, physical education, music, and art. they study there for an additional six years. Most chinese students do not continue their studies after middle school, going to work instead in a factory, on a farm, in the military, or other form of government service for the rest of their lives.

Vocabulary (Title)Audition: a trial performance, as by an actor, dancer, or musician, to demonstrate suitability or skill

Beijing: the current name of the capital of china — previously known as Peking

capitalism: an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned

character: what we call each symbol in the written expression of the chinese language

communism: an economic theory or system of the ownership of all property by the community as a whole

contortionist: a performer who is very flexible and can bend his or her body into different shapes

dynasty: a succession of rulers who belong to the same family; also, the period during which a certain family reigns

Kung-Fu: movement that can be used in combat or dance; or any individual accomplishment or skill cultivated through long and hard work

myth: a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation

Pagoda: a tiered tower with multiple eaves or levels

Pantomime: a drama played in actions and gestures sometimes to the accompaniment of words sung by chorus or music

troupe: a company or group of touring actors, singers, dancers, and other performers

Water meteor: swinging glass bowls that move like meteors in the sky

Standards addressed By attending the Performance

nMccSSenglish language Arts: Speaking and listening (ccss.eLa-Literacy.sL)

comprehension and collaboration

new Mexico content Standards: Social Studies: history & Geography content standard I, II

Fine Arts: theatre, music & dance

content standard III, V

The Peking Acrobats Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 4

Fun china Facts for Studentsofficial name: the People’s republic of china

capital: beijing (pronounced bay-JING)

china has the fourth largest landmass in the world.

For much of its 5,000-year history, china was ruled by generations of families, or dynasties.

china has 56 ethnic groups, terrain that varies from mountainous to desert, climate that ranges from tropical to subarctic, and lifestyles that range from rural to metropolitan.

the written chinese language features more than 10,000 characters.

the chinese invented firecrackers and gunpowder.

to chinese people, cranes symbolize longevity and wisdom; turtles symbolize long life and happiness.

cycling acrobatics were imported to china in the nineteenth century, but they quickly made it a specialty of their

own. they are performed on stationary bicycles (with balancing acts performed by one or several acrobats) or on moving bicycles and unicycles. Look for the bicycle “Peacock” at the end of the show.

tight wire or slack wire both evolved from traditional rope dancing, which appeared in china during the han Dynasty (206 bce-220 ce) more than 2,000 years ago.

hoop diving is another staple of chinese acrobatics. It also appeared during the han Dynasty, and was known originally as “swallow Play” because the performers were supposed to imitate the movements of swallows (a type of bird) as they jumped through narrow rings piled upon one another. the chinese now call it “Dashing through Narrows”.

the 2008 summer olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX olympiad, were celebrated from august 8, 2008 to august 24, 2008 and were hosted for the first time in history by beijing, china.

chinese Proverbsa book holds a house of gold.

Distant water won’t help to put out a fire close at hand.

Do not want others to know what you have done? better not have done it anyways.

even a hare will bite when it is cornered.

a fall into a ditch makes you wiser.

how can you put out a fire set on a cart-load of firewood with only a cup of water?

If you do not study hard when young you’ll end up bewailing your failures as you grow up.

a jade stone is useless before it is processed; a man is good-for-nothing until he is educated.

Mend the pen only after the sheep are all gone.

of all the stratagems, to know when to quit is the best.

one cannot refuse to eat just because there is a chance of being choked.

only when all contribute their firewood can they build up a strong fire.

a smile will gain you ten more years of life.

there are always ears on the other side of the wall.

The Peking Acrobats Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 5

objectives

materials • chinese Proverbs (pg. 4)

• Dichos (pg. 7)

• colored Pencils

• Drawing Paper

Procedure

1. Discuss what a proverb is and why different cultures might use them.

2. Provide students with this or another list of chinese proverbs. Discuss what each of the proverbs might mean. ask the students for their interpretations.

3. students choose a proverb and create an illustration of their interpretation of that proverb. Include the proverb on the illustration.

4. students present their illustrations to the class.

extensions/modifications

Assessment

students will:

• explore the concept of proverbs.

• Interpret and illustrate chinese proverbs.

• For a different effect, use watercolor paper and paints for the illustrations.

• explore proverbs from other cultures.

• how are they similar to one another?

• students create their own proverbs.

• Illustrations

• teacher observation

illustrating chinese ProverbsLesson 1

grades: 2-12

students will read various chinese proverbs, learn to interpret them, then choose one to illustrate.

nMccSS:english language Arts: reading Standards for literature (ccss.eLa-Literacy.rL) craft and structure Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Speaking and listening (ccss.eLa-Literacy.sL)comprehension and collaboration language: (ccss.eLa-Literacy.L) Knowledge of Language Vocabulary acquisition and Use

new Mexico content Standards:Social Studies: history content standard I

The Peking Acrobats Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 6

objectives

materials internet resources: chinese inventions, more chinese inventions

other print resources from the library or web

• Partial list of inventions credited to the chinese (i.e. compass, decimals, gunpowder, kites, matches, paper, paper money, parachute, pasta, printing, seismograph, silk, wheelbarrow, etc.)

• Poster board

• Invention checklist (pg. 8)

• students arranged in pairs

Procedure 1. Discuss chinese inventions and how they have generally impacted or influenced society. What might the world be like if explorers did not have a compass? What would farmers do without a wheelbarrow, etc.?

2. assign student pairs an invention and distribute the Invention checklist. explain that they will need to collect the information listed on the checklist.

3. allow time for students to collect the information.

4. once the information is

collected, students create a

learning poster about their

assigned invention.

5. Posters are presented to the

class.

extensions/modifications

Assessment

students will:

• examine chinese inventions and their impact.

• collaborate to research and present a chinese invention to their peers.

• students work in small guided groups, with each group taking an invention. the groups then present their group posters to the rest of the class.

• create a PowerPoint presentation instead of learning posters.

• students dress as the inventor and present a model or other representation of the invention.

• Invention checklist

• teacher evaluation

how inventive!Lesson 2

grades: 2-12

students will study chinese inventions and their impact on society resulting in a learning poster.

nMccSS:english language Arts: reading Standards for literature (ccss.eLa-Literacy.rL) Key Ideas and Details Integration of Knowledge and Ideas

Speaking and listening (ccss.eLa-Literacy.sL)comprehension and collaboration Presentation of Knowledge and Ideas

new Mexico content Standards:Social Studies: history & Geography content standard I, II

The Peking Acrobats Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 7

Dichos

The Peking Acrobats Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 8

How Inventive!CheCklist

NAmes: dAte:

INVeNtIoN:

does your learning poster include:

The name of the invention.

Where in China it was developed and who developed it?

Approximate date this item was invented.

What it was used for?

How its use impacted society?

How it is used today?

Also, have you considered:

Illustrations (maps, people, pictures of the invention)?

Neatly worded text?

Comments:

P O P E J O Y S C H O O L T I M E S E R I E S P R E S E N T S The Peking Acrobats14.

how inventive!

The Peking Acrobats Teaching guide Dreamcatchers 9

Lessons & activitiesGreat Wall of china - lesson Plan

chinese calligraphy and ink Painting

one Arm handstand lesson

Outreach activitiesthe chinese cultural center has been a part of albuquerque for over 25 years. the center is New Mexico’s home for traditional chinese Martial arts (including tai chi and Kung Fu for children) and hosts classes to learn Mandarin chinese, both traditional and simplified. While at the center, you can also browse through their store for jewelry, feng shui items, traditional chinese clothing, or martial arts supplies.

Resources BooKS

banister, Judith. China’s Changing Population. (stanford University Press, 1987).

birch, cyril and Keene, Donald, eds., anthology of chinese Literature, 2

Volumes. (Grove, 1965, 1972).

Fraser, s.e. China: Population, Education and People. (La trobe University Press, 1984).

Qifeng, Fu. Chinese Acrobatics through the Ages. (Foreign Languages Press, 1985).

Qin, zhong. Everyday’s Chinese. (china books, 1985).

turner-Gottschang, K., and reed, L.a. China Bound. (National academy Press, 1987).

WeBSiteS

the Significance of dragons in chinese culture

An introduction to chinese history

A history of china by Period

history of chinese dance/Acrobatics Includes beautiful video examples

Information on the 2008 Beijing olympics

about the companyacting as diplomats of their artistic culture since 1958, this elite group

of gymnasts, jugglers, cyclists, and tumblers have toured the world over, transforming the 2,000-year-old art of acrobatics into a kaleidoscope of entertainment and wonder. this outstanding troupe remains the largest of its kind and is accompanied by a live chinese orchestra. the Peking Acrobats have been featured on numerous television shows, including Nickelodeon’s “Unfabulous,” “the ellen DeGeneres show,” “the Wayne brady show,” and abc’s “Wide World of sports.” the troupe set the world record for the human chair stack on Fox’s “Guinness book” tV show, precariously balancing six people atop six chairs 21 feet up in the air without safety lines in a vibrant display of bravery and dexterity.

Bonus explorations

Questions to engage & connectAfter seeing the show, ask your students to answer these questions:

• Before seeing this show, i didn’t know that…

• This show made me think about…

• The part that i enjoyed most was…

• overall, the show made me feel…

• The elements of china’s culture, history or everyday life i observed in the performance were…

• The musical accompaniment to the acts was…

• The qualities that are unique to chinese acrobatics are…

• something i want to share with my family about the

experience is…

•

about the Schooltime Seriesthe schooltime series presents national and interna-

tional touring companies and performers that you will not see anywhere else in or around albuquerque.these companies are selected with youth and family

audiences in mind, from titles and materials that reflect the cultural diversity of our global community. these professional performing artists create educational experiences designed to encourage literacy, creativity, communication and imagination.Join our community and sign up for our monthly

newsletter at: facebook.com/schooltimeseries. click on “Join My List,” or send an e-mail with your name and e-mail address to schooltime@popejoypresents.com requesting to be added to the newsletter list. You can contact us at schooltime@popejoypresents.

com or visit us at www.schooltimeseries.com.

etiquettethe performing arts—theater, music and dance—are all

collaborative endeavors. they require the cooperation of many skilled people: playwrights, directors, perform-ers, designers, technicians, lyricists, choreographers, musicians, and the audience. Live performances can transport you to other times and places but to do so, they require you, the audience, to listen, observe, dis-cover, and imagine. the inside of a theatre is called a “house.” there are

rules inside the house to make the experience smooth and enjoyable for everyone. a summary poster oftheatre etiquetteis available on our website. Please post it and discuss it with your students and chaper-ones before attending this show.

house PoliciesPlease visit our website for detailed information about

house Policies. this includes our guidelines on safety, special needs, food and drink, backpacks, cell phones, photography, recordings, and more.

credits

selected Dreamcatchers teaching Guide materials

provided by the Peking Acrobats,the chinese Acrobatic theater, and other resources noted within this guide.

Popejoy hall, New Mexico’s premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment.

Popejoy hall’s Mission: To provide access to the performing arts for all new Mexicans.

Dreamcatchers are teaching guides produced by the education Department of Popejoy hall, New Mexico’s premier nonprofit venue for the performing arts and entertainment located in albuquerque, New Mexico.

the Los alamos National bank Popejoy schooltime series is a program of the University

of New Mexico.

The schooltime series is a proud member of

The LanB Popejoy Schooltime Series is supported in part by awards from:

the eugene and Marion castiglia Popejoy children’s

schooltime endowment

the Popejoy schooltime education endowment

Schooltime SerieS

the los Alamos national Bank