Moon, Myth & Mooncakes
Grammar: Culture class
A Level 4 English lesson exploring culture.
What's in this lesson
A Level 4 (upper intermediate) ESL culture class on culture. The worksheet has a reading and discussion questions.
From the reading: Moon, Myth & Mooncakes
Every autumn, when the moon hangs at its fullest and brightest, hundreds of millions of people across China, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, and their diasporas worldwide step outside and look up. The Mid-Autumn Festival — held on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month — is one of the most widely observed cultural celebrations on Earth. It predates many of the world's great religions. Chinese records trace harvest moon rituals back over three thousand years, to the Zhou dynasty, when emperors offered sacrifices to the moon to ensure a good harvest. It began not as a party, but as a prayer.
Discussion questions
- Does your culture have a festival that celebrates nature or the seasons?
- Should modern cities dim their lights one night a year for the moon?
- Which matters more — a festival's ancient meaning or how people celebrate it today?
Moon, Myth & Mooncakes
Grammar: Culture class
What's in this lesson:
Full lesson plan with reading, grammar, vocabulary, and discussion.
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