WALK IN THE CLOUDS
Урок английского языка в 9-м классе с использованием Google Maps
Технология урока: проект
Цели: развитие монологической речи учащихся, формирование социокультурной компетенции.
Задачи урока:
Образовательные: расширить кругозор по теме; реализовать межпредметные связи (история, биология, информатика).
Познавательные: развитие социокультурной компетенции; активизация лексики и лексико-грамматических структур в монологической речи; развитие навыков работы с Google Maps и интернет-источниками по теме.
Воспитательные: воспитывать толерантность, уважительное отношение к другим культурам; воспитывать умение внимательно слушать и слышать, уважать другое мнение.
Развивающие: развивать умение работать в группе (также и во время подготовительной стадии проекта); развивать навыки информационно-поисковой работы.
Presenter: Good morning everybody! It’s great to see you here. Would you like to have a walk in the clouds? Impossible? But not in our programme! Today our correspondent in Washington D. C. is going to invite you to the Cherry Blossom festival. The gift of friendship from Japan to the U. S. nearly a century ago is in full bloom in Washington D. C. This time each year, thousands of cherry trees display white and pink flowers throughout the city, and prominently around the Tidal Basin near the Washington Monument and next to the Jefferson and Roosevelt Memorials. The puffy white blossoms of the Yoshino cherry trees abound, creating a cloud-like effect. Now I give the floor to our correspondent in Washington. Welcome Jim Stevenson.
LISTENING TASK
The Spring season in Washington is highlighted by the blooming of cherry trees and a festival that runs for 16 days.
“The Cherry Blossom Festival is the (U. S. National) Park Service’s biggest event over the course of the year. The single biggest event is the Fourth of July. But the biggest (overall) event is the Cherry Blossom Festival,” said Steven Hanneker of the National Park Service, who greets visitors and tells them about the trees. In 1912, Japan sent the first small group of trees to Washington as a gift. Those trees turned out to be diseased, and President William Taft reluctantly ordered them to be burned. A second shipment arrived.
“Those trees were good enough to pass inspection of the Department of Agriculture. They started planting them in 1912. This spot right here marks where the first two were planted. Mrs. Taft planted the first one,” he said.
Former U. S. Ambassador John Malott heads the Japan-America Society. He marvels how the area was transformed into one of the most recognizable images of Washington and the United States. “This is where it all started. There was nothing but the water. Mrs. Taft and the wife of the Japanese Ambassador came down and they planted two trees. And look what it has become today. So just from those two trees it was a great act of faith and it created one of the most famous scenes in the country,” he said.
Ambassador Malott says many trees from the first planting remain. “There are still 100 trees there that are from the original group in 1912. So that is a tribute to the Park Service which has taken such good care of the trees over the years. You can sort of tell which are the originals because they are kind of big and gnarly. If they bloom, they bloom at the top and not at the sides,” he said.
“The lantern is about 350 years old. It is about three meters tall. I think it weighs around 1,400 kilograms. It was created upon the death of the third shogun, or feudal ruler of Japan. It is one of a pair. The other one is still in Tokyo. It was given to us in 1954 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the opening of Japan,” said Malott.
This year the air is crisp. Cool weather has not deterred the cherry trees in Washington from blooming, but it may shorten their annual glory. Typically, the cherry blossoms are out for about two weeks. But the peak viewing time is now, and that only lasts a precious few days.
But for about two weeks, performers a short distance away at the Washington monument showcase traditional Japanese music and dance.
“This dance was taught to us the Sunday before the earthquake. We had exchange students from Japan, from the Tokyo area. It just is really, really special to us,” said one performer.
Back at the Tidal Basin, Steven Hanneker of the National Park Service says the cherry trees not only were a gift from Japan, but have been a gift back to the Asian nation from the United States in previous times of turmoil.
“What may not be good at one point in history you can change things and make relationships better again. The cherry trees have been a good ambassador in that respect, in terms of that cultural exchange going back and forth. It has been a two-way exchange. We have given their trees back to them at times when they needed them, after World War II and again after a flood in 1982,” he said.
To observe the centennial of the trees next year, Ambassador Malott says another gift is on its way to Japan now.
“The Park Service took 144 clippings from these original trees. They were sent to Japan where eventually they will go to the Japanese Cherry Blossom Association. They will be grafted on to tree stalks in Japan. So they will become 100-percent clones of the original trees. And so the original trees going back to Japan this year, hopefully will bloom next year,” he said.
The blooms from the original trees next year in Japan will no doubt hold special significance as a rebirth of life one year after the devastating earthquake and tsunami. Money for aid to the victims in Japan is being raised throughout the 16-day Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington.
Hundreds of people also took part in a march along the Tidal Bain just ahead of the festival to raise awareness and money. The devastation in Japan has been compounded by radioactive fallout from a damaged nuclear power plant, making the need for donations more urgent.
Presenter: Thank you, Jim. See you later. Do you want to win a prize? The Cherry Blossom Quiz is for you! Choose the correct answer and you’ll be a lucky winner!
BLOSSOM QUIZ
1. In what year did the first official Cherry Blossom Festival take place?
a) 1898; b) 1912; c) 1921; d) 1935
2. Which first lady planted the first cherry tree in Washington, D. C.?
a) Edith Roosevelt b) Helen Taft
c) Edith Wilson d) Florence Harding
3. True or false: The oldest cherry trees on the National Mall predate the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials.
a) True b) False
4. the original cherry trees were a gift to the United States from what nation?
a) China b) England
c) France d) Japan
5. About how many cherry trees are there on the National Mall?
a) 350; b) 1,420; c) 3,750; d) 8,440
6. True or false: Washington has more cherry trees than any other city in the United States.
a) True b) False
7. Which of the following years did not have a Cherry Blossom Festival?
a) 1944 b) 1957 c) 1968 d) 1981
8. How has the cherry blossom queen been selected every year since 1948?
a) An athletic competition
b) The spin of a wheel
c) A selection committee
d) A vote by festival attendees
9. Which of the following events is not part of the annual festivities?
a) A kite festival b) A 10-mile run
c) A parade d) An Easter egg hunt
10. For about how long does a typical cherry blossom re main in bloom?
a) One week b) Three weeks
c) Five weeks d) Seven weeks
Key: 1. d; 2. b; 3. a (They were planted in 1912; the Lincoln Memorial was completed in 1922; construction on the Jefferson Memorial began in 193d; 5. c; 6. b (Macon, Ga., has the most.); 7. a (The Festival was suspended from 1942 through 1946 because of WW II.) 8. b; 9. d; 10. a
Presenter: Thank you for your participation. Our lucky winner is… Please, take your prize.
I’ll bet you don’t know these Fun Facts about Cherry Blossoms:
• Japanese cherry blossom trees do not actually produce cherries.
• There are over 200 varieties of cherry blossom trees in Japan, although the most popular is the Yoshino.
• Flower viewing, or hanami, has been enjoyed in Japan from as early as 300AD.
• The 100 yen coin (about $1), has a cherry blossom etched on its back.
• Cherry blossoms are omens of good fortune, particularly if they fall in your hair or drink, and they are also emblems of love, affection and they represent spring.
• While in America apples and fall symbolize the start of a new school year, in Japan cherry blossoms cover teachers’ bulletin boards, welcoming new stu-
dents in April.
Presenter: It’s time to go for a walk in a cloud of cherry blossom. Using Google Maps we can enjoy blossom viewing in accordance with ancient Japanese traditions. Let’s start!
The significance of the cherry blossoms begins prior to the 8th century A. D., when the Japanese celebrated the fertility of the earth with prayers under the blossoms. The cherry blossoms, called sakura, appear in paintings and poetry more often than any other image aside from the moon and Mount Fuji.
Currently, the Japanese celebrate the blossoms with hanami. Literally meaning “flower viewing,” the term refers almost exclusively to viewing cherry blossoms. According to the traditions of hanami, the blossoms remain the most appreciated when seen near reflective bodies of water. As a result, the cherry trees fittingly stand throughout the park along the Potomac River and around the Tidal Basin. When an ancient temple appears within the scene, the temple and the blossoms generally compliment one another. Thus, the National Mall and Memorial Parks affords panoramas of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial framed by blossoms, in accord with the traditions of hanami.
Student 1: Japanese Latern. This over 350-year-old, ten-foot tall granite lantern was dedicated on March 30, 1954, the 100th anniversary of the of Commodore Matthew Perry’s opening of American trade with Japan. Its twin in Tokyo continues to honor warlord Tokugawa Lemitsu. As a gift to the United States from the Governor of Tokyo, the lantern stands as a symbol of Japanese-American friendship and is lighted during the Cherry Blossom Festival. The National Park Service and the National Council of State Societies conduct the Lantern Lighting Ceremony. The Embassy of Japan appoints a Cherry Blossom Princess for the occasion. As the audience counts down from five, the lantern is lit in an exciting, traditional event that signals the arrival of Spring in the Nation’s Capital.
Student 2: 1912 Plantings. Look for the bronze plaque
on the rock. It is here that the first cherry trees were planted on March 27, 1912 in a very modest ceremony.
First Lady Helen Herron Taft, a key figure in the acquisition of the cherry trees, planted the first while the Viscountess Chinda, wife of the Ambassador of Japan, planted the second.
Student 3: Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” These are the words of our 32nd President, a man who embodied the meaning of the word courage. Despite being stricken with polio at age 39 and paralyzed from the waist down, he emerged as a true leader, guiding our country through some dark times: the Great Depression and World War II. The memorial honors this man, his story, and his era.
Student 4: Japanese Pagoda. This granite structure, ca. 1600, was dedicated on April 18th, 1958, a gift to the city of Washington from the Mayor of Yokohama, Japan. In 1957, it arrived as a set of disassembled pieces, packed in five crates, and unfortunately, devoid of any assembly instructions. Specialists from the Smithsonian Institution assembled the pagoda based upon other examples.
Student 5: Inlet Bridge – following the disastrous 1881 flood that covered parts of the Washington Mall, the U. S. Corps of Engineers began to dredge the Potomac
River in order to improve navigability and reclaim land. The silt and mud placed behind retaining walls created 723.4 acres of new land upon which many of our memorials now stand, including Thomas Jefferson, Lincoln, and World War II Memorials. The Inlet Bridge dates to 1887, when engineers began to install gates at the entrance and exit of a newly formed pond. The gates would allow the pond to fill from the river at high tide, and then empty through the Outlet Bridge into the Washington Channel at low tide. This tidaldriven action gives the pond its name, “Tidal Basin.” The outflow of water through the channel flushes silt from the marina located there, reducing the need for further 1890, the reclaimed land rose above the “high tide” stage and the Tidal Basin gates were completed and tested.
Student 6: Usuzumi Cherry Trees. Planted in 1999, these five noteworthy trees were part of a larger gift of 50 trees from the people of Neo Mura Village in
central Japan. This generous expression of goodwill came with a desire to expand cultural exchanges between Japan and the United States. These trees with usual flowers have a unique history. Legend has it, that the 26th Emperor Keitai Tenno planted the Usuzumi-No-Sakua (“cherry tree of gray blossoms”) tree in Neo Mura Village 1500 years ago to commemorate the eighteen happy years he dwelled there. Japan declared this oldest living flowering cherry tree in the world a National Treasure in 1922. It is from the cuttings of this tree that the Usuzumi trees
in the park were grown, giving them an interesting lineage. They can reach up to 40 feet in height with single flowers that change from pink to white and then grey.
How did cherry blossoms get their pink colour? The following tale from Japanese folklore is one of the many legends that explain how cherry blossoms become pink.
Long ago there lived a beautiful girl named Masa. In the spring, when the cherry blossoms were in bloom, two knights fell in love with her. One knight was the gallant Makito; the other was the villainous Kurondo. Masa spurned the villain Kurondo and fell in love with Makito. Kurondo, though, would not accept Masa’s decision. He discovered that Masa’s father had an alliance with rebel leaders. The evil Kurondo used this information to blackmail Masa’s father. Kurondo forced Masa’s father to order her to give Makito drugged wine.
Kurondo would then slay the incapacitated Makito and take Masa for his wife. Masa could not bring herself to betray her beloved Makito, but neither could she disobey her father. Masa devised a plan of her own to save Makito and preserve her family honor. Masa disguised herself as Makito then went to the arranged ambush site beneath a blossoming cherry tree. There she drank the drugged wine herself and fell asleep. Kurondo, finding what appeared to be a helpless Makito, drew his sword and put the unconscious Masa to death.
The following year, the cherry tree beneath which Masa had sacrificed herself, and which had only borne white flowers in the past, bloomed with pink blossoms.
Student 7: Thomas Jefferson Memorial – started in 1938, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial was completed in 1943, during WWII. Because metals were
considered critical to the war effort, the original statue was cast in plaster, then painted bronze; the current bronze statue was installed in 1947. To symbolize the war’s principles, the original Declaration of Independence was displayed at the dedication ceremony during which President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke of Jefferson, who “faced the fact that men who will not fight for liberty can lose it.”
The memorial provides an ideal backdrop for the blossoms, which, according to Japanese culture, are best experienced when a temple compliments the scene; conversely, the Memorial makes an excellent vantage point for panoramic views. However, the two did not always peacefully co-exist. Construction of the memorial required the destruction of cherry trees already existing on the site. Public outcry about the loss of cherry trees led to a protest at the ground breaking, dubbed the “Cherry Blossom Rebellion.”
Student 8: Indicator Tree/Outlet Bridge. This tree, called the indicator tree, is growing very close to, even within, the large holly tree. Look for the numbered post to help guide you to the correct tree. This tree is called the indicator tree because it blooms about a week earlier than most of the cherry trees; thus, it is an indicator that the peak blooming period is soon to occur. Since the park has been administrated by a variety of organizations throughout the years, it remains a mystery as to who planted this tree – and when; also the tree is of an unknown variety.
To the north, the path and road cross over the Outlet Bridge. This is where the Tidal Basin empties into the Washington Channel.
Yoshino Cherry Trees – The Yoshino cherry is the predominant species in the park. During Peak Bloom, the Tidal Basin looks as if it is surrounded by fluffy clouds due to the profusion of the Yoshinos’ single white blossoms. This variety can also be found in East Potomac Park and on the Washington Monument grounds. In all, there are well over 2,500 Yoshino cherries. These trees, known as Somei-Yoshi-no in Japan, are hybrids of unknown origin that were first introduced in Tokyo in 1872. As a constant living reminder of Japanese-American friendship, the Yoshino cherry trees continue to amaze the thousands of people who make the pilgrimage each spring to see them.
Student 9: Kutz Memorial Bridge. This is one of Washington’s more “visited” memorials, but probably one of its lesser known. The bridge honors Brig. Gen. Charles W. Kutz, who served as the District of Columbia’s Engineer Commissioner in 1911–1917, 1918– 1921, and 1941–1945. Kutz is remembered for writing the District’s first zoning law, and for his work in regulating the city’s public utility companies. During his last term in office, Kutz oversaw the building of 15 bridges in the city, including the one that now bears his name. Originally known as the Independence Avenue Bridge, the District of Columbia Commissioners voted to name he span in honor of Kutz.
Presenter: Cherry blossom viewing traditionally includes writing poetry. It is no wonder the short lived cherry blossoms appear in countless haiku!
Formerly known as Hokku, this style of traditional Japanese poetry usually expresses a moment, sensation or impression of a particular aspect of nature. A
haiku poet (haijin) writes about a moment in time and a brief experience. These poems consist of three lines. The first and third lines consist of 5 syllables. The second line has 7. There are also two, more modern ways to compose haiku. One is by using a metric system instead of syllables and the other is by reading the entire haiku in one breath.
Example:
Life is short,
Like the three-day glory of
The cherry blossom.
(Yo no naka wa Mikkaminumani Sakura Kana)
Adhering to the 5-7-5 pattern, see if you can compose a haiku about your impressions of today’s cherry blossom virtual viewing in Washigton D. C.
Students are supposed to create pieces of poetry expressing their emotions and impressions of “the walk in a cloud”.
Presenter: Thank you for your poems! It’s time to finish our Walk in the Cloud. I hope you’ve learnt much about cherry blossoms in Washington D. C. The cherry trees are a particularly fitting element of the National Mall and Memorial Parks. Just as monuments and memorials represent universal ideals of unity, equality, and freedom, the cherry trees also represent universal ideas. They serve as symbols of the beauty and brevity of life; therein lays the inherent equality of our shared mortality. This fundamental concept crosses all borders and represents a common truth among humankind. The deep appreciation felt for the cherry blossoms testifies to this universality of the human mind and spirit.
Now I have to say good-bye to you, have a nice day!
