Colours

Lesson Overview

This lesson is designed for Cambridge IGCSE Mandarin Chinese (0547) students studying the topic Personal and Social Life with the specific objective of learning and using colour vocabulary.

Learning Objectives

• Identify and pronounce common colour words in Mandarin.
• Write the characters for each colour correctly.
• Use colour vocabulary in simple sentences describing personal items and social situations.
• Develop listening and speaking confidence through colour‑based activities.

Key \cdot ocabulary

Sentence Patterns

Use the structure Subject + 是 + Colour + Noun to describe the colour of an object.

Pronunciation Tips

• Pay attention to the fourth tone in 红色 (hóng sè) and 黑色 (hēi sè).
• The neutral tone “的 (de)” at the end of colour adjectives is light and unstressed.
• For 绿色 (lǜ sè), the “ü” sound is pronounced with rounded lips, similar to the German “ü”.

Class Activities

1. Warm‑up: Colour Flashcards

1. Show a flashcard with a colour word in Chinese.
2. Students repeat the word aloud.
3. Ask volunteers to point to an object in the classroom that matches the colour.

2. Listening Practice

Play a short audio recording describing a person’s outfit. Students write down the colours they hear.

3. Pair Work: Describe Your Friend

1. Each student receives a picture of a person.
2. In pairs, they describe the colours of the person’s clothing using the pattern learned.
3. Switch pictures and repeat.

4. Writing Exercise: Mini‑Paragraph

Write 5–6 sentences describing the colours of items you use every day (e.g., “我的手机是黑色的。我的笔记本是蓝色的。”).

5. Speaking Game: Colour Bingo

Prepare a 5×5 bingo grid with colour words. Call out descriptions (e.g., “我穿的衣服是黄色的”). Students mark the corresponding colour on their cards.

Assessment Checklist

• Can the student pronounce each colour correctly?
• Can the student write the characters without assistance?
• Can the student use at least three sentence patterns to describe colours?
• Does the student demonstrate listening comprehension of colour descriptions?

Extension Activities

• Research traditional Chinese colour symbolism (e.g., red for luck, white for mourning) and present a short oral report.
• Create a colour collage using magazine cut‑outs and label each piece in Mandarin.

Homework

1. Complete the worksheet “My Favourite Colours” – write 8 sentences describing the colours of items in your room.
2. Record a 30‑second video introducing yourself and mentioning three favourite colours, then submit the audio file.