New Year's Eve Dinner Mind Map (4th Grade, Semester 1)

Central Idea: New Year's Eve Dinner (Chinese New Year)

I. Pre-Dinner Preparations (Before Dinner)

• A. Grocery Shopping (Buying Ingredients)
  • 1. List Creation (Making a shopping list)
       • a. Decide on dishes (确定菜品)
       • b. Check pantry inventory (检查储藏室库存)
       • c. Write down missing items (写下缺少的物品)
  • 2. Supermarket Visit (去超市)
       • a. Fruits and Vegetables (水果和蔬菜)
       • i. Oranges (橙子): For good luck (为了好运)
       • ii. Tangerines (橘子): Symbolize wealth (象征财富)
       • iii. Green leafy vegetables (绿色叶菜): Freshness, health (新鲜，健康)
       • iv. Root vegetables (根类蔬菜): Stability (稳定)
       • b. Meat and Seafood (肉和海鲜)
       • i. Pork (猪肉): A staple in many dishes (许多菜肴的主食)
       • ii. Chicken (鸡肉): Whole chicken symbolizes completeness (整鸡象征完整)
       • iii. Fish (鱼): "Nian Nian You Yu" - abundance every year (年年有余 - 每年都有盈余)
       • iv. Shrimp (虾): Happiness and liveliness (幸福和活力)
       • c. Other Ingredients (其他配料)
       • i. Soy Sauce (酱油)
       • ii. Vinegar (醋)
       • iii. Cooking Oil (食用油)
       • iv. Spices (香料)
       • v. Flour (面粉): For dumplings (用于饺子)
  • 3. Local Market (本地市场)
       • a. Fresh produce (新鲜农产品)
       • b. Seasonal items (季节性产品)
• B. Cleaning and Decoration (打扫和装饰)
  • 1. House Cleaning (打扫房子)
       • a. Sweep the floors (扫地)
       • b. Dusting furniture (擦拭家具)
       • c. Cleaning windows (擦窗户)
       • d. Decluttering (整理杂物)
  • 2. Decorations (装饰)
       • a. Red Lanterns (红灯笼): Symbolize prosperity (象征繁荣)
       • b. Spring Couplets (春联): Good wishes for the new year (对新年的美好祝愿)
       • c. Paper Cuttings (剪纸): Traditional art form (传统艺术形式)
       • d. Upside-down "Fu" Character (倒“福”字): "Fu Dao Le" - good fortune has arrived (福到了 - 好运已到)
• C. Food Preparation (食品准备)
  • 1. Washing Vegetables (洗菜)
  • 2. Chopping Ingredients (切配料)
  • 3. Marinating Meat (腌制肉类)
  • 4. Making Dumpling Wrappers (制作饺子皮)

II. The Dinner (During Dinner)

• A. Common Dishes (常见菜肴)
  • 1. Dumplings (饺子): Symbolize wealth and reunion (象征财富和团圆)
       • a. Different fillings (不同的馅料): Pork and cabbage, shrimp and chives (猪肉白菜，虾仁韭菜)
       • b. Making dumplings together (一起包饺子)
       • c. Hiding a coin for good luck (藏一枚硬币带来好运)
  • 2. Spring Rolls (春卷): Symbolize wealth (象征财富)
       • a. Crispy and delicious (酥脆可口)
       • b. Filled with vegetables and meat (装满蔬菜和肉)
  • 3. Fish (鱼): "Nian Nian You Yu" - abundance every year (年年有余 - 每年都有盈余)
       • a. Steamed fish (清蒸鱼)
       • b. Braised fish (红烧鱼)
  • 4. Noodles (面条): Symbolize longevity (象征长寿)
       • a. Long noodles (长面)
       • b. Served with meat and vegetables (搭配肉和蔬菜)
  • 5. Tangyuan (汤圆): Sweet rice balls in soup, symbolize family togetherness (甜米球在汤中，象征家庭团聚)
• B. Family Gathering (家庭聚会)
  • 1. All family members present (所有家庭成员都在场)
  • 2. Sharing stories and laughter (分享故事和欢笑)
  • 3. Giving red envelopes (红包): Money given to children and unmarried adults (给孩子和未婚成年人的钱)
       • a. Symbolize good luck (象征好运)
       • b. Containing new bills (包含新钞)
  • 4. Toasting to the New Year (为新年祝酒)
• C. Table Manners (餐桌礼仪)
  • 1. Respect elders (尊敬长辈)
  • 2. Wait for everyone to be seated before starting to eat (等待所有人就座后再开始吃饭)
  • 3. Don't talk with your mouth full (不要满嘴说话)
  • 4. Offer food to others (给别人提供食物)
  • 5. Don't waste food (不要浪费食物)

III. Post-Dinner Activities (After Dinner)

• A. Watching TV (看电视)
  • 1. CCTV New Year's Gala (中央电视台春节联欢晚会)
       • a. Singing and dancing performances (歌舞表演)
       • b. Comedy skits (小品)
       • c. Traditional Chinese opera (中国传统戏曲)
• B. Setting off Firecrackers (放鞭炮)
  • 1. To ward off evil spirits (驱邪)
  • 2. To welcome the New Year (迎接新年)
• C. Playing Games (玩游戏)
  • 1. Card games (纸牌游戏)
  • 2. Board games (棋盘游戏)
  • 3. Mahjong (麻将)
• D. Staying Up Late (熬夜)
  • 1. "Shou Sui" - to stay up all night to protect the family from bad luck (守岁 - 熬夜以保护家人免受厄运)
• E. Giving New Year's Greetings (拜年)
  • 1. Visiting relatives and friends (拜访亲戚朋友)
  • 2. Saying "Happy New Year" (新年快乐)
  • 3. Wishing good health and prosperity (祝愿身体健康，事业兴旺)

IV. Vocabulary List

• New Year's Eve Dinner: 年夜饭
• Dumplings: 饺子
• Spring Rolls: 春卷
• Fish: 鱼
• Noodles: 面条
• Tangyuan: 汤圆
• Red Envelope: 红包
• Firecrackers: 鞭炮
• Spring Couplets: 春联
• Lanterns: 灯笼
• Grocery Shopping: 买菜
• Family Reunion: 家庭团聚
• Happy New Year: 新年快乐
• Good Luck: 好运
• Prosperity: 繁荣
• Longevity: 长寿
• Wealth: 财富
• Vegetables: 蔬菜
• Meat: 肉
• Seafood: 海鲜
• Ingredients: 配料
• Celebration: 庆祝
• Tradition: 传统

This mind map outlines the various aspects of a Chinese New Year's Eve dinner, from pre-dinner preparations to post-dinner activities. It includes vocabulary relevant to 4th-grade English learners.