Winter: The Nutcracker

I. ROOT 詞根 “GRAPH” – write

1. graph圖，圖表，圖解

2. choreography編舞藝術；舞蹈設計

3. calligraphy書法；書法藝術

4. autograph書法；書法藝術

Resources:

Quizlet Flashcards 

List of Words Containing Graph

II. IDIOM 成語:

1. “What’s the damage?” 花了多少錢？

2. “The damage is done” 為時已晚，覆水難收

III. Reading- The Nutcracker

A. Vocabulary (Self Review and Test)

1. godfather教父, 頭號人物，首領

2. soldier士兵，軍人，戰士

3. nutcracker堅果鉗

4. damaged受損的，受害的；遭破壞的

5. injured受傷的

6. midnight子夜，午夜

7. battle戰鬥，戰役，戰爭

8. defeat擊敗，打敗，戰勝, 使失敗，使落空

9. pine forest松林

The night before Christmas at the large house of a German couple and their two children, Clara and Fritz, this family is throwing a Christmas party. They have invited a lot of guests. The godfather of Clara and Fritz arrives and gives them wonderful gifts. Clara receives a nutcracker, shaped like a toy soldier, but her brother breaks the nutcracker while playing with it. Clara is very sad that her lovely new toy has been damaged. Later on in the evening, the guests leave and everyone goes to bed. Clara wakes in the middle of the night to check on her injured nutcracker soldier. The clock strikes midnight. Suddenly the room fills with giant mice. The Christmas tree begins to grow and grow. Clara's nutcracker also increases in size, until it is as big as a real soldier. Clara's nutcracker soldier springs to life, and fights a battle with the mice. The toys in the room also come alive, and fight as soldiers alongside the nutcracker. With Clara's help, the Nutcracker defeats the mouse army and kills the Mouse King. The Nutcracker then turns into a prince. The Nutcracker Prince leads Clara through a pine forest where beautiful snowflakes swirl and dance around them. After this, they travel to the Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy. The Sugar Plum Fairy also dances. At the end of the dance, Clara awakens from her dream. She is lying under the Christmas tree and next to her is her beloved Nutcracker. THE END

Questions

1. What is the name of the little girl?

2. What Christmas present does her uncle give her?

3. Why do you think the Nutcracker came to life?

4. If he stays "alive," how do you think he'll live in Clara's house--as a brother, a prince, a dad?

5. What do you think about the ending? Was it real or just a dream?

Resources:
Synopsis of Ballet
Intermediate Reading
Advanced Reading (Story Nory with audio)
http://www.ipballet.org/pdf/NutcrackerStudyGuide.pdf