e-Bulletin for Parents - 24 March 2023

Cultivating Positive and Proper Values and Attitudes in Children through Chinese Fables and Tales -
Chinese Fables and Tales Series (2) (English version)

Chinese fables and tales are timeless literary treasures. Through delightful characters and exciting plots, these fables and tales cultivate positive and proper values and attitudes such as filial piety, perseverance, diligence, integrity, care for others, empathy, responsibility, respect for others and commitment.

The Curriculum Development Institute of the Education Bureau has newly developed a series of learning and teaching resources for primary students, namely the Chinese Fables and Tales Series (2), comprising a selection of ten inspirational Chinese fables and tales written in English, including “Fanning the Pillow and Warming the Quilt”, “Gaining New Insights from Reviewing Old Knowledge”, “Going Three-tenths of an Inch into the Wood”, “Grinding an Iron Rod into a Needle”, “Holding a Book in the Hand All the Time”, “Pulling up the Crops to Help Them Grow”, “Putting Yourself in Someone’s Shoes”, “Quitting Halfway”, “Sending Goose Feathers from Thousands of Miles Away” and “Whole-hearted Devotion”. These stories aim to help students develop reading skills and reflect on the moral lessons therein. An extension activity for each story is included to encourage students to watch a relevant short video and share their thoughts and feelings. Through reading the stories and watching the videos, students can enhance their understanding and appreciation of the essence of Chinese traditions and culture as well as the latest development and achievements of China, thereby cultivating a sense of national identity in them and fostering their development of positive and proper values and attitudes. An e-version of the series with interactive features such as answer-checking functions is available to facilitate students’ self-directed learning. In addition, the Chinese Fables and Tales Series (1), which was disseminated earlier, has been enriched with the inclusion of an extension activity for each story. Teachers can make use of the relevant learning and teaching resources to design more diversified learning activities, such as storytelling, role play, letter writing and other subject-based and cross-curricular activities.

Parents are encouraged to read the stories in the Chinese Fables and Tales Series (1) and (2) with their children and guide them to apply positive and proper values in their daily lives. Parents can access the series via the following web pages:

Chinese Fables and Tales Series (1)
https://www.edb.gov.hk/Fable_Tale_Pri1

Chinese Fables and Tales Series (2)
https://www.edb.gov.hk/Fable_Tale_Pri2

For other information on English Language learning and the Campaign on “Promoting Positive Values and Attitudes through English Sayings of Wisdom (SOW) 2022/23”, please visit the web page of the English Language Education Section (www.edb.gov.hk/ele) and its web page for the SOW Campaign (www.edb.gov.hk/sow).