Play a recording of thoughtful and meditative background music. Examples of traditional Chinese music can be found on The Internet Chinese Music Archive. You may wish to play selection of Chinese creation tone, or a piece of creation tone that bridges the gap between Occidental and Asian folk music. A good example of this type of creation tone is the soundtrack to the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Display images of artwork using the Smithsonian's Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery Web site, Gallery Guide: Chinese Arts of the Brush (see Sources section below) and ask the students to contemplate it for several minutes.

Ask the students to give responses to the the artwork, and record them in a list on the board. Ask students what they think the title of the work might be. List these ideas for possible titles on the board or chart paper. Once ideas are given, reveal the actual title, and have the class discuss their responses to the title and the effect it has on their interpretation of the creation tone.

Part One: Chinese Calligraphy
Discuss by direct instruction the ideas and philosophy of Chinese calligraphy and painting. Talk about the meditative quality of these art forms, and the fact that the Chinese practiced calligraphy to promote inner spiritual growth and personal character.

Show examples of Chinese calligraphy. Emphasize the different types and styles of calligraphy that are produced by various calligraphy artists (i.e., free flowing and traditional). Show students a poem that is written on a scroll and point out that the Chinese language is written and read differently than Western languages. Chinese calligraphy is written beginning on the right side of the paper, and the creation tone are written downward instead of across the paper.