ReadWriteThink: January 26, 2008: The Chinese New Year starts today.

January 26, 2008

		Today is the first day of the New Year on the Chinese lunar calendar. Each year of the calendar’s 16-year cycle is represented by an animal. According to the Chinese zodiac, people born during a given year share traits with that animal. 2008 is the year of the rat. Those born under this year are supposed to be charming, harder-working, thrifty, and perfectionist. image © 2008 www.clipart.com

The Chinese New Year starts today.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY

Introduce students to the Chinese New Year by having them explore the Chinese zodiac. Begin the activity by having each student write five to eight adjectives or phrases that describe his or her personality traits. These should not be physical characteristics like hair color or height, but qualities such as “a good sense of humor,” “honest,” or “a risk-taker.”

Then, have students look at the Chinese zodiac to find a description of the attibutes people would have if they were born in the same year they were. For younger students, try the Chinese Calendar, and for older students, try Find Your Birth Year Animal.

Once students have read their animal’s attributes, have them explain how the animal does or does not seem to represent them. They should use specific examples from their own experiences to support what they say. For example, if the zodiac says that they have difficulty with authority, students should write about a time when they resisted (or did not resist) an authority figure.

Next, students can look through the other animal signs to see which one best represents them and write a persuasive piece describing why that sign fits them best.

Lesson Plans

Proverbs: An Introduction
Use Chinese Proverbs as the focus of this ReadWriteThink lesson. Students learn how to interpret proverbs and how proverbs can be culturally significant.

Proverbs: At Home and Around the World
Extend your study of Chinese proverbs with this ReadWriteThink lesson for grades 6–8, in which students explore Chinese culture and values.

Animals of the Chinese Zodiac
In this EDSITEment lesson, students in grades K–2 explore the animals of the Chinese zodiac. Students learn about similes and how animals are used as symbols.

Lions, Dragons, and Nian: Animals of the Chinese New Year
This EDSITEment lesson for grades K–2 investigates the role of dragons in the Chinese New Year and examines cultural interpretations of dragons.

Web Links

Chinese New Year
This site offers information about current and past Chinese New Years, as well as information about the Chinese zodiac, how the dates for the holiday are determined, and more.

Countdown to the New Year
This PBS Kids site offers interactive puzzles and activities to help students learn about the traditions of the Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year
This ThinkQuest resource provides kid-friendly information on the background and traditions of Chinese New Year. It includes information on activities leading up to and immediately following the New Year’s Day.

Find Your Birth Year Animal
This interactive from National Geographic allows students to find their birth year animals and their related characteristics.

Texts

Morrissey, Tricia. 2006. Hiss! Pop! Boom! Celebrate Chinese New Year. ThingsAsian Press.
Celebrate Chinese New Year with the Chinese brush paintings in this text.

Simonds, Nina, Leslie Swartz, and the Children’s Museum, Boston. 2002. Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats: A Treasury of Chinese Holiday Tales, Activities & Recipes. Gulliver Books.
In addition to holiday stories, this book offers illustrated, step-by-step instructions for recipes and activities related to five Chinese holidays.

Yep, Lawrence. 2002. When the Circus Came to Town. HarperCollins.
This story tells of an early-20th-century American girl who befriends an Asian cook. After he helps her overcome an adversity, she gets the town to help him celebrate Chinese New Year.

Demi. 2003. Happy, Happy Chinese New Year! Crown Books for Young Readers.
Colorful illustrations accompany this description of the events of the Chinese New Year celebration for young readers.