Happy Chinese New Years!

This unit teaches children about Cultural Diversity as we study Chinese Americans and the Lunar New Year Celebration.

2012 is the Year of the Dragon (according to the Chinese Zodiak Calendar).
Depending on what year you were born, you are assigned an animal: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Cock, Dog, or Boar. It is felt growing up that you will have characteristics and personality similar to your birth year animal.

Daily Question: Do you know a Chinese Happy New Years Greeting?

"Gung Hei Fat Choi!"

Which means in English "Wishing You Prosperity and Wealth."

Toys: Train Table, Dora Bowling, and Spaghetti Doll Houses


Snack: Stir-fried noodles, orange slices, and birthday cake. (Later on we enjoyed Chinese New Year treats too).

Chopsticks or forks!

Chinese Foods: Children smelled a sweet Chinese fruit Lychee (looks like a raspberry with a thin leathery peel and white, moist fruit inside). We enjoyed White Rabbit (creamy, milk) candies wrapped in rice paper and eating and reading Fortune Cookies. Tangerines are considered lucky at the New Year. They leave the stem and leaves on for a sign of "connectedness."

Princess Susie: We learned that Susie's full name is Susannah. She has three sisters and one brother. She likes the colors pink and red. She loves to read (esp. at bedtime!). She likes having a baby sister in our class.


Contributions from China: Did you know the Chinese invented paper, silk, kites, noodles, and fireworks? Fortune cookies were invented by Asian Americans and are not found in China.

Chinese Language:
We learned a little Chinese in class today, with help from a library DVD.
ni how (knee how) means "hello!"
zai jian (Zaie zhen) means "goodbye."
xie xie (zhey zhey)means "thank you."
peng you (pong yow) means "friend."

Counting:
1. Yi (yee)
2. Er (er)
3. San (san)
4. Si (s'uh)
5. Wu (w'uh)
6. Liu (li-ah)
7. Qi (chee)
8. Ba (bah)
9. Jui (je-oh)
10. Shi (sh'uh)






Chinese New Year Books:
A New Year's Reunion by YU Li-Qiong and Zhu Cheng-Liang (2012-Year of the Dragon)
The New Year Dragon Dilemma by Ron Roy, Ill. by John Steven Gurney. PCL
Light the Candle! Bang the Drum! A book of Holidays Around the World by Ann Morris and Peter Linenthal
The New Year Dragon Dilemma by Ron Roy; Ill. by John Steven Gurney PCL
Happy New Year, Julie (1974) American Girl. (This is for more advanced reading and pictures about the Chinese New Year. Julie celebrates with her Chinese American friend, Ivy). PCL


DVD:
American Cultures For Children: Chinese-American Heritage (Schlessinger Media) PCL

Birthday Book:
Happy Birthday, Dear Duck by Eve Bunting, Ill. by Jan Brett