Free Chinese New Year Study Kit

As I posted a few days ago, I will be posting a unit in a few weeks on Chinese New Year. Today, I came across (thanks Money Saving Mom!) a free Chinese New Year Study Kit from Panda Express. It includes:

• Panda Express’ Year of the Rabbit DVD
• Year of the Rabbit Fact Sheet
• Jade Emperor’s Interactive Game & Activity Sheet
• Chinese New Year Decoration Art Activity
• Lai See Activity Sheet
• Bookmarks (with a Free Kids Meal with purchase coupon attached)

I am still planning to post my study unit, but I am letting you know about this as I may, or may not, use activities in it for the unit. According to the website, this must be ordered by midnight (CST), January 8th.

Wordly Wednesday: The People of China

I apologize for getting this posted so late tonight.

China is the most populous country in the world with over 1 billion people.

More food is grown in China than anywhere else in the world. Common crops include rice, soybeans, and tea. Here is a picture of a rice farmer from National Geographic:


Chinese language
Hello- Ni hao (pronounced like "knee how")
Luck- Fu (foo)

Project- create a Chinese luck sign. Instructions are here.

Chinese New Year
Celebrated for 15 days
Also known as the Spring Festival
2008 is the year of the rat
Chinese New Year 2009 will be the year of the ox and will begin on January 26. We will be having our own little Chinese New Year Festival then.



Chinese Inventions
Abacus- see activities listed under Monday's Math section
kite- Make a kite from a paper bag. Instructions can be found here.
gun powder
compass- practice orienteering skills (lesson plan available here, click on education and then lesson plan) and/or just teaching general directions on the compass
umbrella- some craft stores sell "plain" umbrellas that can be decorated with fabric paints, but I am sure any plain umbrella can be decorated the same way.