Cultural Encounters of the Speech Kind

Just as the confetti of New Year's Eve is settling down and teachers are pulling out the hearts and roses for February, I am pulling out the red. And dragons. And firecrackers.

Why?

• It's not only for the obvious reason that 3 out of 4 people in my family are Asian.
• Nor is it because I practically minored in Asian History in college.
• It's not because we do a rockin' Chinese New Year party in my home (we squished over 40 people into my living room last year!).
• Finally, it's not because the more practical gift of cash is given out during the celebrations.

Here are some great reasons to teach your students/children about Lunar New Year:

1. Most of the world is Chinese. Over 19% of the world's population lives in China, making it the most populous country on Earth. And Asia contains 60% of the world's population.  That is a lot of people celebrating the most important holiday on the Chinese calendar! In the United States, Asian Americans make up the third largest ethnicity in the country.

2. Lunar New Year is a national holiday for many countries. Businesses in many nations are closed for up to a week in celebration, including: China, Taiwan, Macau, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore. It is celebrated as a cultural holiday by residents of Asian decent in almost every nation on Earth.

3. Lunar New Year is celebrated for weeks. Because the holiday is based on the lunar calendar, it varies from year to year and can therefore be recognized and taught about over an extended period of time. There are 15 days of celebratory activities that include fireworks, great food, and time with family.

4. There are great resources for learning about world culture, traditions, and fables! In previous years, I blogged about books about Chinese New Year and Asians:  D is for Dragon Dance and Yoko.  My friend Tonggu Momma has an awesome list of books here and crafts here. And Katie @ Playingwithwords365 posted about Chinese New Year here.

Too tired to do the work yourself? No problem.  I spent most of my Winter break creating these units for you to use in January or February in celebration of Lunar New Year (this year it is February 10th, year of the Snake)! 

 

This is a fabulous, whimsical book that tells the Fable of the Chinese Zodiac with bright illustrations and the perfect mix of low and high level vocabulary for kids aged 5-10.

The United I created can be downloaded here. It is 45 pages long and includes:

Vocabulary Level 2: approximately grades 1-3

•16 pairs Vocabulary cards

•4 “Sank” cards, 4 “Got a lift” Cards

•Homework/Worksheet

Vocabulary Level 3: approximately grades 2-5

•16 pairs Vocabulary Cards

•4 “Sank” cards, 4 “Got a lift” cards

•Homework/Worksheet 

Synonyms

•4 pairs Synonyms card 

 

Expressions

•2 worksheet pages of expressions from the story to be drawn or explained

Compare/Contrast Game

•Game board with Animals

•12 Animal cards

 

Perspective Taking

•Perspective taking from 3 different characters

 

Story Sequencing

•Picture sequencing cards

•Story Map

•Story Comprehension Question Cube

•Story Retell Rubric

Listening Comprehension and Critical Thinking

•12 Chinese Zodiac Listening Comprehension Cards (these are FREE if you click on "Download Preview")

•12 Zodiac cards and the years with which they correspond

•Worksheet for Critical Thinking based on Zodiac

Articulation Cards (mixed positions)

•24 /s, z/ cards

•24 /r/ cards

•24 /l/ cards

Want more?  

Jan Brett is one of my favorite author/illustrators (she is so talented!). Add this book and unit to your speech or language activities about a cute little girl in China named Mei Mei (meaning "Little sister") and her lost hen (Daisy).

This unit can be downloaded here and is 55 pages long and includes:

Vocabulary Level 2: approximately grades 1-3

•16 pairs Vocabulary cards

•4 “Floated Away” cards, 4 “Rescued” Cards

•Homework/Worksheet

Vocabulary Level 3: approximately grades 2-5

•16 pairs Vocabulary Cards

•4 “Floated Away” cards, 4 “Rescued” cards per level

•Homework/Worksheet

 

Synonyms (level 3)

•4 pairs Synonyms cards

 

Regular Past Tense

•16 pairs Regular Past Tense Verb cards

•4 “Lost” cards, 4 “Found” cards

•Homework/Worksheet

Irregular Past Tense

•16 pairs Irregular Past Tense Verb cards

•4 “Lost” cards, 4 “Found” cards

•Homework/Worksheet

 

Complex Sentences

•Game board with Conjunctions

•32 Clause cards

 

Perspective Taking

•2 pages of perspective taking from 3 different characters

 

Story Sequencing

•12 picture sequencing cards (FREE download if you click on "Download Preview")

•Story Map

•Story Comprehension Question Cube

•Story Retell Rubric

 

Articulation Cards (mixed positions)

•24 /s, z/ cards

•24 /r/ cards

•24 /l/ cards

The Great Race Activities are here and Daisy Comes Home are here (along with the freebies for both units!).

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Hope you have a wonderful New Year! Both Western and Eastern style! Gung Hay Fat Choy!

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