2 Article: Happy Chinese New Year! 4 Lesson Plan 5 Photo 6 Graphic Organizer 7 Crossword Puzzle 8 Wordsearch Puzzle 9 Quiz

Transcription

1 Reader The Canadian Current Canadian events and issues for students in Grades 3 and up 2 Article: Happy Chinese New Year! 4 Lesson Plan 5 Photo 6 Graphic Organizer 7 Crossword Puzzle 8 Wordsearch Puzzle 9 Quiz Please circulate to: Teachers serving teachers since 1990 Supplementary News

2 Happy Chinese New Year! Happy New Year on February 8th, and welcome to the Year of the Monkey! May the Star of Happiness shine on you. Maybe you thought New Year s Day was on January 1st. That s true if you are using the western calendar. But the traditional Chinese calendar is different. It follows the cycles of the moon. On this lunar calendar, the New Year falls on February 8th this year. Starting with a bang! The excitement, though, begins the day before on New Year s Eve. Families gather for a big meal. Fireworks send out the old year and welcome in the new. At midnight, doors and windows are opened to let the old year out. But that's just the start. The celebrations last for 15 days. During this time, families give gifts. They spend time together. They enjoy special food. They watch performances, like a lion dance. 2 The Canadian Reader On the last day, the Lantern Festival takes place. That's when children carry glowing lanterns in a night-time parade. The Chinese decorate for the New Year with blooming flowers. The blooms are a symbol of rebirth and new growth. Platters of oranges and tangerines are set out, too. They represent happiness. Candies are arranged on a tray to bring good fortune. Year of the Monkey In the Chinese calendar, each year has an animal sign. There are 12 signs in all that repeat in a cycle. This year is the Year of the Monkey. The other animals in the cycle are the Dragon, Rabbit, Horse, Sheep, Snake, Rooster, Dog, Boar, Rat, Ox and Tiger. Supplementary News

3 Chinese in Canada More than one million people of Chinese background live in Canada. Three-quarters of them live in Toronto and Vancouver. Mainly they come from three areas: China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Some were actually born in Canada, but their ancestors moved here long ago. The first Chinese came during the 1858 B.C. Gold Rush. Like many others, they were hoping to strike it rich. When the Gold Rush was over, many went to work building the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR). Thousands more young Chinese were brought from China by the Canadian government to help. Changing times Did you know? Many other Asian countries, such as Korea, Vietnam, Laos and Singapore follow the lunar calendar and celebrate the lunar new year, too. But being Chinese in Canada was not easy back then. The Chinese were poorly treated by white Canadians. Between 1923 and 1947, the Chinese were banned from coming to Canada at all. It s a different story today, though. Over the past 30 years, Canada has welcomed many people from Chinese-speaking countries who want to live here. These immigrants have helped make the Chinese New Year a big event in Canada. Bring on the Year of the Monkey! As you see it, what is the importance of this story? Supplementary News The Canadian Reader 3

4 Happy Chinese New Year! Lesson Plan Before Reading: Have students work in pairs to carefully examine the photograph on p. 5. Ask students to imagine themselves in the scene. What would they see, hear, smell, feel, and experience if they were there? Invite partners to share their ideas with the class. Explain that the photo shows students at Pinkham School in Winnipeg, Manitoba watching a Lion Dancer performing for Chinese New Year. In the Chinese culture the lion is a symbol of courage, power and strength. The animal is believed to be a guardian who brings joy and happiness to the Chinese people. Inform students that the lion dance is one of the many customs carried out during Chinese New Year. (You may wish to view a video of a lion dance at: More information about this dance is available at and During Reading: Encourage students to circle additional symbols and underline customs of Chinese New Year. After Reading: Invite students to discuss their findings. What symbols and customs were they already familiar with? Which did they learn about? How are they similar or different from those used or carried out in other cultural celebrations (e.g., Rosh Hashanah, Japanese New Year, Christmas, Canada Day)? Examples and explanations of the other Chinese New Year symbols and customs can be found at: Have students select up to four symbols or customs of Chinese New Year and complete the What and Why organizer (p. 6). Explain that, in some cases, they may have to infer the importance of the selected symbols or customs to the New Year. For example, glowing lanterns symbolize the full moon (which is the brightest phase, first full moon of the year) and may suggest a bright year and good beginnings. Criteria for Assessment: A good inference is logical, is based on clues in the text and supported by facts outside of the text. Extension: Design a decoration (e.g., lantern, spring couplet, lion puppet) for a Chinese New Year celebration. Your decoration must be or include an important symbol and have a message that expresses best wishes for the coming year. (Examples of frequently used Chinese greetings can be found at Criteria for Assessment: An authentic decoration includes an important symbol, uses traditional colours, is realistic (looks like the real thing) and includes an appropriate greeting. 4 The Canadian Reader Supplementary News

5 CP Photo/Winnipeg Free Press Ruth Bonneville Happy Chinese New Year! View It Supplementary News The Canadian Reader 5

6 Name: Happy Chinese New Year! What and Why Date: Symbol or Custom What it Symbolizes Why it is Important 6 The Canadian Reader Supplementary News

7 Name: Happy Chinese New Year! Crossword Date: 1 2 O 3 4 A 6 5 T G V F 10 I K N Across 1. special Chinese dance 4. the traditional Chinese calendar follows the cycles of the 6. night festival that takes place on the last day 9. many Chinese people live in this city 10. one of the 12 animal signs Down 2. person who comes to a new country 3. one of the 12 animal signs 5. many Chinese worked on the Canadian Railway 7. many Chinese people live in this city 8. the Year of the will arrive on February 8 Supplementary News The Canadian Reader 7

8 Name: Happy Chinese New Year! Wordsearch Date: Find these words from the article in the puzzle: CALENDAR DRAGON FIREWORKS FLOWERS GOLD IMMIGRANT LANTERN LION MONKEY MOON RAILWAY ROOSTER D R A I L W A Y K Z Q L L H G W P S B N M R A L V Z C W O C A L E N D A R X U D H M L G X M S D Y N Z I Z R H O D L X U O E G C I V O A Z O M A L O K R S F M L J G K N Z W C N P V F E M G S O B H C N O A X L Q Z I U M N U R Q M U T O Z N O G Y Q K B O T Y B W C O M J R Y P U L O J F E N I V I I A D W X J S V R H L X N L A N T E R N T S R A F R Q O R T C I R A E A V F I R E W O R K S P H R 8 The Canadian Reader Supplementary News

9 Name: Happy Chinese New Year! Answer It! Date: Write the letter of the best answer in the space beside each question. 1. What is the sign for Chinese New Year in 2016? a) dragon b) snake c) monkey d) tiger 2. What special decorations are used during Chinese New Year? a) blooming flowers b) red lanterns c) paper money d) ribbons and bows 3. What do people open at midnight on New Year's Eve? a) doors and windows b) their wallets c) bottles of a special drink d) presents 4. How long do Chinese New Year's celebrations last? a) 24 hours b) 5 days c) 15 days d) 1 month 5. What happens on the last day of these celebrations? a) Lion Dance b) fireworks c) Lantern Festival d) Dragon Boat Festival Supplementary News The Canadian Reader 9

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