New Year Connections: Let's Talk!

Discussion Prompts:

1. What is one new New Year tradition you learned about today that surprised you the most? Why was it surprising?
   
   
   
2. Which New Year tradition from another country would you most like to try? What would it be like to do that?
   
   
   
3. Do any of the New Year traditions we talked about remind you of your own family's traditions or other holidays you celebrate? How are they similar or different?
   
   
   
4. Why do you think people all over the world celebrate the New Year, even in different ways? What makes it a special time?

Partner Share Activity (Optional):

Turn to a partner and share your answers to one of the questions above. Listen carefully to their ideas!

New Year Passport Adventure

Goal: Collect passport stamps by correctly identifying New Year traditions from around the world!

Materials:

• A large world map (can be projected)
• Small cards or sticky notes with country names (Spain, Denmark, China, Japan, Brazil)
• Small cards or sticky notes with descriptions of traditions (e.g., "Eat 12 grapes," "Smash plates," "Clean the house," "Ring bells 108 times," "Wear white and throw flowers in the ocean")

How to Play (Whole Class or Small Groups):

1. Prepare the "Stamps": Write the name of each country (Spain, Denmark, China, Japan, Brazil) on separate cards. On other cards, write a key tradition from each country (e.g., "Eat 12 grapes," "Smash old plates," "Clean the house," "Ring temple bells 108 times," "Wear white, throw flowers in ocean").
2. The Challenge:
   • Option A (Tradition to Country): The teacher reads a tradition. Students (or groups) race to correctly pick the country card and point to that country on the world map. The first correct team gets a point (or a pretend "stamp" for their "passport").
   • Option B (Country to Tradition): The teacher points to a country on the map or shows a country card. Students (or groups) must describe the New Year tradition associated with that country. The first correct team gets a point.
3. Round Robin: Continue playing for several rounds, rotating between traditions and countries. You can even combine them by asking students to identify the country AND describe the tradition.
4. Winner! The team or individual with the most "stamps" (points) at the end is the winner of the New Year Passport Adventure!

My Global New Year Passport

Name:

Page 1: A New Year Tradition I Learned!

Draw or write about one interesting New Year tradition you learned about today from another country.

Country:



Tradition:

Page 2: My New Year Tradition!

Draw or write about a New Year tradition your family has, or a new tradition you would like to start for the New Year!

My Tradition:

Fun Fact: New Year is a time for new beginnings all around the world!

Chinese Zodiac Animal Chart Activity

Did you know that in China, each year is named after an animal? There are 12 special animals, and they repeat in a cycle. The animal for the year you were born is called your 'birth animal' or 'zodiac animal'!

People in China believe that your birth animal can tell you a little bit about your personality!

Here are the 12 Chinese Zodiac Animals:

• Rat
• Ox
• Tiger
• Rabbit
• Dragon
• Snake
• Horse
• Goat
• Monkey
• Rooster
• Dog
• Pig

Your Zodiac Animal Quest!

1. Look and Listen: As your teacher reads about the Chinese Zodiac animals, listen for any animal you know or like!
2. Guess My Animal: Can you guess what animal year your friend or a family member might be? (No need to be exact, just have fun thinking!)
3. Draw Your Favorite: On a separate paper, draw your favorite Chinese Zodiac animal or the animal you think best describes you! What makes that animal special?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Fun Fact!

The story says that the Jade Emperor held a great race for all the animals. The order in which they finished the race determined the order of the zodiac years! The clever Rat won by riding on the Ox's back!

Chinese Zodiac Placemat: Discover Your Animal!

What is the Chinese Zodiac?

In China, each year is named after one of 12 special animals! People believe the animal for the year you were born can tell you a little about your personality. The animals repeat in a cycle every 12 years.

Find Your Birth Animal!

Look at the year you were born. Find it in the chart below to see your Chinese Zodiac Animal and what makes it special!

My Zodiac Animal!

My birth year is:



My Chinese Zodiac Animal is:



One thing that makes my animal special is: