CHINESE NEW YEAR 

What do you know about Chinese New Year? 

In pairs, do the following activities.

1) INTRODUCTION: Answer the following questions using the following weblink:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/4_11/cultureclub/learning/chinainfo.shtml

1. By what other name is Chinese New Year known?
2. When is it celebrated?

3. When is the lantern festival?

4. Why do people clean their house before the start of New Year?

5. What do the colours red and gold represent?

6. Why do children like to get red envelopes?

7. In the lion dance, why does the lion have a mirror on its head?

8. What will you often find painted on the new year lanterns?

2) FOOD: Food is always important for festivals and celebrations and for Chinese New Year, it is no different. 

Match these foods to what they represent using the following weblink:  chinesenewyear2018.com/food.

fish                          family reunion

chicken                   surplus and wealth

noodles                   prosperity and wealth

bamboo shoots      longevity

grapefruit                blessings  and fortune

     

3) CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS:

Decide whether the following customs and traditions related to Chinese New Year are true (T) or false (F). Then, check your answers using the webpage below: https://theculturetrip.com/asia/china/articles/10-chinese-new-year-traditions/

1. Families usually gather together for a big meal on New Year’s Day.

2. Families eat lots of different dishes for their New Year meal.

3. Money is given in red envelopes by younger people to older people.

4. Fireworks were traditionally used to scare away evil spirits.

5. The colour red is important for Chinese New year.

6. Lion dances are performed by many dancers.

What other superstitions and traditions about Chinese New Year can you find? Are there any that are similar to those in your culture? Explain (6 - 10 lines). 

4) THE CALENDAR AND ZODIAC SIGNS:

Use the website below to answer these questions:

www.webexhibits.org/calendars/calendar-chinese.html

1. Is the Chinese calendar solar or lunar?

2. How many months are there in the Chinese calendar?

3. How does the Chinese calendar count years?

4. What is special about the year 2033?

5. Which zodiac animals are associated with the years 2019 and 2020?

Go to www.topmarks.co.uk/ChineseNewYear/Zodiac to find out what your zodiac animal is and what its characteristics are, then compare with your partner. Do the characteristics match your personality? Explain (6 - 10 lines).

CONCLUSION:

-      Have you worked well together? 

    Did you enjoy working in pairs? why / why not?

-      Are you good researchers?

    Mention two interesting things that you have learnt 

-      Did you like doing this project? why / why not?  Explain.

This webquest by Adrian Tennant is taken from: http://www.onestopenglish.com/teenagers/topic-based-materials/festivals/february/chinese-new-year/ 

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