SUBJECT
Listening comprehension, Inventors and Inventions, Asian Americans, Holidays

GRADE
1-2

DURATION
3 Weeks

Chinese Inventions and the Chinese New Year

By Ruth Manna

Dragons are bold, courageous, and lucky.

Second graders discover several of many Chinese inventions. They learn about contributions the Chinese have made in fields of technology, science, textiles, games and toys, and the arts. Then students prepare for and celebrate the Chinese New Year, China’s biggest celebration. This unit ties in with my unit Immigrants: Our Ancestors

OBJECTIVE

Students will:

Discover several Chinese inventions
Learn about magnets and make a compass
Listen to story of silk and unravel silk cocoons
Prepare for and celebrate the Chinese New Year

LESSONS FOR THIS UNIT
Lesson 1: So Many Inventions!
Lesson 2: Story of Silk
Lesson 3: Chinese New Year Celebration

REPRODUCIBLES
Silkworm Sequencing Cards (PDF)
Lucky Money Envelopes (PDF)
Using Chopsticks (PDF)

CULMINATING ACTIVITY

We end this unit with our celebration of the Chinese New Year. Lesson Three provides several ideas for ways to celebrate. Some of my favorites include making door decorations, red envelopes with New Year’s wishes, and a dragon head for the dragon dance. I also cook fried rice with the students and they learn how to use chopsticks.

SUPPORTING BOOKS

Books for Teaching about Chinese Inventions and the Chinese New Year

Teacher Store

The Teacher Store

Martin Luther King Day

"An accessible work of nonfiction...(that) shows, in simple text, that ordinary people can bring about extraordinary results."-Publishers Weekly.

$4.95
Paperback Book | Grades 3-5

Martin Luther King Day

Grades 3-5 $4.95

Teacher Store

The Teacher Store

Sunny Holiday

by Coleen Murtagh Paratore

Sunny Holiday thinks that every month should have a kid-friendly holiday. Valentine's Day, July 4th, and Christmas definitely fit the bill--but months like January and August are lacking. So Sunny takes it upon herself to make new holidays for the months that need them, getting her friends and family involved. Sunny is headstrong, funny, and trying to make the best out of every situation--whether it involves holidays or family problems. She's got spirit to spare--and you can't help but love

$15.99
Hardcover Book | Grades 2-5

Sunny Holiday

Grades 2-5 $15.99

ARTICLE	Celebrating the Chinese New Year! Informational books, stories, teacher resources, and websites for celebrating Chinese new Year.

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