Chinese New Year Legends Mini-Webquest
 January 23 2012 English Calendar year              
4709 (or 4710!) Chinese calendar year

Here is a quote from: http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2012.htm
"Some web sites say the year 2012 is the 4710th Chinese year. If you cannot find the explanation as to why, here is a possible answer for you. The Yellow King's inauguration was held in the spring of 2697 B.C. But the day that was used as the first day of the year was the winter solstice, which was around December 23rd, 2698 B.C. Today's January 1st meant nothing to the Yellow King. If we count that extra eight days in 2698 B.C., then year 2012 is the 4710th Chinese year. "

Today you will practice looking for information on the Internet AND learn about Chinese New Year.
Click on the links marked in BLUE and UNDERLINED to find the answers to the questions.

 

http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/2012.htm

1. We call this the Dragon year. What is a longer name for it?

 

http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/CHINA/15-day_celebration.html

2. How many days are there in the entire Chinese New Year celebration? 3. Which day do you think would be the nicest? Why?

 

This is an old website from the "WayBack Machine"...
http://web.archive.org/web/20080303235007/http://holidays.mrdonn.org/chinesefestivals.html#lantern  

I like it better than the "new one"!!!
http://holidays.mrdonn.org/chinesefestivals.html#new

4. The seventh day of Chinese New Year is called Yin Yat. What does that mean? 5. Why is red a lucky colour? 6. Why are noise makers rattled? 7. Why do Chinese children stay up late on New Year's? 8. Why is the Kitchen God important? 9. Why don't you sweep on New Year's? 10. When is the Chinese Lantern Festival? 11. How can you tell the difference between Eastern dragons? Chinese korean Japanese 12. What is the legend telling why Chinese dragons stay close to home?

 

http://www.chinesefortunecalendar.com/YourSign.htm

Find your Chinese Zodiac Animal... this is a little different from the way we usually look at it.
13. Print it out when you find it.

http://www.mandarintools.com/chinesename.html

Get a Chinese name for yourself. This is just a "fun name".
14. Print it out when you get it.

 

Primary Games has some games too.
http://www.primarygames.com/holidays/chinese/games.htm

 

If you finish, you may go to other websites about the Chinese New Year.

http://www.teacherwebshelf.com/holidaylinks/links/links-winter/winter-chinesenewyear.htm