This week we learnt about Chinese New Year.
We started by having a game of Chinese Ladders. This is very similar to the usual game of ladders except that each pair was called one of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig.
Here is an image and a video of us playing the game:
After Chinese Ladders we watched a short video about Chinese New Year: BBC Bitesize – Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year.
Next, we looked at a Chinee Zodiac and found out that it was the year of the Snake. We also found out that our beavers were all born in either the year of the Rooster, Dog or Pig.
Next, we made a Chinese Lantern, using red paper because red represents good luck in China. We added a good luck message and a “Happy New Year” message in Chinese.
A special shout out to Sophie who made a second lantern for Badger – thanks Sophie!
Here are some pictures of us watching the video and making the lanterns.
Next, we had a game of Chinese Whispers and used it to learn some interesting facts about China. We didn’t get through them all but here are the facts that we were using:
- Ping Pong is China’s national sport
- China has the second largest population in the world.
- In China, 35 million people live in caves.
- Chinese white dolphins are often pink.
- China’s giant pandas are good swimmers.
- Half of the world’s pigs live in China.
- Beijing is China’s Capital City.
- The Great Wall of China is over 2,300 years old.
- The Great Wall of China stretches for over 13,000 miles.
- The Great Wall of China is poisonous.
Notes:
The population of the world is just over 8.2 billion
- India: 1.46 billion (18% or 18 out of every 100 people are Indian)
- China: 1.42 billion (17% or 17 out of every 100 people are Chinese)
- England: 57 million – fewer than 1 out of every 100 people are English
13,000 miles is approximately half way around the world
The Great Wall of China is full of a poison called arsenic – this is to kill insects that might eat the mortar, which is made from rice!
Lastly, we talked about fortune cookies and all the beavers got one to try.
We wish everyone a Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year!