Chinese New Year Fun Facts!(Starts February 2nd)

Chinese New Year Fun Facts!(Starts February 2nd)

Note: Download the free resource at this link:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chinese-New-Year-Factoids-FREEBIEInteractive-Notebook-Activity-2214973?aref=j3w7o6ne

Chinese New Year Factoids

by

Gail Skroback Hennessey

Kung Hei Fat Choy! Kung Hei Fat Choy!

That’s Happy New Year in Chinese. 2019 is the Year of the PIG. The  PIG is a symbol of loyalty. Those born under this Chinese zodiac sign are said to value friends, are positive people and love to learn. Those born under this zodiac sign are often entertainers, politicians and work to help others. On the Chinese calendar, called Yan Tan, the new year is 4717. Chinese New Year is not always held on the same day each year. It depends on when the second new moon of the winter solstice occurs. In 2019, Chinese New Year starts on February 2nd. It is the beginning of a 15 day celebration!

Some of the following are Chinese good luck foods and customs:

1. Long, uncut noodles are a symbols of long life and friendship.

2. Giving oranges and tangerines are symbols of wealth and good luck.

3. Dumplings are eaten as a symbol of a happy family.

4. Wearing red is thought to bring good luck.

5. People put up lights and decorate windows and doors with red and gold paper. Messages of good fortunes are written.

6. The Chinese word for fish is similar in sound to the word for plentiful, so fish are important in the Chinese New Year.

7. Using knives or scissors on New Year's Day are considered bad luck as they may cut your good luck for the new year.

8. It is also considered bad luck to wash your hair on New Year's Day.

9. It is considered good luck to hear a bird sign on New Year's Day.

10. The number 4 sounds like the Chinese word for death, so people try not to use the number on New Year's Day

11. Fireworks are shot off on New Year's Eve to send away the old year and welcome the new.

12. Before the new year, it is a custom to clean the home from top to bottom to sweep away any bad luck from the previous year.

13. It is considered bad luck to own money from the previous year, so people try to pay any bills before the New Year.

14. It is bad luck to clean on New Year's Day. You might sweep away any good luck!

15. At exactly midnight on New Year's Eve, all windows and doors are opened to send away the old year and welcome in the new.

16. If a flower opens on New Year's Day, it is considered good luck.

The Legend of the Chinese Zodiac

Several stories are told about how twelve animals came to be honored with a year in the Chinese calendar.  One is that Buddha was having a party and invited all the animals of the world to come. It was very cold and only twelve animals braved the weather to attend the party. Buddha was so grateful to those that attended his party, that each that came got a year named in their honor. The rat was the first to get to the party, with the ox being second. If you look at the 12 year calendar, which animal arrived last? Man didn't brave the weather to come to the party and is the reason that a year isn't given to man on the calendar.

There are twelve animals in the Chinese calendar and everyone has a year in their honor. The year just ending was the year of the rat. Other animals  include: pig, monkey, snake, dragon, goat, rabbit, dog, tiger, rooster,and horse.

*Purple Annie at the Great Wall of China

•Write 3 things you learned that you found very interesting about Chinese New Year.

•Write a paragraph describing Chinese New Year. Include 4 facts learned from the information listed.

Teacher Page:

Extension Activities:

• Give students a handout of the information on Chinese New Year.  Have small groups use the information to make 5 comprehension questions to exchange with another group to answer. Regroup as a class and discuss the information presented.

• Check which animal you were born.  Draw a picture of your sign and write three character traits you feel you have. Give an example to back up your traits. http://china.mrdonn.org/zodiac.html

      • Illustrate/color one of the customs of Chinese New Year.

• Read a Chinese Folk story Story of the Foolish Old Man Who moved Mountains : http://myths.e2bn.org/mythsandlegends/userstory1637-how-the-foolish-old-man-moved-mountains.html

• Another Folk Story: http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/tikki.html

 • Chinese animated folk story: The Three MonksWrite a summary of the story:  chinese4kids.net/classical-chinese-animation-three-monks/

• Check out my purple bear’s photographs of our trip to China: http://www.gailhennessey.com/index.shtml?purpleanniestravels.html  Write a  post card pretending to be visiting the country of China. Include 3 facts learned about China from Purple Annie’s Travel page.

• Dragons and bats are considered good luck. Draw/color a picture of either a dragon or bat. Pretend your dragon or bat could grant you three good things to happen. What would you choose and why?

You may find these resource of interest. Take a look:

1. Country in Focus: China. A Webquest/ Extension Activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Country-in-Focus-China-A-WebquestExtension-Activities-1085517

1. Let’s Explore China!  Did you know that enough dirt was used to create the Great Wall of China to circle the earth with an 8 ft. high wall? Did you know that ice cream was probably first invented by the Chinese(frozen milk/rice)? Did you know that the yo-yo was invented by the Chinese or that the number 9 and the color red are considered good luck in China? I taught a unit on China for 32 years and would love to share some my notes, activities and resources I used with my students. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/China-Lets-Explore-China-520479

Gail Hennessey: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey

Note: Illustrations from wpclipart.com

The State of the Union Address is held in January: Interactive Notebook Activity

THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS: FACTOIDS

by

Gail Skroback Hennessey

The founding fathers stated in the Constitution that the President "shall from time to time give to Congress information of the State of the Union and recommend to their Consideration such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.” It wasn’t spelled out HOW the president was to do this or even when such an update should be given. The State of the Union Address has taken many forms since the birth of our nation. It has come to be an annual speech given by the President of the United States and is done in the month of January. In 2018, the address will be given on January 30th.

Click here for the downloadable version:  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/State-of-the-Union-Address-FREEBIE-FUN-FACTS-3605645

Did You Know?

1. Originally called the “Annual Message”, it was Franklin Delano Roosevelt who first used the phrase the "State of the Union" address. Interestingly, the words “State of the Union” appear in the U.S. Constitution.

2. Although there aren’t assigned seats for the State of the Union Address, usually Senators sit on the sides and members of the House sit in the middle of the House chamber.

3. Benjamin Harrison didn’t give a State of the Union Address as he was only president for 31 days. He caught a cold during his Inauguration Day ceremonies and died soon after. He was the first president to die while in office.  The only other president to not give a State of the Union Address was James Garfield. He was assassinated.

4. One member of the President’s cabinet does not attend the State of the Union Address. This “designated survivor” is taken to a secret location until the end of the speech.

5. President James  Polk announced during his speech that gold was discovered in California!

6. The State of the Union Address is given to the Congress at the U.S. Capitol.

7. During his last State of the Union Speech, President Harry S. Truman announced that a hydrogen bomb had been developed.

Your Turn:

1. If the President can not continue in his/her office, who is next in line in the Succession Act?___________ Do you know who is next in the list if this person can not take over the duties as the President?_________________
2. What would be ONE issue that you would focus on as President? Why? ________________________________________
3. Find 10 nouns in the Did You Know? list. ____________________________________________ Find 10 verbs in the Did You Know? list. ______________________________________________
4. Why do you think there is a member of the cabinet  picked as the “designated” survivor? ___________________________
5. Write ONE fact you know about the U.S. Capitol Building.___________________________

Teacher Page:

1. Ask the students if they have any prior knowledge about the State of the Union Address. Next, have the students read over the fact sheet and do the You Turn.

2. Regroup and discuss

3. You may want to share with students the Order of Presidential Succession: https://www.usa.gov/presidents#item-35877

Check out this resource to have students learn more about the history of the State of the Union Address. There are 10 web questions, 9 Did You Know? Facts, 6 comprehension questions, a student page(handout to give for homework or extra credit for the night of the State of the Union Address), a teacher page with a couple of extension activities and the key to both the web quest and the comprehension questions.  This would be a great opportunity to bring the news into the classroom with the 2018 State of the Union Address scheduled for January.  https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/State-of-the-Union-Address-A-HistoryWebquest-3599380

Are you READY for Groundhog Day?

Groundhog Day is February 2nd. It's a time when people look to a groundhog to find out whether or not we will be having six more weeks of winter. The idea dates back hundreds of years when people looked to hibernating animals such as badgers, hedgehogs and bears to see when they might wake up from their winter sleep.

According to the tradition, if the animals saw its shadow, winter would last several more weeks. If it didn't see it's shadow, spring would be soon arriving.

When Europeans, especially the Germans, came to the United States, they brought the tradition. The groundhog became the animals of choice as it hibernated and looked something like the European hedgehog. Groundhog Day started back in the 1880s with the first official celebration on February 2, 1887. The most famous groundhog weather forecaster is Punxsutawney Phil, of Punxsutawney, PA. On February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil , who lives at the Punxsutawney Library is taken to Gobbler Knob and placed in a heated burrow underneath a simulated tree stump on the stage near where hundreds have gathered. At 7:25 if Punxsutawney Phil comes out to make his weather prediction. If he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn't see his shadow, spring is on its way!

Did You Know? 

1. The groundhog, also called woodchuck, is a relatives of the squirrel. Learn some additional Fun facts about groundhogs at this link: http://www.groundhog.org/about/fun-facts-faq

2. Groundhog day is also celebrated in Canada on Feb. They have several weather forecasting groundhogs including Wiarton Willy, Shubenacadie Sam and Balzac Billy.

3. Did you know that Groundhog Day is an official university holiday at the University of Dallas(Irving, TX)? Celebrations are held in honor of the groundhog.

4. The very first mention of a Groundhog Day in the United States was found in a diary entry of James Morris. The year was 1841.

Extension activities:

1.Pretend you are a weather forecasting groundhog. Tell about your big day. What did you hear? What did you see? How did you feel being in the limelight?

2.Learn about the country of Germany: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/germany/#germany-munich-city-scene.jpg

3. Read more about the groundhog. Draw/color a picture and write 5 facts learned about the groundhog( in complete sentences): http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/groundhog/ 

4. The Groundhog isn't the only creature in nature that is used to help forecast weather. Can spiders predict a sunny day? My mother-in-law told me that if you see spiders hanging up their wash(making webs) early on a summer morning, it's a sign of a beautiful summer day. See chimney smoke going straight up on a winter's day? Another sign of nice weather. But, if you see ants building mounds, it's a sign of rain. Same with birds roosting on electrical wires, another sign of coming rain. There are lots of weather folklore. Being observant to nature, can help you predict the day's weather, without a weatherman. Illustrate a weather folklore: http://www.weatherwizkids.com/weather-folklore.htm 

Check out my Groundhog Day, Reader's Theater Script: Learn about the groundhog and the history of Groundhog Day with Ms. Bie Ografee's guest, Sarsaparilla, the Groundhog:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Groundhog-Day-A-Readers-Theater-ScriptVisit-with-a-Groundhog-2309751

Follow me at my TpT Store: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey

Photograph from wpclipart.com

Snow Factoids! Possible Interactive Notebook Activity!

SNOW FACTOIDS!

Get the free downloadable version at this link:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Snow-Factoids-An-Interactive-Notebook-ActivityFREEBIE-2259165

Snow Facts

by 

Gail Skroback Hennessey

Fun/Informative Interactive Notebook Activity!

1. One inch of water is about six inches of wet snow or 12 inches  of fluffy snow.

2. The world's largest snowflake was 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick. It fell in Fort Keogh, Montana, on January 28,1887.

3. Snow can be colors other than white, including blue, orange, green, yellow, and purple.  Actually, snowflakes are clear.

4. Air pollution caused orange snow to fall over an area of Siberia, Russia, in 2007.

5. Mount Baker,in the North Cascades, of  Washington State, holds the record for the most snowfall. 1140 inches fell during 1998-1999.

6. The record for the most snow in one storm, within 24 hours, was in Silver Lake, Colorado. Back in 1921, Silver Lake received  76 inches of snow.

7. Heilongjiang Province, China,holds the record for the world's largest snow sculpture. In 2007, a snow sculpture 656 ft. long and 116 ft. tall was made.

8. Snow flakes have SIX sides.

9. On average, a snowflake falls to earth at 3.1 mph.

10. One snowflake contains about 10 quintillion water molecules(that's the number 10 with 10 zeroes).

11. Did you know that Valdez, Alaska, averages 326 inches of snow a year? That makes it the snowiest state.

12. Wilson A. Bentley studied snowflakes for much of his life and is probably the most famous snowflake researcher. He was nicknamed "Snowflake Bentley. 

13.According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world record for the most snowmen built in one hour is 2,036. The record set, on February 28, 2015, involved 1406 people. 

14. If you have  "chionophobia", you have a fear of snow.

15. Bethel, Maine, has the record for the largest snowman ever built. A 122 ft. snow-woman was built in 2008.

Extension Activities:

1. Illustrate one of the factoids.

2. Pretend you are a snowflake. Tell about a day in your life. What did you do? What did you see? Feel? Etc.

3. Do a paper cutting of a snowflake. Write a poem using each of the letters of the word snowflake.

4. Locate 10 NOUNS and 10 VERBS in the factoid statements.

5. Pronouns are NOUN substitutes. Can you spot 7 PRONOUNS  in the Factoid statements?

Check out this resource: 

If you live where there is snow, you have probably built a snowman. The snowman has been around for quite a while. In fact, the earliest drawing of a snowman was found in a book dating back to 1380! The book,"Book of Hours" was found in a library in the country of the Netherlands. This resource has four snowmen reading passages:

1. Famous sculptor, Michelangelo, was hired to make a snowman for a wealthy person in Florence, Italy.

2. A snow man is used each April,to help predict the weather during a festival in the country of Switzerland.

3. One of the earliest written comments about snowmen dates back to 1690. Two snowman were left to guard Fort Schenectady, in New York, during a blizzard with very tragic consequences!

4. The world's record for the largest snowman, Olympia, was constructed in 2008. 13 million pounds of snow were used to make the amazing snow-woman! As of 2015, the record still stands.

Each short reading passage includes following directions to identify answers. There are also several extension activities and a Did you Know? section.

Snow Reading Passages/Extension Activities: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SNOWMEN-Four-Reading-Passages-2252375

Note: Illustration from Wpclipart.com