Chinese New Year Chinese New Year Project:Project:

A cyberlesson for Mrs. Violette’s period 2 classA cyberlesson for Mrs. Violette’s period 2 class

Lebanon Middle SchoolLebanon Middle School

Project DescriptionProject Description The Chinese New Year Project is a series of lessons The Chinese New Year Project is a series of lessons

designed to familiarize you with the use of designed to familiarize you with the use of computers as a research tool and as an effective way computers as a research tool and as an effective way to organize and present data. The project will to organize and present data. The project will require you to :require you to :

• Search for answers to questions about the Chinese New Year Search for answers to questions about the Chinese New Year using selected Internet sitesusing selected Internet sites

• Survey friends and family membersSurvey friends and family members• Combine your survey data with the rest of the class and Combine your survey data with the rest of the class and

calculate ratios and percentages based on the compiled data.calculate ratios and percentages based on the compiled data.• Use Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software to construct a bar Use Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software to construct a bar

graph and circle graph of the compiled datagraph and circle graph of the compiled data• Answer questions and make predictions based upon your Answer questions and make predictions based upon your

survey data and graphs.survey data and graphs.

IntroductionIntroduction

Did you know that the Chinese New Year Did you know that the Chinese New Year is one of the oldest holidays that is still is one of the oldest holidays that is still

celebrated today? Why is it important? celebrated today? Why is it important? How is it different from our New Year? How is it different from our New Year?

How can learning about the Chinese New How can learning about the Chinese New Year help us to put our math skills to use? Year help us to put our math skills to use? In this cyberlesson we will be learning the In this cyberlesson we will be learning the

answers to these and other important answers to these and other important questions. questions.

Chinese New Year Internet Chinese New Year Internet Scavenger HuntScavenger Hunt

Before we begin, let’s learn a little more about the Chinese Before we begin, let’s learn a little more about the Chinese New Year.... Click on the dragons to the right to visit three New Year.... Click on the dragons to the right to visit three websites that will teach you some important background websites that will teach you some important background information on the Chinese New Year. information on the Chinese New Year.

As you explore these websites, fill in this As you explore these websites, fill in this Chinese New Year Scavenger Hunt . Remember to use complete sentences and to write the name of the website on which you found your answer. After you have completed all of the questions save the scavenger hunt to your student folder and print a copy to hand in.

What is the Chinese New Year?What is the Chinese New Year?When is it celebrated?When is it celebrated?

China home page

Web-holidays

Victoria University

Chinese ZodiacChinese ZodiacAs you have learned, the twelve years of the As you have learned, the twelve years of the

Chinese calendar are represented by the twelve Chinese calendar are represented by the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Click on the zodiac animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Click on the zodiac

below to access the Chinese Zodiac worksheet. below to access the Chinese Zodiac worksheet. Using the websites as a guide, fill in the table on Using the websites as a guide, fill in the table on

the worksheet with the 12 animals signs and their the worksheet with the 12 animals signs and their corresponding birth years. After you have corresponding birth years. After you have

completed the table, save it to your student folder completed the table, save it to your student folder and print a copy to hand in.and print a copy to hand in.

What does your animal sign tell people What does your animal sign tell people about you?about you?

Just for fun click on each animal below to Just for fun click on each animal below to read about the personality traits associated read about the personality traits associated

with people born in that year!with people born in that year!

Chinese Zodiac SurveyChinese Zodiac Survey Now that we know some background on the Now that we know some background on the Chinese New Year it’s time to finally connect all Chinese New Year it’s time to finally connect all

of this to our math class!of this to our math class!

For this project you will need to survey 12 For this project you will need to survey 12 family members or friends and ask them the family members or friends and ask them the

Chinese animal sign of their birth year. Use the Chinese animal sign of their birth year. Use the information from the Chinese Zodiac information from the Chinese Zodiac

worksheet that you just completed as a guide in worksheet that you just completed as a guide in case your friends and family members do not case your friends and family members do not know their sign. YOU MAY NOT SURVEY know their sign. YOU MAY NOT SURVEY

MORE THAN FOUR SIXTH GRADE MORE THAN FOUR SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS! Record your results below the STUDENTS! Record your results below the

table on your Chinese Zodiac worksheet. table on your Chinese Zodiac worksheet.

Now it’s time to put all of Now it’s time to put all of

our individual survey data our individual survey data together to get our class together to get our class data. Make sure that you data. Make sure that you do this accurately - you do this accurately - you will be asked to calculate will be asked to calculate ratios and percentages ratios and percentages based on this class data! based on this class data! Click on the lantern to the Click on the lantern to the right and follow the right and follow the directions to complete the directions to complete the class survey results table. class survey results table. Be sure to save and print Be sure to save and print the table after you have the table after you have completed it.completed it.

Survey ResultsSurvey Results

Presenting Your DataPresenting Your Data Did you know that a computer can instantly calculate Did you know that a computer can instantly calculate

all of the ratios and percentages that you just finished finding all of the ratios and percentages that you just finished finding - and at the same time graph all of your data so that it is - and at the same time graph all of your data so that it is easier for other people to read ?!? As part of this project, we easier for other people to read ?!? As part of this project, we will be learning how to do this quickly and easily using will be learning how to do this quickly and easily using Microsoft Excel. Microsoft Excel.

Click on the scroll below and print a copy of the Click on the scroll below and print a copy of the Chinese New Year Project Excel Directions. Then return to Chinese New Year Project Excel Directions. Then return to this screen and click on the Excel logo to be taken to Microsoft this screen and click on the Excel logo to be taken to Microsoft Excel. Follow the directions that you printed to create a bar Excel. Follow the directions that you printed to create a bar graph and a circle graph of the your class’ Chinese New Year graph and a circle graph of the your class’ Chinese New Year Project data. Project data.

Microsoft Excel.lnk

Reflection QuestionsReflection Questions

No class project could be complete without No class project could be complete without reflecting on what you have learned! Click reflecting on what you have learned! Click

on the symbol below to answer a few on the symbol below to answer a few questions about this activity. After questions about this activity. After answering the questions in complete answering the questions in complete

sentences, print your responses to the sentences, print your responses to the questions to be handed in.questions to be handed in.

Putting It All TogetherPutting It All TogetherYour Chinese New Year Project counts for a test Your Chinese New Year Project counts for a test

grade. Please make sure to assemble all of the grade. Please make sure to assemble all of the following papers -in order- to be handed in on the following papers -in order- to be handed in on the

due date:due date:

• completed Chinese New Year Scavenger Huntcompleted Chinese New Year Scavenger Hunt• completed Chinese Zodiac worksheet with individual completed Chinese Zodiac worksheet with individual

survey datasurvey data• completed Class Survey Results worksheetcompleted Class Survey Results worksheet• page 2 of your Excel document (circle graph and bar page 2 of your Excel document (circle graph and bar

graph of your class data)graph of your class data)• completed Reflection Questionscompleted Reflection Questions

grading rubric grading rubric

RubricRubric3 points 2 points 1 point

Chinese New Year Scavenger Hunt

All questions are answered thoroughly and in complete sentences. Websites are cited.

All of the questions are answered but not necessarily thoroughly or in complete sentences. Website citations may be missing.

Some questions are not answered. Answers are not in complete sentences. Website citations are missing.

Chinese Zodiac worksheet Chart is filled out completely and correctly. All survey data is present.

Chart is filled out but may have minor mistakes. Survey data is present but may have errors such as too many or too few people surveyed.

Chart is not filled out correctly. Survey data is incomplete.

Class Survey Results Sheet Class data is recorded accurately. All ratios and percentages are correct.

Class data is recorded accurately. Most ratios and percentages are correct.

Class data is not recorded correctly. More than a few ratios and percentages are incorrect.

Excel Graphs All directions are followed to the letter. Graphs are accurate.

Minor mistakes in following directions. Graphs are accurate.

Mistakes in following directions. Graphs are not accurate.

Chinese New Year Reflection Questions

Questions are answered in complete sentences. Answers are thoughtful and insightful.

Questions are not in complete sentences, but do reflect thought on the topic.

Questions are not answered in complete sentences. Answers lack thought.