According to the Chinese zodiac, 2017 is the Year of the Rooster. But why? Viewers are treated to a retelling of The Great Race myth that details the story behind the animal signs, their arrangement on the Chinese zodiac, and the characteristics associated with those born in the year of each shuxiang.

Concepts

the chinese new year, world holidays, myths, mythology, the chinese zodiac

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Additional Tags

social studies

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Instructional Ideas

• Flip the lesson having class members view the video, complete the comprehension check, and research some of the links before returning for a whole class discussion
• Have class members research their own shuxiang, create a image, and add it to a poster that details the characteristics of a person born during a particular year, month, and hour
• Include the video in a study of the Lunar New Year holiday or as part of a mythology unit
• Assign groups different animals and have them use the details in the myth to identify the personality traits of people born during that lunar year

Classroom Considerations

• The Chinese calendar years do not start on January 1st; therefore, provide a chart that lists the months and years for each animal in the Chinese Zodiac

Pros

• The video includes the Chinese words for each of the concepts mentioned
• Embedded in the myth are the characteristics associated with each animal

Cons

• None