Happy Chinese New Year!

Student Resources Teacher Resources

 Scenario


Your teacher has just announced that you will have a celebration in honor of the Chinese New Year, but your class has to provide the entertainment!  After brainstorming, your class has decided to have a puppet show, but how will you make the puppets? 

You have been learning about tangrams in math.  You have learned what shapes make up the tangram.  You also know that Chinese storytellers use tangrams to tell stories.  You wonder, "Could we slide, flip and rotate the shapes to create characters for our puppet show?"
Task  

First, you will research important facts about the Chinese New Year.

Next, you will practice flipping, sliding, and rotating tangram pieces at this web site.

Then, you will use these directions to create your own tangram pieces to make your puppet.

Finally,  you will work with a group to write: 

an Introduction for your puppet show.  Your Introduction should have important facts about ways to celebrate the Chinese New Year.
a script with a beginning, middle, and end about the adventures of your tangram characters.

Product

 

 

 You're going to slide, flip, and rotate tangram pieces to make a character for your puppet show. 

Then, you will create the puppet by gluing the shapes onto a stick or paper bag.

Next, you and your group will write the script for your puppet show.  

Remember, that you need an Introduction that tells important facts about the Chinese New Year.
Your story needs a beginning, middle and end.
For an example on a traditional Chinese story, click here.  Need another example?  Read the Chinese Tale, "A Bright Pearl."

Finally, perform your puppet show and enjoy your celebration.

 

Assessments


 Click on the rubric below to help you do your very best work!

Puppet Show Rubric

Question

 

       

Essential Question:  How can I slide, flip, and rotate tangram pieces to make a new figure?

Subsidiary questions
How do people in China celebrate the Chinese New Year?
What are the shapes that make up the tangram?
How many times can you flip a triangle to show it a different way?
How many times can you rotate a triangle to show it a different way?
How many times can you flip a square to show it a different way?
How many times can you rotate a square to show it a different way?
How many times can you flip a parallelogram to show it a different way?
How many times can you rotate a parallelogram to show it a different way?

Gather and Sort


 Use the Tangram Chart to organize what you learn.

Use a variety of sources to gather your information.

Use the Planning Checklist to help you stay on track.

 

Organize
Use drawings and words to write directions for a friend on how to construct your tangram character.

 

After all work is completed, use the planning checklist again to make sure you did your best work.  

Conclusion

 Reflection and/or Extension Activities: 
  1. How are the ways that many Americans celebrate New Year's different from and the same as the way the Chinese New Year is celebrated?
  2. Practice your math skills even more by using this web site to create Origami models.

 

Last update: July, 2004
Created by Sharon Grimes 

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