Grade 2 - Early Asian Civilizations

Early Asian Civilizations: Supplemental Guide 14A | Chinese New Year 259

Discussing the Read-Aloud 10 minutes

Comprehension Questions

If students have difficulty responding to questions, reread pertinent lines

of the read-aloud and/or refer to specific images. Ask students to answer

in complete sentences by having them restate the question in their

responses. Model answers using complete sentences as necessary.

1. Literal What is the main topic of today’s read-aloud?
   
   
   • The main topic of today’s read-aloud is about Chinese New Year and
     how the Chinese celebrate Chinese New Year.
   
   
   
   


2. Literal When is Chinese New Year celebrated?
   
   
   • Chinese New Year is celebrated sometime at the end of January to the
     middle of February. It begins on a day of the new moon.
     How come Chinese New Year is not celebrated on the same days
     each year?
   
   
   • Chinese New Year is not celebrated on the same days each year
     because the Chinese use the lunar calendar, and their new year begins
     on a new moon.
   
   
   
   


3. Literal What do Chinese people do to prepare for Chinese New Year?
   
   
   • They clean their homes, set off fireworks, buy new clothes, get a haircut,
     forgive past grudges, give red envelopes, and prepare special foods.
   
   
   
   


4. Literal What are symbols of good fortune?
   
   
   • The color red and the dragon are symbols of good fortune.
   
   
   
   


5. Evaluative What differences are there between the Chinese New Year
   celebration and the New Year’s celebration in the United States?
   
   
   • New Year’s in the United States happens on the same day every year,
     January 1, and lasts for one day. The Chinese New Year begins with a
     new moon in either January or February and lasts two weeks. They are
     celebrated with different activities.
   
   
   
   


6. Literal When do the Chinese celebrate their birthdays?
   
   
   • The Chinese celebrate their birthdays on the seventh day of the Chinese
     New Year.
      Show image 14A-6: Twelve animal signs of Chinese New Year
   
   
   
   


7. Inferential Why is each year named after an animal?
   [Invite students to say the names of each animal, starting with the rat.]

• Each year is named after an animal because, according to a Buddhist