Signs of the Chinese Zodiac
In Signs of the Chinese Zodiac, it is 2016 and the start of the Year of the Monkey. That means that markets are filled with red lanterns and monkey decorations. What does the Year of the Monkey mean for people who were born in that year? This video is excerpted from BBC’s Chinese New Year: The Biggest Celebration on Earth, a documentary series detailing the world's largest annual human migration (Chunyun), where over 1.5 billion people celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Lesson Express
Q: What did you notice about the market?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may mention the number of red lanterns and the amount of red material. They may notice the stuffed monkeys.
Q: What do you wonder about the Chinese Zodiac after watching this video?
A: Student responses will vary. Students may wonder what other animals are in the zodiac or how to know which zodiac sign is theirs.
Q: How do people in China use the Chinese Zodiac?
A: They use the zodiac to make predictions about the year and to define characteristics or personality traits.
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