Chinese New Year
Project:
A cyberlesson for Mrs. Violette’s period 2 class
Lebanon Middle School
Project Description
The Chinese New Year Project is a series of lessons
designed to familiarize you with the use of
computers as a research tool and as an effective way
to organize and present data. The project will
require you to :
• Search for answers to questions about the Chinese New Year
using selected Internet sites
• Survey friends and family members
• Combine your survey data with the rest of the class and
calculate ratios and percentages based on the compiled data.
• Use Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software to construct a bar
graph and circle graph of the compiled data
• Answer questions and make predictions based upon your
survey data and graphs.
Introduction
Did you know that the Chinese New Year
is one of the oldest holidays that is still
celebrated today? Why is it important?
How is it different from our New Year?
How can learning about the Chinese New
Year help us to put our math skills to use?
In this cyberlesson we will be learning the
answers to these and other important
questions.
Chinese New Year Internet
Scavenger Hunt
China home page
What is the Chinese New Year?
When is it celebrated?
Before we begin, let’s learn a little more about the Chinese
New Year.... Click on the dragons to the right to visit three
websites that will teach you some important background
information on the Chinese New Year.
Web-holidays
Victoria University
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.
Chinese Zodiac
As you have learned, the twelve years of the
Chinese calendar are represented by the twelve
animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Click on the zodiac
below to access the Chinese Zodiac worksheet.
Using the websites as a guide, fill in the table on
the worksheet with the 12 animals signs and their
corresponding birth years. After you have
completed the table, save it to your student folder
and print a copy to hand in.
What does your animal sign tell people
about you?
Just for fun click on each animal below to
read about the personality traits associated
with people born in that year!
Chinese Zodiac Survey
Now that we know some background on the
Chinese New Year it’s time to finally connect all
of this to our math class!
For this project you will need to survey 12
family members or friends and ask them the
Chinese animal sign of their birth year. Use the
information from the Chinese Zodiac worksheet
that you just completed as a guide in case your
friends and family members do not know their
sign. YOU MAY NOT SURVEY MORE THAN
FOUR SIXTH GRADE STUDENTS! Record
your results below the table on your Chinese
Zodiac worksheet.
Survey Results
Now it’s time to put all of
our individual survey
data together to get our
class data. Make sure
that you do this
accurately - you will be
asked to calculate ratios
and percentages based on
this class data! Click on
the lantern to the right
and follow the directions
to complete the class
survey results table. Be
sure to save and print the
table after you have
completed it.
Presenting Your Data
Did you know that a computer can instantly calculate 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 easier
for other people to read ?!? As part of this project, we will be
learning how to do this quickly and easily using Microsoft
Excel.
Click on the scroll below and print a copy of the Chinese
New Year Project Excel Directions. Then return to this screen
and click on the Excel logo to be taken to Microsoft Excel.
Follow the directions that you printed to create a bar graph
and a circle graph of the your class’ Chinese New Year Project
data.
Reflection Questions
No class project could be complete without
reflecting on what you have learned! Click
on the symbol below to answer a few
questions about this activity. After answering
the questions in complete sentences, print
your responses to the questions to be handed
in.
Putting It All Together
Your Chinese New Year Project counts for a test
grade. Please make sure to assemble all of the
following papers -in order- to be handed in on the
due date:
• completed Chinese New Year Scavenger Hunt
• completed Chinese Zodiac worksheet with individual
survey data
• completed Class Survey Results worksheet
• page 2 of your Excel document (circle graph and bar
graph of your class data)
• completed Reflection Questions
grading rubric
Rubric
3 points
2 points
1 point
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.
Chinese New Year Scavenger
Hunt