Each new lunar year is marked by one of the 12 zodiac animals. Typically, the animals include the horse, goat/sheep, monkey, rooster/chicken, dog, pig, rat/mouse, ox/bull, tiger, rabbit, dragon, and snake. Some cultures have slight differences; in Vietnam, for example, a cat replaces the rabbit.
What is your Chinese zodiac sign?
What are your family's Zodiac signs?
Can you retell the story of the Big Race?
More Animals动物
Charades: Students write the animal name in Chinese/Pinyin on the whiteboard while one student acts out the animal of his/her choice.
Secret Animal：
One student is a secret animal. They do not know what the animal is but the rest of the class does.
Student asks: shì__________ma?
Class: bú shì (no) / shì (yes)
Student asks again: shì__________ma?
*Increase the difficulty level: have 2-3 students come up and be different animals at once and see who guesses which animal they are first.
*Game rule is similar to "Hot Seat"
Have a student sit in a chair facing the class but in a way that he/she can’t see the board. Write the name of an animal on the board.
Draw an animal card and have one person (teacher or the student) peek at it. The class takes turns asking Yes/No questions about the animal. They have to guess what the animal is within 6 questions or they lose and you win. This could be done in small groups, whole class or partners. For this game, I could question by tally marks that everyone can see.
Pictionary:
One student draws on the board (student must finish the drawing with one continuous line in one try). The class takes turns to guess what the animal drawing is.
The student will answer bú shì (no) if the guess is wrong, and shì (yes) if it's correct.
Action Game:
Call out the name of the animal in Chinese and students reach to grab it. The first student to grab the correct animal gets a point. Track the points and give a small prize to the winner at the end of the game. Students can also take turns at naming the animals.
Listen to the Children's song "Who are you" and sing along.
你是谁？Who are You?
喵喵喵 你是谁？
miāo*3, nǐ shì shéi?
喵喵喵 我是猫
miāo*3, wǒ shì māo.
汪 wāng........ gǒu狗dog
喳 zhā...........niǎo鸟bird
咩miē........yáng羊sheep
哞mōu..............niú牛bull
嘎gā.................yā鸭duck
吱zhī.........lǎoshǔ老鼠mouse
呱guā...........qīngwā青蛙frog
叽jī.......................jī鸡chicken