Below we have depicted all the characters of the Chinese Zodiac. This year, 2008, it is the Year of the Rat. You can print off each of the characters to colour in and make your own Chinese Zodiac wall display. Or why not have a Chinese theme for snack time - cook some noodles and use chopsticks to eat them with !!

This pack includes A Foundation Stage Medium Term Plan (Word Format), 4 Focus Plans, in word format - Chinese Lanterns , Chinese Writing , Cooking Stir Fry  and Dragon Dance. Instructions for making a festive Chinese lantern (in word format) .An A4 colour picture of a chinese dragon/lion, and the 12 Chinese symbols that represent the signs of the zodiac e.g. the chinese symbol for dog. 

Here is a selection of pdf activity and practice sheets featuring characters from the Chinese Zodiac.

You will need 2 pieces of thin A4 sized coloured card, 2 sheets of A4 sized coloured paper, scissors and a glue stick.

Click here to get a diagram to print out. LANTERN
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1. Cut each piece of card lengthways into 4 equal strips, to make 8 strips.
2. Fold 6 strips in half (A,B,C and E,F,G), cut the remaining two in half and fold these halves in half (D and H).
3. Form two strips e.g. B & C and F & G into squares
4. Apply glue to one side of the small strips (D & H) and use to secure the corners of each square.

You should now have 2 cardboard squares.

5. Fold the 2 pieces of A4 paper in half and cut along the fold, to create 4 pieces of A5 sized paper.
6. Let the children decorate the paper with pictures of dragons and snakes and chinese style writing.
7. Put the 4 pieces of paper together and fold concertina fashion, keeping the folds relatively narrow.
8. Separate the paper and rearrange to ensure the folds are going in the same direction.
9. Apply glue to the inside of the top fold of one piece of paper and stick it to the outside rim of one of the cardboard squares. Apply glue to the inside of the bottom fold of the paper and stick it to the rim of the other cardboard square.
10. Repeat step 9 for the other 3 pieces of paper.
11. Glue the ends of the remaining cardboard strips together to form a long handle and glue this to the top of the lantern.

Now you should have a square chinese lantern !!