Overview: Animals continue to have diverse purposes in our modern-day lives and are associated with myths and legends across all cultures. The twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac each have distinct ‘personal characteristics’ for those born in the associated years, which are fun to consider against someone’s real personality traits. There is a tale of how the twelve particular animals were chosen for the special honour of representing the Zodiac, too. Within this topic, students will gain the vocabulary needed to talk about the Chinese Zodiac and to talk about household pets. They could also extend themselves to identify in Chinese places where animals live (i.e. the zoo, the farm, the home). Developing an understanding about the significance of the Zodiac animals will lead students to have a deeper knowledge of Chinese New Year traditions.
