Name: edHelper

Chinese Fable: Chinese Zodiac

Long ago in China, the Jade Emperor, the almighty Chinese God, decided to have a race. The Jade Emperor was the ruler of the heavens. He announced that he would set up a system that runs in a 12-year cycle. He called it the Zodiac. He offered to hold a contest on his birthday. The first twelve animals of his kingdom to arrive at the finish line would receive the honor of having a year named after them. All the animals were very excited!

Rat was ambitious. It wanted to win the first prize. Yet, it had two problems. The first was about the timing. Because the race would start at the crack of dawn, Rat was afraid that it could not wake up on time. The second was about the route. As the finish line would be directly beyond a swift river, Rat needed to find a way to cross the current. Just when Rat was contemplating a solution, it bumped into its best friend, Cat. After a lengthy discussion, the two animals came up with a brilliant idea. They decided to solicit help from Ox. Rat and Cat figured that Ox - always being an early riser and a good swimmer - could wake them up before sunrise and carry them across the river. With their minds made up, Rat and Cat went to see Ox. Out of kindness, Ox agreed to help. Hence, the three animals formed an alliance. They promised to help each other, so they could share the first prize.

On the day of the race, Ox woke up Rat and Cat and put them on its back. Just when Ox was half way across the river, Rat had a second thought about the plan. It wondered, "Why should I share the glory with Cat? Look at it! It just lies on Ox's back sleeping! What a lazy animal Cat is! Come to think of it, what if Cat decides not to honor the agreement? It runs fast. Surely, it can get to the finish line before I do, once Ox reaches the bank." Eager to win, Rat decided to get rid of Cat. It quietly crept next to Cat and gave it a push. SPLASH! Cat fell into the river. Not knowing how to swim, Cat called out for help. To its horror, Rat pretended not to hear its pleas and urged Ox to keep on moving.

Finally, Ox reached the other side of the river and climbed ashore. As soon as they were on the dry land, Rat jumped from Ox's back and ran ahead toward the finish line. Ox could not believe its eyes! It called out, "Wait for me! I thought we had a pact! And where is Cat?" Rat didn't stop. It kept on charging ahead. Just as it had dreamed,Rat won the contest! The Jade Emperor congratulated Rat and named the first year "Rat." Before long, Ox also reached the finish line and took the second spot. Ox was furious at Rat. It accused Rat of breaking the deal. Rat laughed smugly and said, "How naive you are! Why should I - the smartest of all creatures - share the title with Cat and you? It's your own mistake to trust me!" Ox wanted to argue more, but it was not very good at expressing its opinions. Though upset by Rat's deceitful act, Ox decided to drop the matter.

Then, Tiger arrived and settled for the third prize. The Jade Emperor waited patiently for more animals to come. From a distance, he heard a thumping sound and saw Rabbit leaping toward him. He registered Rabbit as the fourth Zodiac animal. Just as he was recording Rabbit in his book, Dragon descended from the sky and took the fifth place. The Jade Emperor wondered how Rabbit crossed the river and why Dragon came so late. Rabbit answered first. It told the Jade Emperor that, thanks to its powerful hind legs, it was able to jump from one stone to another that were scattered across the riverbed. Dragon apologized to the Jade Emperor for being late. It said that, on the way here, it saw people crying and stopped to ask why. People told Dragon that they wanted to grow rice, but there wasn't enough rain. Feeling compassion, Dragon gathered clouds and made rain for them. The Jade Emperor was happy. He praised Rabbit for its quick wit and Dragon for its unselfishness.

Next to reach the finish line was Snake. It beat Horse by a narrow margin.

The Jade Emperor looked out to the river and saw Monkey, Goat, and Rooster standing on a log and working as a team to maneuver their makeshift raft across the swift current. Once ashore, they helped each other to reach the destination. Goat took eighth place, Monkey ninth, and Rooster took tenth.

After a while, no other animals showed up. Then, suddenly, Dog emerged. It told the Jade Emperor that it could have been here earlier, had it not stopped to play in the water.

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Now, just one more spot was left in the Chinese Zodiac. Which animal would come next? Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Chicken, Dog, and the Jade Emperor all fixed their eyes on a black dot that gradually drew closer. Aha! It was Pig. Pig told the Jade Emperor that it overslept. It was happy that it secured the last prize!

The Jade Emperor gathered all twelve winners together and congratulated them. Then, all of a sudden, he heard noises coming from the direction of the river. He turned to look what the commotion was about. It was Cat! Soaking wet and gasping, Cat rushed to the Jade Emperor and called out, "I am here! I am here! Did I win?" The Jade Emperor explained to Cat that it was too late. He only needed twelve animals for the Zodiac, and unfortunately, Cat was the 13th animal to cross the finish line. Enraged, Cat charged toward Rat and wanted to kill the betrayer. Yet, Rat was faster. It sought refuge by hiding under the Jade Emperor's chair. Seeing this and not wanting to anger the Jade Emperor, Cat refrained from its pursuit. It vowed that Rat would now be its archenemy. From that point on even until today, Rat always tries to stay clear of Cat!

Chinese Fable: Chinese Zodiac

Questions

1. How many animals does the Chinese Zodiac have?

A. sevenB. twelveC. thirteenD. twenty

2. Which three animals teamed up to cross the river with a log?

A. Rooster, Monkey, and GoatB. Dragon, Tiger, and RabbitC. Pig, Dog, and HorseD. Rat, Cat, and Ox

3. Why did Dragon come late?

A. It stopped on the way to make rain.B. It stopped on the way to burn a forest.C. It stopped on the way to put out a fire.D. It stopped on the way to kidnap a princess.

4. Jade Emperor was disgusted by Rat's cheating act, so he disqualified Rat and gave the first prize to Cat.

A. trueB. false

5. Rabbit crossed the river by hopping from one stone to another that were scattered across the riverbed.

A. trueB. false

6. Which of the following animals represents the seventh year of the Chinese Zodiac?

A. MonkeyB. HorseC. RabbitD. Pig

word root con can mean together or with conclusive, construct, convivial

Name:edHelper

Only use a pencil to write the numbers on the blank

lines. You do not need any scrap paper! Solve it in

your head. If you forget a number, then start over.

Cool, huh?

imagine 7 in your head

subtract 2

imagine 8 in your head

subtract 5

add 2

imagine 3 in your head

add 3

add 1

imagine 9 in your head

double it

subtract 4

add 9

Write the number.

A

Write the number.

B

Write the number.

C

Write the number.

D E

What is the sum?

A + B + C + D + E

Wow! Great job! That's the answer, but do you know how to SPELL the number?

- t

9 after 13 7 before 13 6 before 17

6 after 18 9 before 14 2 before 11

7 after 12 5 before 12 1 before 18

3 after 16 3 before 16 4 before 19

Name: edHelper

Fifteen Days of the Chinese New YearBy Joyce Furstenau

Al Tuan lives in ChinaWith his father and his mother,And for the fifteen days of New YearEach day is like no other.

Before the Chinese New Year starts,Al will sweep and mop and dust.For cleaning out the old waysIs a Chinese New Year must.

His family shops for oranges,For fish and flowering plums.His family wants to be prepared

When the Chinese New Year comes.

Red is a happy color;Al puts red cutouts on the door.He helps his mother cook some dumplings,And he helps her sweep the floor.

On the first day of the New YearFamily members they will greet.On the second day his familyGives their dog a special treat.

Then on the third and fourth daysHis grandparents Al will see.On the fifth day of the New YearThey will receive no company.

On the sixth day Al will visit friends.His family will pray.On the seventh they eat noodlesAnd see the farm crops on display.

Day eight is a special dayFor all of the familyTo sit and eat togetherFish and fruit and Chinese tea.

The Jade Emperor is honoredWith offerings so fine.Al's family will bring some too;That's the custom on day nine.

Name: edHelper

Days ten through twelve are alsoFor feasting on fine food.There is duck and crab and pork,And more Chinese tea is brewed.

On day thirteen, it's time to stopEating for a while.Simple rice and mustard greensIs the Chinese New Year style.

On day fourteen, Al's familyKnows the New Year will come soon.They rest and prepare for tomorrow,When they see the bright full moon.

On day fifteen, it's New Year's Day.There's the Lantern FestivalMay you have good luck and happiness.May your problems all be small.

Next will be a big parade.A Chinese dragon will appear.That night fireworks light the skyThen Al will start a brand new year.

Fifteen Days of the Chinese New Year

Questions

1. How many days are in the Chinese New Year?

A. 7B. 15C. 12D. 30

2. How many people in all are in Al's family?

A. fourB. twoC. sixD. three

3. What does Al do before the New Year starts?

A. cleans the houseB. makes a pieC. feeds his fishD. plays in the yard

Name: edHelper

4. What color is a special color in China?

A. orangeB. redC. blueD. purple

5. Which of these foods can Al eat on the first day of New Year?

A. orangesB. meatballsC. hamD. chicken

6. Which animal is honored on the second day?

A. dogB. catC. pigD. cow

7. What special person is honored on the ninth day?

A. Grandfather TuanB. the Jade EmperorC. Al TuanD. the Chinese dragon

8. What happens on day thirteen?

A. Al eats pie and cake.B. Al eats nothing.C. Al's family eats all day.D. Al eats only rice and greens.

9. The Lantern Festival is held on which day?

10. What does Al's family see at the very end of the last day?

91+

How many dots on the bug? How many?

Name:edHelper

How many?

2101+

6201+

What time is it?

34

5678910

11 12 12

___:___

Holly took her empty backpack and filled it with tennis balls. Estimate how many tennis balls you think she was able to fit into her backpack.

928-

How many?

52-

17, , , , 21, 22

524+

How much is this?95, , , ,

, , 101

word root enni can mean year bicentennial, centennial, perennial

Name: edHelper

Po's New YearBy Mary Lynn Bushong

Li Po sat down on a stool. He was tired. He had been helping clean the house. His mother said they were sweeping away last year's bad luck.

Po was not too sure about that. He had looked at the dirt. It only looked like dirt. What did bad luck look like?

The boy did not sit very long. His grandmother had more work for him to help do.

When they were finally done, Grandmother put the broom and dustpan away. "We have swept away all the bad luck," she said to Po. "We do not want to sweep away good luck, too, so we put them away."

Mother was in the kitchen making supper. He liked to watch his mother prepare the meal.

The Chinese New Year's Eve supper was always something special. His aunts and uncles would be coming to eat here because this was where their mother lived.

Sometimes Po's mother complained about all the extra work. He knew that she was really very proud. It was a great honor to have everyone come to their house.

Mother was busy preparing the fish and chicken. They would have at least eight different foods to eat.

Po loved the oranges and the dumplings best of all. The other foods, like the long noodles and sticky rice cakes,were also tasty. When they had so many foods, it was thought that they could make the new year better.

Soon relatives began to arrive. Po's cousins came. They took the red paper posters that Po's father had made and hung them on the walls and in the windows. Many of them had the word "fu," which means luck and happiness. It made Po feel good to see the posters.

Everyone was expected to talk a lot during the meal. The family laughed and told stories. If they all talked enough, it could help Grandmother live longer. That's what Po's father told him. Po liked his grandmother.

They had lots of food, but not all of it was eaten that evening. It was good luck to save some for the next day. That could mean there would be plenty of food for the whole year.

Po's favorite part of the whole evening was still to come. Red packets of money would soon be given out. He could hardly wait. If he was lucky, it would be enough to buy something he wanted.

He smiled. He heard that some people only celebrated the new year for one day. In China, they celebrated for fifteen days! That made him feel lucky.

Name: edHelper

Po's New Year

Questions

1. Why was Po helping his family clean the house?

A. to get rid of bad luckB. to have plenty of work in the new yearC. to make everyone happyD. to waste time

2. The broom was put away so they would not sweep away ______.

3. Po liked to watch his mother cook.

A. falseB. true

4. Po's mother was cooking hamburgers for supper.

A. trueB. false

5. What word meant luck and happiness?

A. fuB. chiC. chuD. fan

6. Why did Po's family make sure not to eat all the food?

A. It was considered good luck to save food for the next day.B. They could eat leftovers.C. They could feed the dog.D. They could give some to the poor.

7. What was given in red packets?

How much is this? How many dots on the bug?

2201+

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Cross off the number that does NOT belong.

8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 26

Why does __________ not belong in the pattern?

Cross off the letter or number that does NOT belong.

F, F, 3, 3, 6, F, F, 3, 3, 6, F, F, 3, 3, 3, 6, F

Why does __________ not belong in the pattern?