January 26th is the Chinese New Year celebration for 2009. Last year at this time this blog was participating in Just Science Week, so I had a special Chinese Science post for Chinese New Year. I like these resources so much that I'm bringing it back for 2009. Maybe you didn't get around to all the activities and you'd like a second chance! Plus you have to be as excited as I am to see the Taikonauts posters again.

One of the most striking differences between the cultures of the United States and of China is the esteem in which we hold scientists. In China, scientists are celebrities, and there is a great deal of pride in scientific accomplishment. In the United States, students who are skilled in science may be embarrassed by the fact, and are almost certainly not popular for it in the way that the skilled sports players or the winner of the local "Battle of the Bands" may be.

Why not make Chinese New Year 2009 in your classroom an opportunity to lionize scientists?

First, set the mood:

• Print a cute Chinese Zodiac poster or Happy New Year Poster.
• Print out a Chinese Zodiac Card game for a center, or to dress up your bulletin board.
• A simple craft can start with this printable lantern.
• You can find many nice coloring pages for the younger students at that link.

Now, look at Ancient China's contributions to science:

• a thinkquest on Ancient Chinese technology.
• Inventions credited to Ancient China include the compass, paper, ink, printing, fireworks, gunpowder, porcelain, the wheelbarrow, the seismograph, umbrellas, multi-stage rockets, the process of casting iron, row agriculture, winnowing, clocks, matches, kites, noodles, the abacus, paper money, and saddles, among many other things. Have a reference race, using encyclopedias or search engines, and find as many Chinese inventions as possible in one hour. This can be a team sport,or let it be a cooperative practice of research skills. Have students write the names of inventions on cards as they find them, and compile a bulletin board or pocket chart collection of them.
• A more limited version of this project, with answers provided, can be found here. This AskAsia lesson is a timesaving choice.
• One of our favorite lessons on this topic is a reconstruction of the ancient Chinese seismograph. Read here about this lesson and try it yourself.

Some links on modern China's science:

• Go Taikonauts! is a site with links for the Chinese astronauts, or "taikonauts." Many of the pages are available in English. Explore the information about China's manned space flight. Admire the promotional posters for China's space program.
• Chinese stamps honor modern scientists. Practice research skills by learning about these scientist's contributions.
• Dragon Science has a lesson on fuzzy logic and binary processing, using simple examples to get this complex concept across. China is now the leader in "fuzzy science."
• Some describe China as a "technocracy": a nation ruled by scientists and engineers. Here is a Time article on the subject which would make a good reading passage for middle and high school.

Now let's create some science heroes for our own classrooms:

• Here you will find an assortment of science heroes from the My Hero project. This is a great time to participate in this project, if your school hasn't done so yet!
• The Office of Science has a Hall of Science Heroes. Why not make a Wall of Science Heroes on your bulletin board?
• Once your class comes up with some science heroes, design Science Hero Trading Cards. Check out Albert Einstein's Trading Card at The (Real) Heroes Club for inspiration. Here is a diagram from Mirkwood showing how to cut card stock into trading card shapes with the least waste; get some measuring skills practice in with this, or use this PDF template. From the same source, a printable card case for your collection, or a Chinese take-out box template to keep the Chinese New Year theme going. Either way, these will make a great start to an ongoing collection of heroes of science.

Gung hai fat choi!