This Chinese New Year Reader's Theater Script includes 16 speaking parts. It explains how Chinese Zodiac animals were chosen.
Chinese New Year Reader's Theater - Chinese Zodiac Animals - Image 2
Chinese New Year Reader's Theater - Chinese Zodiac Animals - Image 3
Chinese New Year Reader's Theater - Chinese Zodiac Animals - Image 4

Chinese New Year Reader’s Theater – Chinese Zodiac Animals

$5.00

No prep necessary! This Chinese New Year Reader’s Theater script tells the mythological story of “The Race for the Zodiac.” It’s fun and easy way to introduce middle grade students to an important Chinese New Year legend. Includes 16 speaking parts. Just print and go!

As an American expat living in Shanghai, I love Chinese New Year and have really enjoyed creating activities to go with this granddaddy of all Chinese holidays. “The Race for the Zodiac” story is famous here in China because it tells the story of how certain animals were selected to represent the Chinese zodiac and why they appear in a particular order.

Add to WishlistAlready In Wishlist
Add to Wishlist
20% off $100 Discount
30% off $150 or more

Description

Click to see the full PDF preview of this resource. Click here to see this resource in the MrsReaderPants TPT store. 

FAST FACTS ABOUT THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR READER’S THEATER SCRIPT

  • Recommended for: Grades 4-7
  • Lesson Duration: less than 30 minutes
  • Formats: PDF
  • Editable: NO
  • Number of pages: 7

ABOUT THE CHINESE NEW YEAR READER’S THEATER SCRIPT

  • It’s original. I added humorous lines and personality to each animal character. The zodiac animals have specific personalities in Chinese mythology, and the dialogue for each animal reflects its unique personality.
  • All text is editable! The script comes in two formats: PowerPoint (editable text) and PDF (not editable). To comply with clip artists’ ToUs, the clip art has been flattened and inserted as backgrounds. The clip art size and positions are not editable, but you can remove them completely by removing the background in PowerPoint. To edit the text, click in the text boxes around the animal clip art.
  • I recommend Grades 5-8. It will take about 15-25 minutes to perform the script
  • Text is broken up by illustrations of each of the 12 zodiac animals as they appear. This will give students visual cues of when each animal will appear and help them see when their lines are coming up.
  • I’ve also included a few basic facts about Chinese New Year that will help students know a bit more about the celebrations before reading the script.

16 SPEAKING PARTS INCLUDE:

  • Narrator 1
  • Narrator 2
  • Jade Emperor
  • Rat
  • Ox
  • Tiger
  • Rabbit
  • Dragon
  • Snake
  • Horse
  • Goat
  • Monkey
  • Rooster
  • Dog
  • Pig
  • Cat

 

MORE RESOURCES FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR:

This Chinese New Year Trivia Game is updated for 2025, the Year of the Snake.   This Chinese New Year Research Activity is for Grades 4-7.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.