Mini-Lesson

Narrative Writing

Mini-Lesson: Grades 2-3

Objective: Students will write a personal narrative that demonstrates their Chinese-calendar birth-year quality.

1. Have students read the timeforkids.com story It's the Year of the Rat! to learn about the Lunar New Year. Focus on the holiday's history and on the animals associated with each year. Ask: Do you know anyone who was born in the year of the Rat? Are they charming, clever, hardworking or outgoing?

2. Have students find out with which animal and quality their birth year is associated according to the Chinese calendar. (See 2008: Year of the Rat for a list.) Ask: Can you think of a time when you showed that you had that quality? Demonstrate coming up with a story from your own life. (For example: It says here that I was born in the year of the Tiger and that I am supposed to be brave. Let's see... I showed that I was brave when I jumped off the high diving board at summer camp. I was trembling in fear, but I got up the courage to climb the ladder, walk to the edge and jump into the pool.) Challenge students to write about a time when they exhibited the quality associated with their birth year. Use the Personal Narrative Idea Organizer to help them plan their story.

3. Encourage students to decorate their story with symbols of the Lunar New Year mentioned in the article, such as lions, lanterns and the color red. Compile a class book, or display on a bulletin board, for all to see.