The Lunar New Year (sometimes known as Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival) takes place every winter in January or February, depending on the lunar calendar. It’s an important holiday that’s celebrated across much of Asia and by communities with Asian heritage all across the world! Bring the celebration into your classroom with these five fun classroom activities for the Lunar New Year:
- Cultural Storytelling Time: Kick off the festivities with a storytelling session. Choose folktales from countries that celebrate Lunar New Year, like China, Vietnam, and Korea. These stories are a fantastic way to introduce students to the traditions and values of different communities.
- Lunar New Year Reading Comprehension Passages: Enhance reading skills while learning about Lunar New Year! Use themed reading passages in your small group lessons or morning work the week leading up to Lunar New Year! After reading, engage the kids in discussions to deepen their understanding and to share insights about the customs associated with the celebration.
- Craft a Lunar Lantern: Get creative with art! Guide your students in making their own paper lanterns. This hands-on activity not only sparks creativity but also teaches kids about the significance of lanterns in Lunar New Year celebrations, symbolizing light, hope, and good fortune.
- Cultural Dance and Music Exploration: Time to move and groove! Show videos of traditional dances and music, like the dragon dance, from Lunar New Year celebrations. Then, encourage the kids to try out some dance moves or rhythms. This interactive experience is not only fun but also a great way to appreciate the diversity of cultural expressions.
- Host a Mini Lunar New Year Parade: Cap off the celebration with a classroom parade. Let students showcase their crafts, like their handmade lanterns, and march to the beat of festive music. This parade can be a small-scale representation of the grand parades held during Lunar New Year around the world.
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