Chinese New Year Lesson Plans
Celebrate with food, activities, and learn the traditions of the Chinese culture while enjoying the Chinese New Year.
By Kristen Kindoll
Most New Years last for one day. The Chinese New Year is celebrated for 15 days. The celebrations started Feb. 14th. It is one of the most important celebrations in the Chinese calendar. It has rich traditions, great celebratory activities and wonderful food to enjoy.
Each Chinese New Year is marked by the presence of a specific animal. This year, it is the Year of the Tiger. Each animal is noted for specific attributes. Tigers are natural leaders; they are authoritative, emotional, courageous and intense. The legend of how the animals became intertwined with the New Year centers around Buddha. As the story is told, the Buddha requested that all animals assemble, and twelve came. He, in turn, named each one and said that people born in the year of each of these animals would share their traits.
Fireworks are an integral part of the festivities. The explosive noises, bright colors and lights are believed to frighten away evil spirits. Red is an important color during this festival. It symbolizes luck and drives away ill will. People wear red clothes and give each other poems on red paper. Children receive lucky money in red envelopes. Families are also drawn together to share in the special time. Relatives visit each other and are welcomed into homes. It is a time to renew old friendships and the bonds of love.
Foods considered lucky are popular dishes to serve. Lettuce wraps filled with other lucky foods are common. The word lettuce in Canton produces the sounds similar to rising luck or fortune. Grapefruit is associated with abundance. Tangerines and oranges are considered to bring wealth. Fish is often served at the end of the meal, because it represents profusion. Sweets are not forgotten. Sticky rice cakes are presented to the kitchen god. The flavor represents a rich and sweet life. The layers of goodness embody rising wealth for the upcoming year. The round shape corresponds to family reunion.
The Chinese New Year shifts to different days each year. It follows the lunar calendar. The calendar is based on the cycles of the moon phases. This was a popular method of calculating days during antiquity. The first day of the month is often hard to predict, because it is subject to complicated conditions, such as: weather, astronomical rules, and advance mathematical equations. What follows are some lessons to celebrate and learn about the Chinese New Year.
Chinese New Year Lesson Plans:
This lesson has background information to help facilitate lesson planning. Children identify groups of people who celebrate important traditional holidays. The Chinese zodiac is studied. Students learn a dragon dance and paint fireworks.
has children draw their own dragon with watercolors. Characteristics are examined. Books of other interpretations of the creation are researched. Stories with dragons could be read, while the children draw.
Chinese Lantern is made with tissue paper and birthday streamers. This is a great exercise which can be done while dinner is prepared. The meal could even incorporate some traditional Chinese dishes.
Animals of the New Year studies the specific creatures involved in the festival. Dragons from Western and Eastern culture are compared. The unit is comprised of four lessons.
Discussion Question:
If you discuss Chinese New Year in your classroom, how do you teach students about this subject?
