Chinese New Year
© Irene Taylor
Introducing the Lesson
Introduce this series of activities by sharing background information with your students. Be sure to include the Chinese zodiac animal sign which applies to the current year. The following activities should be started on the day of Chinese New Year's Eve, and be done on the 4 or 5 days which follow. Each activity is short, and should take no more than 30 minutes on each day.
Activities :
*New Year's Eve - On Chinese New Year's Eve children receive a special gift called lai see. It is good luck money wrapped in red paper. Have students decorate 3"x5" pieces of construction paper to represent this good luck money. Then have them wrap their money in red paper folded into a small envelope. Have students exchange lai see with each other for good luck. Another New Year's Eve custom is to seal the doors and windows with red paper in order to seal in the good luck. At the end of school on New Year's Eve day, use red paper to seal your classroom door until the next morning. You may also wish to remind your students to try to wear one new or special article of clothing tomorrow for New Year's Day.
Day One - New Year's Day - As students enter, break the good luck seals you placed on the classroom door yesterday. Explain to your students that on this day everyone must be on good behavior, for this day's events will decide what will happen for the rest of the year. Have students take turns speaking kindly to each other and paying respect to you and any other adults. Teach students to wish each other "Gung Hay Fat Choy" - best wishes and congratulations for a prosperous and good new year. Next have students write short journal entries or essays describing the things they will do during the day to insure good luck in the coming year.
Day Two - Bring to school several small tree branches and place them in a vase. Have students use art supplies to create paper flowers, fruit, foil coins, and other ornaments to decorate the branches as a traditional "Money Tree", a symbol of prosperity.
Day Three - This day marks the day of the Dragon Dance, and the start of the Lion Dance. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of strength and goodness, and its once a year appearance is thought to bring peace, prosperity, and good luck. Those who offer the lion a donation will be blessed with joy and good fortune. Have your students use paper plates and art supplies
Introduce this series of activities by sharing background information with your students. Be sure to include the Chinese zodiac animal sign which applies to the current year. The following activities should be started on the day of Chinese New Year's Eve, and be done on the 4 or 5 days which follow. Each activity is short, and should take no more than 30 minutes on each day.
Activities :
*New Year's Eve - On Chinese New Year's Eve children receive a special gift called lai see. It is good luck money wrapped in red paper. Have students decorate 3"x5" pieces of construction paper to represent this good luck money. Then have them wrap their money in red paper folded into a small envelope. Have students exchange lai see with each other for good luck. Another New Year's Eve custom is to seal the doors and windows with red paper in order to seal in the good luck. At the end of school on New Year's Eve day, use red paper to seal your classroom door until the next morning. You may also wish to remind your students to try to wear one new or special article of clothing tomorrow for New Year's Day.
Day One - New Year's Day - As students enter, break the good luck seals you placed on the classroom door yesterday. Explain to your students that on this day everyone must be on good behavior, for this day's events will decide what will happen for the rest of the year. Have students take turns speaking kindly to each other and paying respect to you and any other adults. Teach students to wish each other "Gung Hay Fat Choy" - best wishes and congratulations for a prosperous and good new year. Next have students write short journal entries or essays describing the things they will do during the day to insure good luck in the coming year.
Day Two - Bring to school several small tree branches and place them in a vase. Have students use art supplies to create paper flowers, fruit, foil coins, and other ornaments to decorate the branches as a traditional "Money Tree", a symbol of prosperity.
Day Three - This day marks the day of the Dragon Dance, and the start of the Lion Dance. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of strength and goodness, and its once a year appearance is thought to bring peace, prosperity, and good luck. Those who offer the lion a donation will be blessed with joy and good fortune. Have your students use paper plates and art supplies
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