5 Fun and Creative Chinese New Year Activities for Schools

Teachers often find ways to bring diverse cultural celebrations into the classroom. Chinese New Year activities provide a magical opportunity to teach students about rich traditions, customs, and values while making learning fun and engaging. Even though most of our students may not be Chinese, celebrating this festival fosters cultural awareness and inclusivity are key components of any well-rounded education. Here’s how we celebrate Chinese New Year activities at our school, along with ideas for incorporating this holiday into your child’s classroom.

Students celebrating Chinese New Year in a school hallway with a colorful dragon puppet, wearing festive red outfits and hats with zodiac designs, surrounded by hanging red lanterns.

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I have been a teacher for over 20 years. In this time I have led many classroom Valentine’s Day Activities. My efforts to support student learning by forging strong student, parent, teacher relationships and the incorporation of up to date technology in the classroom, along with a lot of hard work led to the honor of being named as an LAUSD Teacher of the Year in 2023.

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Why Celebrate Lunar New Year in Schools?

Cultural celebrations like Chinese New Year activities give students the chance to step into another world, if only for a day. They learn about the history, symbolism, and practices of another culture, which helps them develop empathy and respect for diversity. At our school, celebrating Chinese New Year has become an annual tradition, filled with crafts, parades, and lots of excitement. It is a day when students embrace something new, and the joy it brings is contagious.

Activities for Kindergarten and Early Elementary Students

Hat-Making Craft

One of the highlights of our celebration is creating hats as part of our Chinese New Year activities. We start with coloring pages featuring traditional symbols like dragons, rabbits (for the Year of the Rabbit), lanterns, or firecrackers. Students cut out their artwork, and we attach a strip of sturdy paper to the sides to form a headband. Once stapled, these colorful creations turn into festive hats that the kids proudly wear throughout the day.

Children in a classroom crafting Chinese New Year hats, surrounded by red paper, glue, and scissors, with a teacher assisting a young girl.

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Parade Around the School

Another tradition is our Lunar New Year parade. Students line up in a single file, wearing their hats and carrying small instruments. We hand out tambourines, Den-Den Daiko (karate pellet drums), and wood claves for them to bang together. As they walk through the school hallways, they enthusiastically say Happy New Year in Chinese. Parades like this are classic Chinese New Year activities that bring energy and excitement to the celebration.

Classroom Ideas for Older Students

For older students, I like to incorporate Chinese New Year activities that deepen their understanding of the traditions:

  • Learning About the Chinese Zodiac: Students research the 12 zodiac animals, their characteristics, and how they relate to the current year. For a fun and interactive activity, have students discover their zodiac sign using this guide on JadeTime. It\u2019s a great way to spark curiosity and personal connection to the lesson.
  • Traditional Symbolism: We discuss the significance of red and gold, the use of firecrackers, and the importance of family during the New Year celebration.
  • Creative Projects: Making paper lanterns, learning calligraphy to write Chinese characters, or crafting red envelopes to exchange with classmates. These are all engaging Chinese New Year activities that older students enjoy.

Bringing Authenticity with JadeTime Elements

To add authenticity, I draw inspiration from traditional decorations like those found at JadeTime. Incorporating jade charms, Chinese knots, and paper lanterns into our Chinese New Year activities provides a visual element that sparks curiosity among students. Explaining the symbolism behind these decorations\u2014such as red representing good luck and gold symbolizing prosperity\u2014is a simple way to enrich the lesson.

Fun Facts to Share with Students

Students love fun facts, and these always get their attention:

  • What is Lunar New Year? It is celebrated across Asia, not just in China. Korean Seollal and Vietnamese are two other examples.
  • Foods with Meaning: Dumplings for wealth, tangerines for good fortune, and longevity noodles for a long life. Sharing these traditions as part of your Chinese New Year activities adds a culinary twist to the lesson.
  • The Legend of Nian: Share the story of a mythical beast scared away by firecrackers, loud noises, and the color red.

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Making the Celebration Inclusive

While we focus on Chinese traditions, it\u2019s important to acknowledge other Lunar New Year celebrations. Invite students to share how their families celebrate New Year or similar cultural holidays. Including diverse perspectives can make your Chinese New Year activities even more meaningful for the entire class.

Resources for Teachers

To make your Lunar New Year celebration a success, here are some resources:

Find downloadable coloring pages and craft templates.

Lesson plans about the Chinese zodiac and New Year traditions.

Books like Ruby’s Wish by Shirin Yim Bridges or Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin for engaging read-aloud.

Authentic decorations or inspiration for classroom decor.

These resources help you create well-rounded Chinese New Year activities that are both fun and educational.

Celebrating Chinese New Year at school is more than just a fun activity’s an opportunity to inspire curiosity, foster respect for other cultures, and create lasting memories for your students. Whether you’re crafting hats, parading through hallways, or sharing fun facts about the zodiac, Chinese New Year activities leave a lasting impact on students. I encourage all teachers to embrace the joy of cultural celebrations like Lunar New Year and make them a part of their classrooms.

Happy New Year!

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