Lunar New Year: Lesson Plan

Suitable for Grade 4, 5 & 6

Year of the Dragon

Use these images in a ‘Zoom In’ (Cultures of Thinking) activity.

1. Look at just the first image (partially covered) on the left in full screen together and elicit ideas about the topic.
   
2. Show them the second whole image and check predictions to discuss further.
   
3. Work through the three images provided. You can also choose other images using a free image site.
   

Full activity and question guides here

Lunar New Year celebrates the beginning of a new year on the traditional lunar calendar that many Asian people follow, ​including in China. It takes place around January and February every year. Explain to your students that it's almost Lunar ​New Year (or in China, Chinese New Year) and that you're all going to find out more about this exciting festival.

Establish students’ prior knowledge by asking the following questions. **This can also be used as a prediction task.

• What does the word ‘lunar’ mean? (moon)
• What and when is Lunar New Year? (it changes each year, around Jan/Feb as it is based on the lunar calendar)
• Who celebrates it? (people living in, or with heritage from many Asian countries)
• How is it celebrated? (lots of different ways, eating special foods, decorating homes and community areas with red, and setting off fireworks)
  

HOW IS IT CELEBRATED?

There are lots of different, special ways ​this festival is celebrated. There are ​special foods, activities to do, and lucky ​colours to wear and decorate your home ​with.

Watch these two videos and identify the ​different festival activities.

Ask students to show their understanding with a ​simple task such as:

• 5 Finger List (5 facts, one for each finger)
  
• Draw an infographic with some basic info
  
• Identify information students’ found NEW or ​INTERESTING
  

Brainstorm questions students have about the ​festival individually, in pairs, groups or as a class.

2024 is The Year of the Dragon. The dragon is one of 12 animals from the Chinese Zodiac. The story of the Chinese Zodiac is based on an ancient legend called The Great Race.

Watch the video and ask students to show their understanding of the story in a format of their choosing, e.g. retelling, acting, creating cartoons, posters, writing a narrative, etc.

Can students show the order of the 12 animals correctly?

Which placement was the dragon?

Look at the following years together, identify which ‘animal’ students in the class are.

Ask them to find out which ‘animal’ their siblings, parents, caregivers, neighbours and friends are, using this Chinese ​Zodiac Calculator.

2023/2011 Rabbit, 2022/2010 Tiger, 2021/2009 Ox, 2020/2008 Rat, 2019/2007 Pig, 2018/2006 Dog, 2017/2005 ​Rooster, 2028/2016 Monkey, 2027/2015 Goat, 2026/2014 Horse, 2025/2013 Snake, 2024/2012 Dragon

There are many legends associated with Lunar New Year, the most famous one is the origin of how Lunar New Year is ​celebrated in China. It believes a monster named ‘Nian’ visited villages, attacking them.

To learn more, watch the video below with your students:

Watch How Asians Celebrate Lunar New Year Worldwide with your ​class and ask students to identify the different countries and ​different activities that appeared in the video.

Many Asian countries celebrate Lunar New Year. Each does so in their own unique and special way. Many Asian people who move to different countries also celebrate it.

Ask students to find China, Korea, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore, Cambodia, and the Philippines on Google Maps.

While looking at the countries, discuss:

• What is similar about these countries geographically?
• Can you find some other countries in Asia?
  
• Is there anyone in your class with ties to Asia?
  

Note: Many Asian people who have moved to other countries still celebrate this festival. You may have members of your class, school, community, city, etc. that celebrate this.

Extension: Dragons - lucky or dangerous?

In Chinese and Western cultures, dragons are viewed very differently. Explore the different perceptions of dragons below:

• Before you watch What do Chinese Dragons Symbolise, check students understand the following vocab: benevolent, prosperity, emperor, imperial.
  
• Watch Chinese Dragons vs Western Dragons (0:00-6:10) and discuss how dragons are seen in Chinese and Western culture.
• Students create a Venn Diagram showing similarities and differences between Western and Chinese dragons.
  

Note: Exploring the different perceptions helps us understand how culture can value things quite differently, which isn't ​good or bad, just different!

Dumplings are a traditional food made together as a family, then eaten and enjoyed together during the ​holiday.

• Try making dumplings yourself using Meg’s Global Learning Recipe Cards.
  

Red lanterns are hung around the streets, in public places and in people’s courtyards or gardens for ​decoration at Lunar New Year.

• Try making your own red lanterns using Meg’s Global Learning Arts and Crafts cards, with both simple ​and complicated versions:

Decorating homes is one part of the Lunar New Year celebrations. Homes often get decorated with the ​character ‘Fu’ which means lucky.

• Print out this colouring in page for students to decorate however they wish, or for ambitious students, ​to practice writing the character. When completed, display on your classroom door for good luck!

Dragons are one of the 12 Zodiac animals and are an important figure in Chinese culture.

• Draw a Chinese dragon using our guidelines for different body parts in our Global Learning activity ​card here.
  

• Share your students’ fantastic work with your school community to show them the great intercultural learning taking place in your classroom!

• Prepare an assembly item to share about this holiday.
  

• Create a Learning Wall about Lunar New Year.
  

• Display drawings or posters about The Great Race in a public place in the school with some information about the story for others to enjoy.
  

• Tag @MegGlobalEd on school posts so we can celebrate your students’ wonderful work. ​Find Meg on Facebook,
  

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