Objective
By the end of this lesson, the 4-year-old student will have a basic understanding of Chinese New Year traditions and be able to create a simple art project related to the celebration.
Materials and Prep
- Red construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Markers or crayons
- Optional: Craft materials like sequins, glitter, or stickers
- Printed pictures or illustrations of Chinese New Year symbols (e.g., dragon, lantern, firecracker)
Before the lesson, familiarize yourself with basic Chinese New Year traditions and symbols.
Activities
- Create a Chinese New Year Card: Help the student fold the red construction paper in half to make a card. Encourage them to decorate the front of the card with Chinese New Year symbols using markers or crayons. They can also use craft materials to add extra sparkle. Inside the card, ask the student to draw or glue a picture of something they associate with Chinese New Year.
- Dragon Dance: Explain to the student that dragon dances are a common part of Chinese New Year celebrations. Show them pictures or illustrations of dragon dances. Encourage the student to create their own dragon using the red construction paper. They can cut out a dragon shape, decorate it, and attach a string or stick to make it move like a puppet.
- Counting Red Envelopes: Explain that it is traditional to give red envelopes with money as gifts during Chinese New Year. Show the student pictures of red envelopes and explain that they often have lucky numbers inside. Help the student count red envelopes using their fingers or small objects like buttons.
Talking Points
- Chinese New Year is a special holiday celebrated by many people in China and around the world.
- During Chinese New Year, people decorate their houses with red and gold decorations to bring good luck and prosperity.
- Dragons are important symbols in Chinese culture. They are believed to bring good luck and scare away evil spirits.
- Firecrackers are set off during Chinese New Year to scare away evil spirits and bring good luck for the coming year.
- "Gong Xi Fa Cai" is a common greeting during Chinese New Year, which means "Wishing you prosperity."
- "Hong Bao" means red envelope in Chinese. It is given as a gift during Chinese New Year and often contains money.
- Chinese New Year is a time for families to come together and celebrate.