Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will understand the basics of Lunar New Year and its significance.

Materials and Prep

• Colorful paper
• Scissors
• Glue
• Markers or crayons
• Optional: red envelopes (ang pow)

Before the lesson, it would be helpful for the student to have a basic understanding of different cultures and celebrations.

Activities

• Create a Lunar New Year decoration: Show the student how to make a simple paper lantern or a paper dragon using the materials provided.
• Learn about Zodiac animals: Introduce the concept of Zodiac animals and explain how each year is associated with a different animal. Help the student find out which animal represents their birth year.
• Practice writing Chinese characters: Teach the student a few basic Chinese characters related to Lunar New Year, such as "fu" (meaning good luck) or "xi" (meaning happiness). Encourage them to practice writing these characters on a piece of paper.
• Make a red envelope: Explain the tradition of giving red envelopes during Lunar New Year and how they symbolize good luck and blessings. Help the student create their own red envelope using colorful paper, and they can even put a small surprise inside.
• Watch a Lunar New Year parade: Show the student videos or pictures of Lunar New Year parades, explaining the colorful costumes, dragon dances, and firecrackers used during the celebrations.

Talking Points

• "Lunar New Year is a special holiday celebrated by many people around the world."
• "It marks the beginning of a new year according to the lunar calendar."
• "Each year is associated with a different animal, like the Year of the Rat, Year of the Ox, etc."
• "People celebrate Lunar New Year with parades, fireworks, and special meals."
• "Red envelopes are given as gifts during Lunar New Year to bring good luck and blessings."