Lunar New Year: Lesson Plan

Suitable for Grade 7 Upwards

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 choose other images using images from a free image site too.
   

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 student's 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 letting 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 videos and read these articles to ​identify the different festival activities.

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

• Draw or design an infographic with some basic ​info
  
• Write a paragraph summary with ​accompanying illustrations
• Create a short 'news reels’, either recorded or ​performed live, introducing this holiday

Then ask students to brainstorm questions they ​have about the festival to research the answers ​to.

Look at the following years, students identify which ‘animal’ students they 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

Watch the two videos 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 the countries mentioned beyond China in the ​videos on Google Maps then read read How do different Countries ​Celebrate Lunar New Year?

Draw and complete a Venn Diagram with similarities and ​differences between the countries.

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 watching 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!

Extension: The Lunar Calendar

In the Gregorian (or solar) calendar, which is the most widely used calendar in the world, New Years Day falls on Jan 1st ​every year. In the Lunar Calendar, New Year’s Day is the first new moon on the Lunisolar Calendar. The Lunar calendar ​is always 29 or 30 days. While the Chinese calendar is lunisolar, the Islamic calendar is purely lunar.

Watch the following video (0.00 - 1.15) to find out more:

Activity: Exploring the commonalities and differences of the ​Gregorian and Lunar Calendar

Instructions: Ask students to read these articles and watch the ​videos:

Lunar Time vs. Solar Time & Lunar New Year: Why the solar ​calendar actually rules our lives

Then, ask students to complete a Venn diagram using the ​information they have learnt about Gregorian and Lunar Calendars. ​Have students discuss their answers with a partner and check ​understanding together.

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 with the character ‘Fu’ which ​means lucky, are commonly seen at this time.

• Print out this colouring in page for students to practice writing the character and decorate. 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.
  

Colouring in is super fun! Explore the variety of Chinese New Year imagery in these colouring pages. ​Students can then colour in their favourite or use them to inspire their own artworks!

• Chinese New Year colouring pages
  

• 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, infographics 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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