Explain to your students that it's almost Lunar New Year (or in China, Chinese New Year) and that today's lesson is going to explore this.

Watch Celebrate Lunar New Year and ask students to identify all the different ways that Lunar New Year is celebrated. This can include activities such as: parades, dragon and lion dances, spending time with family, giving and getting ‘red packets; and foods that are eaten: fish, noodles, dumplings, oranges.

See if your students can sing along to ‘Happy New Year’!

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?

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:

Decorating homes is one part of the Lunar New Year celebrations. For Chinese people, they decorate their homes 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 the finished worksheets on your classroom door for good luck!