Step 1A: Enter Basic Information about the Lesson
Name of the Lesson: / Chinese New Year Celebration
Lesson Grade Level: / 4th Grade
Additional Grade Level: / 3rd-5th Grade
Step 1B: Specify the Instructional Setting
Instructional Setting / x / Single Student / x / Small Group / x / Whole Class
Step 1C: Instructional Materials to be used with this lesson
Materials and Resources used by teachers and students: /
  • 3 packs Construction paper (red)
  • Paper
  • Bowls of white rice
  • Chop sticks
  • Red Envelopes
  • Chocolate Coins

Step 2A: Enter Lesson Description and Objective(s)
General Description of Lesson: / Students prepare the previous week to celebrate the Chinese New Year, which occurs on Sunday, February 10, 2013. The coming Chinese lunar year will be the Year of the Snake on the Chinese calendar.
In addition to the celebration on the first day of the Chinese New Year, there is the Lantern Festival, which comes on the 15th day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
Objective(s) of Lesson: /
  • Students will learn how the Chinese prepare for the New Year Celebration
  • Students will understand the elements of the Chinese New Year celebration

Step 3: Teacher Procedure
ANTICIPATORY SET /
  • At each of the tables, students will take turns sharing out what they did this past New Years to Celebrate
  • As a whole class, we will create a Circle Map that documents the different methods of celebration

DIRECTED LESSON /
  • Explain to students that “Chinese New Year,” as it is known in English, is also known as the more encompassing name “Lunar New Year,” or the “Spring Festival” (春節 in Chinese).
  • Besides China, it is celebrated in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Tibet, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.
  • It is a time of year to gather with family to start the New Year.
  • The Chinese believe that as they enter a new year, they should put behind them all things of the past.
  • Explain the different aspects of preparation:
  • Cleanliness
  • Decorations
  • Gifts
  • Food
  • Dragon
  • Fireworks
  • Teacher will provide a brief lesson on each area

GUIDED PRACTICE /
  • Break the class into six groups of 5-6 students
  • Explain that there will be six stations where students will prepare for the class New Year Celebration
  • GROUP #1: Banners
Each student will make a Red “Gung Hay Fat Choy” banner using Chinese Characters
  • GROUP #2: Gifts
Students will read a short story that explains the significance of red envelopes and how gifts are exchanges
Students will make a list of people they would give a gift to on Chinese New Year.
Each student will make a handful of red envelopes with “lucky money” in it (chocolate coins)
  • GROUP #3: Food
Students will read the story “Everybody Cooks Rice”.
Afterwards, students will receive a pair of chopsticks that they will learn to use and will attempt to eat a bowl of rice
  • GROUP #4: Dragon
Students will create a Dragon puppet as a symbol of strength, goodness, and good luck, and supernatural forces.
  • GROUP #5: Cleanliness
Have students make a plan of things they should clean both at home and school
  • GROUP #6: Spring Couplets
Students will write at least one couplet about spring
INDEPENDENT PRACTICE /
  • After students finish each group, we will come back as a class to clean
  • Each student will clean their desk, then put up the decorations, pass out gifts