Lunar New Year is the catchall term for the celebration of the new year in the lunar calendar (based on moon cycles). Many countries in Asia celebrate the lunar new year - you may be the most familiar with Chinese New Year celebrations and traditions.
In Montessori environments we always want to embrace the cultures and celebrations of all the children in our community as well as expose children to other cultures they may not be familiar with. I would do this in my classroom by bringing in books and language materials about Asian countries, cultures, and celebrations, adding Lunar New Year crafts to our art area, and cooking and baking traditional foods together. All of these can be done in the home environment as well!
If you have a local organization like our beautiful Lan Su Chinese Garden here in Portland, you might even be able to join a Lunar New Year celebration with your little ones. Hands on, real life experiences are the absolute best way to learn.
I love to use this red lantern art project when working with my little friends because it fits so well into my personal art philosophy - letting children have as much control over their experience as possible. An adult can cut the paper shapes before presenting the lesson and then offer to tape or staple the lantern together. Many children chose not to have their lantern 'finished' and that was always fine with me - it's their work! This is also such a nice simple project to put together - all you need is red construction paper and gold paint. An older child might try cutting the slits in the paper themselves (an adult could draw guidelines) and forming the final lantern shape. You can also secure an LED tea light in the middle of these if you make the bottom opening small enough.
Lunar New Year Lessons (from left to right):
Asian Animals and Continent Cards
I got these cards ages ago from a big board game meant for matching animals to their home continent. I found the cards more useful for language lessons like this. Another good idea would be photos of all the animals on the Chinese Zodiac with matching models (Safari LTD sells a useful Toob for this)
General Chinese New Year Photo Cards
I love to use these as prompts to discuss with older toddlers, and as regular language work for younger friends. I included here photos of the animal of the year (in 2019 it was the year of the pig - 2023 is the year of the rabbit!), traditional foods eaten for New Year celebrations, photos of New Year parades and decorations, and the Chinese Zodiac.
Real Objects
Examples of Chinese money, a miniature version of a dragon puppet, a fan - this is the time to bring out old travel souvenirs! Explain to children how to handle these treasures delicately, and do some research together.
Transferring Lessons
I laminated photos of Chinese money and placed them in a basket with two red fabric "envelopes" for this fine motor lesson. The children loved reading about how children in China receive hóngbāo as gifts during Lunar New Year celebrations and practicing with the real thing.
I can't find photos of this, but another great fine motor lesson would be transferring small objects such as pompoms with children's chopsticks. I even found some special LNY ones at our World Market with decorations of the animal of the year!
Lunar New Year Books
Some of my tried and true favorites: Chinese New Year Colors, Red is A Dragon - a Book of Colors, My First Chinese New Year, Baby's First Chinese New Year, Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Chinese New Year, & Lunar New Year (this Celebrate the World series is just gorgeous!)
Lunar New Year in 2023 begins on Sunday, January 22nd and runs through February 5th.
Comments