Happy New Year!

Social Studies

Students will research Chinese New Year to learn about another culture's traditions.

What You Need

• Access to the Internet or encyclopedias or other reference books containing information about China and Chinese New Year

What To Do

1. Guide students to information about Chinese New Year, either at a Web site or in reference books, and outline with them the various elements of the celebration, such as the Lantern Festival, the dragon dance, and feasts.
2. Organize students into small groups. Ask each group to study one aspect of the Chinese New Year festivities and write a descriptive report about the activity and its relevance in Chinese culture.
3. Have students present their reports to the class and discuss how Chinese New Year differs from New Year's celebrations in the United States.

Internet Resources

Chinese New Year
At this site read about traditional preparations and celebrations for the Chinese New Year
http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/china/chinese_new_year.html