Chinese New Year Preschool Crafts, Activities, Lessons, and Games

Chinese New Year Crafts, Activities, and Games for preschool

Chinese New Year crafts, activities, games, emergent readers for preschool and kindergarten.

Chinese New Year: February 8th 2016. Chinese New Year 2016 will be the year of the Monkey. For people born in the year of the monkey (1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004 ), 2016 is considered an auspicious year. "Monkeys" are witty, intelligent, and have a magnetic personality.

For many people, Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration of the year. It is a time of celebration, dancing dragons, eating special foods, cleaning and decorating the house and streets with Chinese lanterns, giving gifts, fireworks, and getting ready for the coming year. It's a very colorful and joyous event. The Chinese calendar is based on the lunar year, so the date of the Chinese New Year changes every year. With your children, ring in the New Year with the following fun Chinese New Year Activities!

Samples of our Chinese New Years preschool and kindergarten activities, crafts, games, and printables available in our KidsSoup Resource Library:

Crafts

Red Envelope Craft

Egg Carton Chinese Lion

Craft Stick Lantern

Activities and Lessons

Chinese Number Writing 1-10

Chinese Numbers 1-10

Chinese New Year Activities

Games

Lion Dance

Chinese New Year Matching

Digraph ch Fortune Cookies

Booklets and Other

The Lion Dance - Count the Lion's Legs

On Chinese New Year I see... Color Version

On Chinese New Year I See...

Worksheets

2017 Year of the Rooster Coloring Page

2016 Year of the Monkey Coloring Page

2015 Year of The Sheep Coloring Page

Preschool Activities:

Media Root

Free Preschool Chinese New Year Crafts, Activities, Printables, and Chinese New Year Book Suggestions:

The Chinese Calendar Explain to children that the Chinese Lunar Calendar is based on the cycles of the moon. Each year in a cycle is named after an animal. Legend says that Buddha invited all the animals to join him for a New Year's celebration but only 12 showed up. The animals argued about who was to head the cycle of years, so Buddha held a race--whoever first reached the opposite bank of the river would be first, and the rest of the animals would receive their years according to their finish. The race began, but unknown to the ox, the rat had jumped upon his back. As the ox was about to jump ashore, the rat jumped off the ox's back, and won the race. The pig, who was very lazy, finished last. That is why the rat is the first year of the animal cycle and the pig is the last. The Chinese believe the animal ruling the year in which a person is born has a strong influence on that person's personality.

Have children make their own Chinese calendar by using our patterns. Let them find their zodiac sign and see if the characteristics match their personality.

Activity
Make the sounds of the Chinese calendar animals. Ask children: "Can you guess the animal?"


Chinese Flag Coloring Page	2008 Year of the Rat Coloring	2009 Year of the Ox Coloring	2010 Year of the Tiger Coloring	2011 Year of the Rabbit Coloring

2012 Year of the Dragon Coloring	2013 Year of the Snake Coloring	2014 Year of the Horse Coloring	2015 Year of the Sheep Coloring

Red Envelopes
The New Year marks the birthday of every family member. During the Chinese New Year celebrations, people wear red clothes. Red symbolizes fire, which the Chinese believe drives away bad luck. Children receive good luck money in small red envelopes and everybody wears their newest clothes. In Chinese the word "fu," means "good luck.

Feast of the Lantern
On the third day of the New Year, the Feast of the Lantern is celebrated. Lanterns of all shapes, sizes, and colors decorate the streets and inside the homes.

Dragon Dance
Many cities hold parades which are led by a huge dragon or lion. The Chinese have a great belief and respect toward dragons and believe that the dragon is the symbol for good luck. In the Chinese legend, the dragon is not a monster but a protector against evil spirits. He is the symbol of luck, goodness, and strength. The lion is the symbol for protection and is thought to guard against danger. Children love to watch and join in with the dragon parade and take part in the great Dragon Dance.

Activity Chinese Ribbon Dance:
Attach a crepe paper streamer to a chopstick or pencil. Play Chinese inspired music and have children dance around. Show a movement with the ribbon and have children copy it.