The Lunar New Year of the Dragon is fast approaching! ๐ Celebrations begin February 10, 2024 and typically last through the Lantern Festival on February 24th. As we embrace this Year of the Dragon, it’s time to delve into some fantastic reads and exciting activities to captivate elementary-aged learners! PLEASE NOTE: While affiliate links are included in this post, many of these titles can be read online for free using Epic! Books.
Year of the Dragon Books to Spark the Imagination ๐
- “The Runaway Wok“ by Ying Chang Compestine: This enchanting story follows a magical wok and a boy’s adventures during the Lunar New Year. Ming goes to the market to buy food and comes home with an old wok instead. Concerned, his parents wonder what they’ll eat for dinner. But then, something magical happens: the wok rolls out of the poor family’s house with aย skippity-hoppity-ho!ย and returns from the rich man’s home with a feast in tow! With spirited text and lively illustrations, this story reminds readers about the importance of generosity.
- “Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year Lift-the-Flap Book“ by Joan Holub: Delightful illustrations and interactive flaps introduce the joyous traditions of the holiday. I am so excited to purchase this book this year for my Year of the Dragon baby due later this spring!
- “Chloe’s Lunar New Year“ by Lily LaMotte: This book tells a tender, warmhearted, uplifting tale about tradition and the importance of being with those you love. It’s almost Lunar New Year, and Chloe can’t wait to celebrate! With her family, she buys new shoes, lays out good luck oranges, decorates red envelopes, and cooks a fantastic feast for family. Chloe emphasizes for readers that Lunar New Year is not so much about what you do to celebrate, but who you share the festivities with that really matters!
- “Bringing In the New Year” by Grace Lin: Through vibrant illustrations, author and illustrator Grace Lin shares the preparations and customs of the Lunar New Year, making it accessible and engaging for young readers. The colorful artwork is a bright and gloriously patterned celebration in itself! And her story is tailor-made for reading aloud.
The story follows a Chinese American family as they prepare for the Lunar New Year. Each member of the family lends a helping hand as they sweep out the dust of the old year, hang decorations, and make dumplings. Then itโs time to put on new clothes and celebrate with family and friends. There will be fireworks, lion dancers, shining lanterns, and a great, long dragon parade to help bring in the Lunar New Year. The dragon parade in the book is extra long on a surprise fold-out page at the end of the story! - “Two New Years” by Richard Ho: This welcoming story invites readers to learn about the Rosh Hashanah and Lunar New Year traditions. For this multicultural family, inspired by the authorโs own, two New Years mean twice as much to celebrate! This picture book is brimming with opportunities for readers to learn about cultures different from their ownโfrom Jewish readers learning about Lunar New Year, to Chinese readers learning about Rosh Hashanah, to readers from other cultures being invited to experience both. Students can then reflect on the rich blends of cultures and traditions in their own lives!
Engaging Activities for Lunar New Year ๐จ
After a cultural read aloud, why not try one of these engaging activities to continue the festivities?
- Dragon Puppets: Encourage creativity by having students craft their own dragon puppets. Use colorful construction paper, popsicle sticks, and googly eyes to bring your Lunar New Year dragons to life!
- Chinese Calligraphy: Introduce students to the beauty of Chinese characters! Provide brushes and black paint to practice writing simple phrases like “Happy New Year” on red envelopes.
- Paper Lanterns: Have students create their own Lunar New Year lanterns to hang in the classroom. This can be done by using paper and markers or paint.
- Cultural Cuisine: Explore Asian foods with your classes! (Be mindful of allergies, of course.) Prepare dumplings or create traditional sweet rice balls together, fostering cultural appreciation through taste.
- Lion Dance: Learn about the traditional lion dance. Have students create their own lion headbands and perform the dance for other classes!
Follow-up Discussions and Reflections ๐ฃ๏ธ
Have students extend their learning and make connections beyond the classroom. Reading Lunar New Year books in the classroom provides “windows” for non-Asian students to “peer into” and understand the unique customs of others.
Encourage conversations about family traditions during the holiday season to open “doors”. Prompt students to reflect on the similarities and differences between Lunar New Year and other celebrations they may be familiar with, including their own. This discourse provides opportunities for understanding various cultures and their rich traditions. Readers of all backgrounds can reflect more deeply on the blending of traditions in their own families and communities. We are all connected and more similar than we often care to think!
The Year of the Dragon signifies good fortune and strength. Engage your students in conversation discussing personal strengths and set positive intentions for the new year ahead.
Celebrating the Year of the Dragon
Lunar New Year of the Dragon offers a vibrant tapestry of culture, tradition, and joy. By exploring these recommended books and engaging in fun-filled activities, children can immerse themselves in the wonders of this special celebration, fostering an appreciation for diversity and new beginnings!
ACTIONABLE STEPS: Let’s embark on this exciting journey together, celebrating the Lunar New Year in all its dragon-filled splendor! Check out my curated Chinese New Year collection on Epic! Books for FREE (yup, you read that right!). You’ll also find holiday-themed math activities, like these color-by-code printables, for purchase in my TpT store. What Year of the Dragon activities are you doing in class? Donโt be shy; say hi and let us know in the comments below! ๐๐โจ
