Chinese New Year Research Activity – Updated for 2024 Year of the Dragon

Item description

This three-day Chinese New Year Research Activity has students working in groups to research nine questions in four categories. Students share their findings and teach each other on Day Three. Includes Answer Keys and is editable in PPT, Google Slides, and PDF.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This lesson focuses specifically on Chinese New Year as celebrated in China. I lived in Shanghai for six years and learned a lot about this celebration in that time. This lesson mentions Lunar New Year (celebrated outside China), but this research activity focuses on how China celebrates.

FAST FACTS ABOUT THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR RESEARCH ACTIVITY

• Recommended for: Grades 4-7
• Lesson Duration: 3 lessons (about 45 minutes each)
• Formats: PPT or Google Slides; PDF
• Editable: YES, most text is editable (crossword puzzle is not editable)
• Updated for 2024, The Year of the Dragon

STUDENTS WILL NEED:

• pen or pencil
• computer and/or library books for research (multiple internet links included in the lesson planner)
• each group will need one of the four Research Guides
• crossword puzzle for early finishers

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS CHINESE NEW YEAR RESEARCH ACTIVITY:

• 4 Research Guides in the following categories: Symbols and Luck, Food and Drink, Chinese New Year, and Chinese Mythology (4 pages, editable)
• Crossword puzzle for early finishers (1 PDF page, not editable)
• Detailed, step-by-step directions for teachers with prep instructions, divided by Days 1, 2, and 3 (4 pages, editable)
• Answer Keys to all (5 pages, all are editable except crossword puzzle)

DAY ONE:

• Students watch a 3-minute video introducing Chinese New Year
• Students select from the four research topics (listed above)
• Students start research. Several links are included that will answer all of the questions in the Research Guides.
• The links were checked on November 9, 2023 to ensure they are all working properly and to replace broken links.

DAY TWO:

• Students continue research in groups.
• Early-finishers can work on the crossword puzzle.

DAY THREE:

• Students share what they learned in an Inside-Outside circle. Directions for Inside-Outside circles are included with the lesson plan