Build Knowledge With Lunar New Year Activities for Students

Lunar New Year, often called Chinese New Year, is a 15-day cultural celebration that marks the start of a new year and the arrival of spring. This holiday is a chance to build students’ cultural knowledge and highlight global traditions.

With Newsela Lunar New Year activities for students, you can bring learning to life across ELA, social studies, and science.

Jump to:

• ELA activities that build cultural understanding during Lunar New Year
• Social studies lessons that explore Lunar New Year traditions and history
• Science activities that bring Lunar New Year to life

[ELA activities that build cultural understanding during Lunar New Year](id-ela)

Key takeaways:

• Students can learn cultural context through fiction, nonfiction, and real-world experiences.
• Pair texts with diverse perspectives to strengthen comprehension and empathy.
• Newsela ELA resources help students explore Asian and Asian American culture and traditions with leveled, accessible texts.

What ELA lessons help students learn about the Lunar New Year through fiction and nonfiction?

Paired texts help students better understand how Lunar New Year traditions developed and why they matter. Blend storytelling with real-world history so students can see how culture shapes narrative. Try it with this lesson:

• Assign the fictional story “Li T’ien and the Demon Nian” by Eugie Foster.
• Read the nonfiction article about the evolution of the Chinese New Year festival.
• Complete the paired text analysis worksheet with the guiding question, “What is the main idea of each text, and how are they connected?”

How have Asian immigrants and Asian Americans been treated in U.S. society?

Students can build deeper cultural context when they explore the everyday experiences of Asian immigrants and Asian Americans. Newsela ELA resources can help students understand the social dynamics connected to Lunar New Year and Asian American experiences today. Share articles on topics like:

• Why the term “Asian American” means different things to different people.
• How a PBS docuseries called “Asian Americans” is working to rewrite the history of this demographic. 
• Ways to help Asian and Asian American communities that face challenges.

How can students build background knowledge about Chinese immigration in America?

Understanding the Lunar New Year also means exploring the lives of the people who brought their traditions to the U.S. Students can learn how Chinese immigrants preserved their culture, formed communities, and influenced regions across the country. Build background knowledge with these resources:

• A biography of noted Chinese author Amy Tan.
• A biography of Chinese immigrant and entrepreneur Lum Fong Shee.
• An article about how Chinese immigrants were critical to developing towns and cities that became part of Washington State.

[Social studies lessons that explore Lunar New Year traditions and history](id-ss)

Key takeaways:

• Students can compare worldwide New Year traditions to deepen cultural awareness.
• Activities highlight the connection between ancient beliefs and today’s celebrations.
• Newsela Social Studies articles provide historical context behind Lunar New Year traditions.

What New Year celebrations exist in cultures around the world?

Comparing the Lunar New Year with other New Year traditions helps students see how different societies mark time and celebrate beginnings. It’s an opportunity to discuss symbolism and rituals. Try sharing resources on topics like:

• The traditions and symbols most commonly associated with the Chinese New Year.
• The history of popular New Year’s traditions around the world.
• The concept of New Year’s resolutions.

How do people around the world celebrate Lunar New Year?

Luna New Year celebrations vary across cultures, but many share themes like renewal, family, and tradition. Studying this holiday can help students recognize its uniqueness and universality. Explore resources on topics like:

• Lunar New Year costumes.
• Popular Lunar New Year recipes.
• The significance of the Chinese Zodiac.

What parts of Chinese history shape Lunar New Year traditions today?

Many Lunar New Year traditions trace back to early dynasties and ancient villages. Give students the historical foundation to help them understand why these customs have lasted centuries. Share Newsela Social Studies articles on topics like:

• An overview of China’s imperial dynasties.
• The ancient women-run Chinese village of Banpo.
• The Mandate of Heaven, a divine source of authority for China’s early kings and emperors.

How do Chinese religion and philosophy influence Lunar New Year customs?

Philosophies like Taoism and Confucianism shaped many beliefs that appear in Lunar New Year celebrations today. Explore these ideas to help students connect ancient thoughts to modern traditions. You can reinforce the lesson with resources like:

• The history of the Chinese zodiac.
• An explainer article about the ancient philosophies of Taoism and Confucianism.
• A collection of ghost stories from ancient China.

[Science activities that bring Lunar New Year to life](id-sci)

Key takeaways:

• Students can learn core science concepts through hands-on holiday activities.
• STEM tasks can help build curiosity and reinforce science principles.
• Newsela STEM resources add background knowledge to make lessons meaningful and culturally relevant.

How can students make “fireworks” with milk and simple chemistry?

This explosion-free experiment teaches students how substances react while connecting to the tradition of holiday fireworks. Try the activity in this order:

• Read an article about the decline of cow’s milk consumption in the United States.
• Discover how reindeer milk is a popular baking ingredient in Mongolia.
• Create your own milky fireworks using food coloring and dish soap.

How can students explore physics by creating a confetti popper?

This activity helps students understand force, motion, and energy using a New Year tradition. This gives a fun, tangible way to observe how physics affects everyday objects. Use this lesson to teach:

• Newton’s laws of motion.
• Energy transfers and transformations.
• How to create confetti poppers out of balloons and paper towel rolls.

How can I teach Lunar New Year science concepts with video?

Newsela STEM with Generation Genius science videos makes it easy to teach the concepts behind the Lunar New Year in a fun, engaging way. Try these selections from our library:

K-2 Science:

• Introduction to Light
• Material Properties and Purposes
• Classification of Materials

3-5 Science:

• Chemical vs. Physical Changes
• Properties of Matter
• Conservation of Matter
• Light Reflection & Vision

6-8 Science:

• Chemical Reactions
• Causes of Seasons
• Synthetic Materials
• Properties of Elements
• Newton’s Laws of Motion

Level up your lessons with Newsela’s subject products

Engaging students with Lunar New Year activities is an easy way to build cultural knowledge and explore global traditions. Newsela’s subject products provide additional high-interest content, interactive tools, and assessments to support culturally responsive teaching throughout the year.

Sign up for Newsela Lite for free to start your 45-day trial. Get access to our premium content and everything you need to teach about Lunar New Year and any other historical event or holiday in your classroom.