Happy Chinese New Year!

This week we will celebrate Chinese New Year in my PreK class.  Chinese New Year Celebrations for 2017 will run from January 28th to February 15th.  This year is the year of the Rooster.  I love to bring unique cultural celebrations to my classes.  Most of the kids I teach don’t celebrate Chinese New Year in their homes…so this is unique and fun!

I start out the day by reading “Bringing in the New Year” by Grace Lin.  It is an age-appropriate story about a family preparing for the New Year celebrations.  The colors are bright and bold, the text is simple and leaves lots of opportunities to ask the children questions and relate all of the preparations to their own lives.

I also spend some time talking about the Chinese zodiac and what the Year of the ________ is all about.  This year I will talk about Roosters and what the Chinese believe the characteristics of those born in this year will be.

There are fantastic videos put out by Panda Express that very simply explain Chinese New Year in a way that is entertaining and fun for the kids.  I found them youtube.  Just follow the links below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_u-R-aIq3_E

Here’s another, this one is the Legend of the Chinese New Year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9EehyCxRw0

This video gives information about the Chinese Zodiac.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PrMgM8fZVs

For centers we sit on cushions on the floor and practice eating ramen noodles with chop sticks!  I twist a rubber band around each pair of chopsticks to make it easier for the kids to master.  They LOVE this center for the noodles of course, but it is a FANTASTIC fine motor activity!

I have a matching game and a numerical order game in my lesson plan, but one fun activity I have done in the past is to put a container or bowl of puff balls on a table, give each student a set of chopsticks (again, wrapped with a rubber band), and we will use dice or number cards to count out puff balls to place in an empty bowl using our chopsticks.  The kids have really enjoyed this activity in the past.  I only use one die, and keep the numbers low…otherwise it can take forever to complete.

The best activity and the one the kids love the most is to make a real Chinese dragon.  I have the templates in my lesson plans-I will provide the link at the end of my post.  The kids love making their dragons, but mostly…they love playing with them when we are through!  It took many years for me to figure out how the kids could play with them immediately.  I use glue sticks for the glitter and to glue onto the dragon body, but the most important step is to hot glue the craft sticks onto the body before class begins.  That one step of prep make the whole day 100 times better.  I’m including photos of past year’s dragons.  The kids are so happy with their work, and it is a perfect end to a fantastic day of celebration and learning!

My lesson plan for Chinese New Year can be accessed through the link below.  There is so much included in this one-day plan.  It will make your Chinese New Year celebration so much fun and so much easier!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chinese-New-Year-Math-Literacy-Art-and-Culture-for-PreK-K-and-Homeschool-2372702

Happy New Year!

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Teach PreK

Teach PreK

Preschool/PreK teacher. I create engaging resources for teachers that make students love learning! Visit my Blog and TPT store to learn more!

Teach PreK

3 months ago

Teach PreK
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6 months ago

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Welcome to my Thanksgiving-themed classroom setup and activities for preschoolers! 🦃🍂In this video, I'm taking you through our classroom, where we've transformed it into a Thanksgiving wonderland to make learning fun and exciting for our little ones. But that's not all! We're also sharing our favorite Thanksgiving math activities and centers. These activities are well-researched, standards-based, and developmentally appropriate to promote learning through play.Links: Thanksgiving Numeral Formation: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Preschool-Math-Activities-Centers-Thanksgiving-Numeral-Format...Thanksgiving Counting: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Preschool-Math-Activities-Centers-Thanksgiving-Dollar-Deal-10...Thanksgiving Lesson Plan:: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Theme-Activities-for-Preschool-Pre-K-Lesson-Plan...Thanksgiving Fine Motor Activities: www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Preschool-Fine-Motor-Activities-Thanksgiving-Preschool-Fine-M...Didax unifix cubes: amzn.to/479F4gqDidax purple unifix cubes: amzn.to/40BVcENClear Spinners: amzn.to/3SDubPrWrite & Wipe Pouches: amzn.to/47oRQY2Didax pink unifix cubes: amzn.to/3FXJMSCNail art wands: amzn.to/3QVxFLYEasy Hole Punches: amzn.to/40wLYtL#ThanksgivingActivities #PreschoolLearning #LearningThroughPlay #EducationalFun ... See MoreSee Less

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With the end of the school year swiftly approaching, it's time to kick our lesson planning into high gear. In this video, we'll discuss practical strategies to ensure a smooth and stress-free conclusion to the academic year, allowing us to remain fully present for our little ones until the very end. Maximizing Classroom Time: With only 5-8 weeks left in the school year, every moment counts! Take stock of your curriculum goals and prioritize the essential learning objectives you still hope to cover. Streamline your lesson plans to make the most of the remaining time while ensuring a rich and engaging learning experience for your students. Creating an End-of-Year Checklist: Now is the perfect time to start compiling a comprehensive list of all the tasks and activities you need to tackle before the school year concludes. From assessments and progress reports to classroom clean-up and end-of-year celebrations, having a clear roadmap will help you stay organized and focused in the weeks ahead. Taking Action: Don't wait until the last minute to tackle your end-of-year to-do list! Begin prioritizing tasks and set achievable goals for yourself. Aim to accomplish 2-4 items from your list each week, starting now. By taking proactive steps, you'll prevent last-minute stress and ensure a smooth transition into summer break. Embracing the Present Moment: By planning ahead and staying proactive, you'll free up mental space to be fully present for your students in these final weeks. Let go of the looming end-of-year stress and focus on creating meaningful experiences and memories with your little ones until the very last day. Let's approach the end of the school year with intentionality and purpose. By strategically planning our lessons and tackling tasks early, we can ensure a seamless and enjoyable conclusion to the academic year. Let's make the most of the time we have left together and create lasting memories with our students! #EndOfYearPreparation #LessonPlanningTips #StayPresent #EarlyChildhoodEducation
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