Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year - Year of the Horse)

Also known as Spring Festival, it celebrates the start of the lunar new year with traditions like red decorations, lanterns, fireworks, and family meals.

Fun Activities:

• Paper Lanterns: Create traditional red and gold lanterns to decorate classrooms.

• Chinese Horse Puppets: Use paper, fabric, or recycled materials to make your own Horse designs.

• Zodiac Animal Masks or Headbands: Students create and wear the animal of the current year (Year of the Horse).

• Paper-Cut Art: Simple symmetrical designs using red paper to symbolise luck.

• Firework Art: Use straws or paintbrushes to create vibrant firework scenes.

• Zodiac Animal Storytelling: Learn the legend of the Great Race and how the zodiac animals were chosen.

• Write Wishes or Poems: Write New Year wishes or short poems in English or translated into Mandarin (with support).

• Mandarin Language Challenge: Learn to say “Happy New Year” (新年快乐 – Xīnnián kuàilè) and other simple greetings.

• Tasting Table: Try symbolic foods like dumplings, spring rolls, oranges, and fortune cookies.

• Chopstick Challenge: Fun (non-food) games using chopsticks, like moving cotton balls or pom-poms from one bowl to another.

Whole-School Ideas:

• Assembly on the meaning and customs of Chinese New Year.

• Red and gold-themed dress-up day.

• School display of zodiac signs with student birthdays.

• Chinese New Year trivia quiz during form time.

• Students write kind messages or goals for the new year and place them in paper hongbao envelopes.