Ready for Take-off!

Let's start our adventure in China, which has the largest population in the world! China also has the biggest manmade structure in the world, the Great Wall of China. Dive into the below lessons each day to learn about Chinese clothing, food, festivals, and games! All from the Asia Society Texas.

Parents, please download these notes to help inform your journey through China. Click HERE for the notes

2023 is the year of the Rabbit. Find out more about celebrations and the Lantern Festival. 

Probably the best site for a broad view for 8 year olds and up. Covers all the culture and history of the New Year adventures with beautiful photos.

• Learn about clothes HERE

• Learn about the Year of the Ox HERE

• Learn about what to eat HERE

• Learn about decorations HERE

• Learn about the History and culture of the Lantern Festival HERE

• Learn about the Red Pockets HERE

Twinkl resources 

View a Chinese Lantern Festival 

Find books to compliment your teaching. 

• Click HERE to view

• Click HERE to view what the food symbolize.  

A good inclusive discussion on similarities and differences. 

This article highlights the importance of the moon. HERE

Lion dance ( 舞獅) is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture and other Asian countries in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume to bring good luck and fortune. The lion dance is usually performed during the Chinese New Year and other Chinese traditional, cultural and religious festivals. It may also be performed at important occasions such as business opening events, special celebrations or wedding ceremonies, or may be used to honor special guests by the Chinese communities.

According to Eastern mythology there was a horrible beast called Nian which lived on the mountains.

Towards the end of Winter when there was nothing to eat, Nian would come on the first day of New Year to the villages to eat livestock, crops, and even villagers, especially children.

The villagers would live in terror over the Winter, but over time they learned that the ferocious Nian was afraid of three things: fire, and noise and  the color red.  So when the New Year was about to come, the villagers would hang red lanterns and red spring scrolls on windows and doors.  They also used firecrackers to frighten away the Nian. From then on, Nian never came to the village again.

• For a YouTube video click HERE suitable for older children 10 years plus ( the monster scares the villagers and a chicken is eaten ).

• More in depth information HERE