We’re a couple of days into Chinese New Year, an annual 15-day event celebrating the beginning of a new year on the traditional Chinese calendar. The Chinese follow the lunar calendar, which is calculated on the time the moon takes to go around the Earth and falls on the new moon between 21 January and 20 February.
I’ve been away for a few weeks so I’ve had to be really quick in compiling this lapbook, which is why there are some parts ‘borrowed’ as you’ll see (i.e the Zodiac symbols) but it encompasses a fair bit of the who/what/where of Chinese New Year.
There’s an information cheat sheet that covers all the facts you’ll need to know to cover the contents of the lapbook too. You can download that here.
The lapbook contains 9 sections:
- Zodiac wheel with a list to track who was born in what year, which makes them year of which animal
- Popular flower decorations for Chinese New Year
- How to say Happy New Year in Cantonese, Mandarin and Hokkien
- Popular New Year’s Symbols
- Lunar Phases of the Moon
- What is seen to bring good luck or bad luck on Chinese New Year’s
- 7 Lucky Foods for Chinese New
- Some investigative questions around the zodiac and the new moon
- A money purse for coins
- Recipe cards for Egg Drop Soup
That sounds like a wonderfully engaging lapbook celebrating Chinese New Year! As you explore the rich traditions and symbolism associated with this festive occasion, it’s fascinating to consider how various beliefs about the future intersect with these celebrations.
For many, the concept of fortune-telling and reading palms adds an intriguing layer to understanding one’s path ahead. While some might find a broken life line on right hand to indicate challenges in the future, it’s important to remember that such interpretations can also serve as reminders of resilience. A broken life line might suggest obstacles, but it can also signify an opportunity for growth and adaptability. Instead of viewing it purely as a sign of misfortune, individuals can harness this insight to prepare for the hurdles ahead, using them as stepping stones toward a more enriched life.
Incorporating these reflections into your understanding of Chinese New Year traditions not only enhances the cultural experience but also encourages a proactive approach to life’s uncertainties. Just as the New Year invites fresh beginnings, it’s a reminder that our interpretations of challenges can shape our journeys and empower us to navigate the future with courage and optimism.
In addition to this. we also made coins from clay and a few of the crafts from this old blog post. There’s also paper plate Chinese drums, which are a lot less noisy than their real-life counterparts!
You can download the lapbook here free – by doing so you’re agreeing to be added to our mailing list, but don’t worry you won’t hear from me all that often! – alternatively, you can download the paid version here and you won’t be added to any lists.
