Chinese New Year Preparation!

Dear Parents,

This week we had a great time preparing for the Chinese New Year.  We started the unit by listening to stories about the special traditions of the special Lunar New Year.   Some of the stories we listened to were:  Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin, The Dancing Dragon, by Marcia Vaughan,  and, My First Chinese New Year, by Karen Katz. 

People who celebrate the Chinese New Year prepare by:

~cleaning their houses to rid themselves of bad spirits 
~getting a haircut or a new outfit
~decorating their houses with a bowl of oranges, apples, 
   or live plants for good luck
~having a large meal with family
~giving and receiving red envelopes with money inside

We learned that 2021 is the year of the Ox.  People born in the year of the Ox are honest, earnest, and hardworking.  Animals play an integral part in Chinese culture, and can be used to determine your fortune for the year, marriage compatibility, career fit, best times to have a baby, and so much more. 

We started our week off making festive lanterns.  The children cut along the lines on red paper and opened them up.  Next, they glued on Chinese New Year pictures.  Once they were all stapled together with a yellow tube inside and a handle, we hung them up in our class.  They look spectacular!!

The children made their own fans inspired by Chinese fans used during the new year celebration.  They painted half of a paper plate with red paint and added gold paint and glitter.  Once they dried, the children glued on gold colored popsicle sticks to them and painted pretty cherry blossoms on them using the bottom of a plastic bottle.  The children did such an amazing job and they are so excited to bring them home!

We also made Chinese New Year fireworks by dipping a metal fork into red, blue, and yellow paint and stamping it onto black paper.  They sprinkled gold glitter on top and they look absolutely beautiful. 

                                                                               

The letter of the week was the letter "B." The children practiced writing the letter in their workbooks and came up with several "B" words such as:  Bonne, boots, bumblebee, B.M.W., bubble bath, black, blue, and bear.

We concluded our week making fake snow.  The children added water to special snow material and it expanded and became fluffy when we mixed it all together.  It was such a great sensory activity for the children, they loved it!

Fun in the classroom:

***Important Reminders***

On Thursday, February 11th we will be having our Valentine's Day party.  Please just bring in 10 Valentines for each child in the class.  You can have your child write their own name on each valentine. 

On Friday, February 12th, we will be celebrating the Chinese New Year in our room.  We will sing, dance and have special snacks. 

We will be closed from February 15th-February 19th for Winter Break.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Love,

Ms. Bonne & Ms. Denise