Crafts

Art:

Paper Party Hats:

You will need colored construction paper,  a stapler or tape, a hole punch and yarn at the minimum.  You may choose to have the children decorate the paper with markers, paint, crayons, string, glitter, the number "2000", or however they wish.  After the paper has dried, form a cone shape to fit the child's head.  Then staple or tape the shape securely.  The cone shape is formed by rolling up the paper so the longer sides of the paper forms the top and bottom of the cone.  After you have secured the shape with tape or staples, cut the bottom of the cone so it is even all the way around.  Punch two holes in the hat near the bottom to attach a string that will secure the hat on the child's head.  Tie on the string.

Bells:

You will need yarn, a pencil, craft bells, styrofoam cups and decorating materials.  Have the children decorate their cup.  Cut a piece of yarn, no longer than the height of the cup.  Tie the yarn to the bell.  Then poke a small hole on the bottom of the cup.  Thread the yarn through the hole so the bell is inside the cup.  Tie the yarn in a knot (or a couple of knots) so it will not come loose.  Now you have a bell.

Bell Rings:

You will need to make these for the children.  Older children can do the threading.  Simply thread craft bells onto a small piece of elastic, long enough to fit around your children's ankle or wrist.  Then sew the two ends together.  These can be used  for group time dancing, songs and games below.

2000:

Write the number 2000 on a piece of paper and have the children decorate it with paint, markers, crayons, string, lace, glitter, or whatever.

Chinese Good Luck Letters:

Invite the children to write good luck letters to each other using square red paper.  Fold in the four corners to the center of the paper to make it an "envelope" for itself.  Have the child write their friends name on the outside.

Chinese New Year dragons:

Have the children make dragons out of lunch size paper bags and decorations like googly eyes, and paper scraps.  Have a New Year's Parade and walk through the school and have the children place the dragons on their hands and wave them up and down.

Red Ribbons for to scare Nian

The tradition of Nian is explained in Dramatic Play.  Supply each child with red ribbon and a dowel or unsharpened pencil.  Have the children tape the ribbon to the dowel.  This is used to scare Nian.

Chinese Laterns:

Have each child fold a piece of paper (red is best) in half so that the two longest sides are together.  Then have the children cut one strip of paper off.  Then have the children cut slits in the paper starting at the fold and going almost to the edges.  Have the children make four or five slits.  Then roll up the paper connecting the two shorter sides with tape or glue.  Then the children may glue the first piece they cut off to the top of the lantern for the handle.

Math and Science:

Bell balancing: 3+
Supply the children with bells and a balance.  Show the children how to make the balance even.  Count the bells on each side.

Bell ringing: 3+
Supply the children with many different bells.  What different sounds do they make.  How are the sounds different.

Bell ringing 2: 3+
Supply the children with pairs of bells.  Mix them up.  See if they can find their matches by the sound.

What is a year:
Discuss with the children what a year is.  Have one child stand in one place.  They will be the sun.  You can even give them a yellow plate with the word sun on it.  Ask another child to be the earth.  They can have a blue or green plate.   Make the floor with masking tape where the child will start and stop.  Have the earth child walk around the sun while spinning.  Have them stop on the masking tape.  Tell the children it takes 365 days for the earth to go all the way around the sun.  Let other children have a chance to be the sun and earth.  You can explain a day by having the sun child hold a flashlight.  Turn out the lights, and have the earth child turn around in the same spot.
 

Group Time and Songs:

Bell Ring Song:
Supply each child with a bell ring.  (Instructions on how to make bell rings in art section.)  Sing this song and follow the directions:
Sung to Frere Jacques
Ring your bells,
Ring your bells,
Shake them left and right,
Shake them hard and light,
Ring them loud,
Ring them soft.

Ring your bells,
Ring your bells,
Shake them up and down,
Shake them all around,
Ring them loud,
Ring them soft.

Happy Birthday:
Happy Birthday new year,
Happy Birthday new year,
Happy Birthday 2000,
Happy Birthday new year.

New Years Resolutions: 4+
Discuss with your children about the tradition of making resolutions on New Years.  Ask each child what New Year's Resolution they would like to make.  Write them down on a big piece of paper to post in the class.  Or for older children have them write them down themselves.