Chinese New Year - Brooklyn Children's Museum

information for the teacher
Welcome!
This case explores Chinese New Year, an important holiday in Chinese culture that’s prominently
celebrated in New York City. The activities and resources in this case can be used to enhance your
study of how people celebrate the Chinese New Year in general and the Chinese Zodiac and Lion
Dance in particular, while also providing you with resources to hold a Chinese New Year festival in
your classroom.
The study of Chinese New Year can extend in many directions, including immigration, cross-cultural
comparison of Lunar New Year celebrations, and of course, a more in-depth study of China and
its people. We have included some suggestions for how to make these curriculum connections to
serve as starting points for following your own and your students’ interests. Integrated classes
were taken into consideration when developing these activites, making many suited for students
with special needs. For your convenience, you can download this guide from our website:
www.brooklynkids.org.
New York City has the fortune of supporting at least three Chinatowns. Even though these
thriving communities exist in our city, many people do not encounter Chinatown until wintertime
when street signs and banners throughout the boroughs advertise the many Lunar New Year
celebrations. During Chinese New Year there are ample opportunities to introduce China and
Chinese American customs. The objects in this case are intended to introduce Chinese New
Year for your students and guide them to understand what their neighbors are celebrating and
perhaps even their classmates.
The objects in this case are real and authentic, purchased from stores in New York’s Chinatowns.
Though they are not antique and some may look like toys, it is important to emphasize to your
students that, like all museum objects, they are to be handled carefully.
Chinese New Year | 6