Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year Sensory Bins

February 8, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Here are three Chinese New Year sensory bins to help celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year. The zodiac animal assigned to the new year is a dragon, and the imaginary winged beast is featured in all the bins.

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Dragon and Noodle Sensory Bin

This first Chinese New Year sensory bin has a noodle base. Noodles are a common ingredient in Asian dishes.

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The supplies in the bin are:

red envelope
gold play coins
red bowl and chopsticks
red and gold dragon figurines
stuffed fish
gold and red buttons
red tassels
red beads and bead garland

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Dyed Chickpea and Dragon Sensory Bin

This second Lunar New Year sensory bin has a dyed chickpea base.

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The chickpeas are dyed in various amounts of red acrylic paint. Some have been left uncolored. To learn how to dye chickpeas, view my blog post “Chinese New Year Sensory Play.”

Just a few supplies complement this simple sensory bin:

gold Asian play coins
round game pieces
gold stars cut from garland
red and gold bead garland cut into strips
large diamond-shaped acrylic gems
gold buttons
plush dragon
star-shaped bowl
training chopsticks

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Chinese New Year Wood Dragon Bin

This third sensory bin hones in on the fact that it is not just the year of the dragon, but more specifically, a wood dragon. The white glutinous rice-based bin is calming compared to the two previous bright and bold bins. Green and white supplies and woodland elements are prevalent in the sensory play invitation.

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The Chinese New Year Wood Dragon bin contents are:

orange tree sprig
green and gold ornament
artificial green leaves
small logs
tree branch slices
tiny tin
gold play coins
ornamental rock
training chopsticks
green dragon figurine

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Enjoy celebrating the Chinese New Year with one or more of these dragon-themed sensory bins.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Related: Lunar New Year Lantern Craft

Add a festive, cultural touch to your Lunar New Year celebration or Chinese New Year classroom theme in minutes with this beautiful Lunar New Year Lantern craft!

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More Zodiac-inspired Sensory Bins

Year Of The Rat Sensory Bin

Year Of The Ox Sensory Bin

Year Of The Tiger Sensory Bin

Year Of The Pig Sensory Bin

Year Of The Rabbit Sensory Bin

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[Read more…]

Chinese New Year Dragon Craft

February 7, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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The Chinese New Year celebration is just around the corner, and this year the feature animal is a dragon. The imaginary animal is fifth in the Chinese Zodiac and is linked with the element wood in the year 2024. So naturally, wood products are incorporated in this Chinese New Year dragon craft.

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Dragon Craft Supplies

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The supplies in this spectacular dragon craft are:

sandpaper
wood sample chips
wiggly eye
11-inch x 14-inch sturdy paper
Asian coin play money
white glue and glue paddle
pencil and scissors

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The Chinese New Year Dragon Craft

For this woodsy dragon, I enlarged a dragon necklace pattern, a free printable on the blog. I used it to cut out the head, legs, and tail from a sheet of course sandpaper.

Small rectangular wood sample chips, donated from a hardware store, make up the curvy body.

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Gold Asian play coins add glitz to the design.

The creative invitation makes a unique transient art activity. Or the supplies can be glued onto a large piece of sturdy paper using white glue and a glue paddle.

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Variations Of The Dragon Craft

Instead of using wood sample chips, rectangles cut from wood-themed scrapbook paper would work beautifully.

Circles cut or punched from metallic or glitter gold cardstock could serve as the play money.

The entire project would look equally stunning made from one or more colors of construction paper.

The Chinese New Year dragon craft is a great fit for Lunar New Year 2024. Since dragons are part of the celebrations every year, it could become an annual project.

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More Chinese New Year Activities

Chinese New Year Pretend Play

Chinese New Year Sensory Tub

Orange-scented Playdough Invitation

Chinese Money Tree Art and Sensory Activities

Chinese New Year DIY Decorating

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[Read more…]

Chinese New Year DIY Decorating

January 21, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Stickers are an easy and economical way to dress up cups, plates, and serving bowls for themed pretend play. They also work well for crafting ornaments. When I spotted festive stickers on sale over my Christmas break, I knew they were perfect for Chinese New Year DIY decorating.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Chinese New Year DIY Ball Ornaments

Make these sparkly Chinese New Year-themed ball ornaments using gold glitter and themed stickers.

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To make these sparkly decorations, you need:

clear unbreakable ball ornaments
gold glitter
Chinese New Year stickers
a funnel

After collecting the supplies, start off by adding gold glitter to clear fillable unbreakable ball ornaments. Use a funnel to insert the glitter. Add just enough to cover the bottom of each ornament and then put the tops back on. Shaking the balls afterward moves some of the glitter up the sides.

Then decorate each ornament with Chinese New Year sticker designs. Hang up the festive balls for display.

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Chinese New Year DIY Tableware

While out and about our city, I always admire clear patio tableware with design accents. An economical way to replicate them for little learners is by using themed stickers. Adding stickers is also an option if you cannot find tableware suitable for children’s play in the theme you are currently working on.

To do this, gather clear unbreakable plates, cups, and bowls and add sticker designs to them. How simple!

In addition to the ornament, below is a cup and a serving bowl with themed Chinese New Year stickers added on. Both were dollar store finds. The decorated tableware goes over well in a play kitchen or sensory tub.

Decorate clear unbreakable tableware and ornaments with Chinese New Year-themed stickers for a cultural vibe.

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These Chinese New Year DIY decorating ideas work in any theme you can find coordinating stickers for. I am looking forward to trying them in a sunflower or butterfly theme next.

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Lunar New Year Lantern Craft

Add a festive, cultural touch to your Lunar New Year celebration or Chinese New Year classroom theme in minutes with this beautiful Lunar New Year Lantern craft!

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Related:

Chinese New Year Sensory Tub

Chinese New Year Tablescape Play

Chinese New Year Chickpea Bin

Chinese New Year Money Tree Activities

Dragon Necklace Craft

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[Read more…]

Chinese New Year Sensory Tub

January 20, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Set up this Chinese New Year sensory bin for your little learners to explore. It's a fun way to learn about Chinese New Year traditions.

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This Chinese New Year sensory tub features a pretend play set up, bound to be a hit with your little learners. While playing in the oh-so-fun sensory invitation, children get a chance to learn about Chinese culture.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Chinese New Year Sensory Tub Supplies

Super fun supplies for a Chinese Lunar New Year sensory tub invitation to play your early learners will love to investigate.

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Play kitchen accessories and loose parts are the theme of these economical and easy-to-gather supplies. Collected for the tub are:

large round gold placemat
gold coins, bead garland, and buttons
pink pompoms
orange counters
fish and orange play food
panda storage container
stuffed rabbit ornament
paper plates
clear bowl and cups
training chopsticks
ladle
gold tongs
artificial cherry blossom flowers

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The Chinese New Year Sensory Tub

A super inviting Chinese Lunar New Year sensory tub with a "Year Of The Rabbit" theme. A cultural sensory play opportunity your early learners will love.

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The sensory bin for this activity is a spiral saucer sled, and it works beautifully. It is big enough to hold supplies for three children to play in. An active world tray would also be a good fit.

The round gold placemat at the bottom of the bin offsets its bright red color.

Before setting in the clear bowl and cups, I added a few Chinese New Year stickers as an easy way to make them festive.

The orange counters and oranges represent orange fruits (especially mandarins), which are displayed and given as gifts during Chinese New Year. Mandarin oranges are symbolic of gold, as their name in Chinese sounds like it. They are believed to bring riches when given or received as gifts.

A pretty Lunar New Year sensory tub with a "Year Of The Rabbit" theme. A perfect way to introduce Chinese culture to early learners.

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The cut gold garland strips are “noodles.” Long, uncut noodles symbolize a long life to Chinese people.

The play food fish stands for togetherness and plentifulness.

The cherry blossoms in the bin represent the promise of Spring and the renewal of life.

The pink pompoms coordinate with the cherry blossom touches and are soft like bunny tails.

The gold coins are reminders that children are given money in envelopes during Chinese New Year.

Since this is the “Year Of The Rabbit,” there is a stuffed rabbit ornament in the bin.

A pretty Chinese New Year sensory tub with a "Year Of The Rabbit" theme. A perfect way to introduce Chinese culture to early learners.

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Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year, is a national holiday and the biggest festival of the year. Dinners with family are a big part of Chinese New Year celebrations. This dinner-themed sensory tub is the perfect way to introduce some of the cultural traditions to little learners.

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Set up this Lunar New Year sensory bin for your little learners to explore. It's a fun way to learn about Chinese New Year traditions.

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[Read more…]

Chinese New Year Rice Bin

January 15, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Chinese New Year (also called Lunar New Year) is just around the corner, and it will soon be the Year Of The Rabbit. As has been the tradition in the last few years, I put together a themed sensory bin for the occasion. The colorful Year Of The Rabbit Chinese New Year rice bin is filled with interesting treasures for early learners to explore.

Chinese Lunar Calendar

The Chinese Lunar Calendar is used to determine festivals and wedding dates. The longest and most important festival is Chinese New Year, celebrated each January/February in China, and by millions of people around the world. This year Chinese New Year falls on January 22, 2023.

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The Chinese Zodiac

There are 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac. In a 12-year cycle, each animal corresponds to one year and is believed to represent certain character qualities. The rabbit is the fourth animal in the zodiac and is considered to be

elegant
gentle
alert
kind
patient
mannerly
affectionate
witty
approachable
responsible
peace-loving
talented
self-disciplined
able to set goals and achieve them

People born in the Year Of The Rabbit are believed to constitute these character traits.

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Chinese New Year Rice Bin Supplies

This rabbit-themed Chinese New Year loose parts tray is filled with treasures early learners love to explore.

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The first thing gathered for this Chinese New Year-themed bin is a rabbit hanging decoration. I took it apart and used one of the stuffed dangling rabbits for the bin. Also in the bin are:

bunny counters
training chopsticks
red bowl
ladles and gold spoons
wooden numbers from 0 to 9
large gold buttons
pompoms
gold play coins
cut gold necklaces
plastic bus bin
white glutinous rice

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The Chinese New Year Rice Bin

A stuffed bunny decoration and rabbit counters are highlights in this Year of The Rabbit Chinese New Year rice bin.

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It is handy to have a few different kinds of bins available for sensory activities. For this themed Chinese New Year play invitation, I feature a white bus bin big enough for two or three children to explore at a time.

White glutinous rice is the base for the bin. It is relaxing to play in and showcases the loose parts well.

The feature rabbit is colorful, and pompoms and rabbit counters color coordinate.

Rabbits are soft, with even softer tails. The pompoms are like rabbit tails.

The gold coins are reminders that children and single young adults get red envelopes filled with money or chocolate coins.

Cut gold necklace strips represent long noodles. These symbolize long life and are traditionally served.

This Chinese New Year rice bin celebrates the Year of The Rabbit. A stuffed rabbit decoration and bunny counters are highlights in the bin.

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Training chopsticks are included for exercise in transferring noodles, pompoms, and other loose parts.

There is a red bowl and gold buttons. Both red and gold are popular colors in Chinese New Year decorations. Red symbolizes luck and happiness, and gold symbolizes wealth and prosperity.

Rabbits breed easily and can have 4 or more litters per year. There are anywhere from 1 to 14 kits per litter, with an average being six. Each litter spurs on the question: How many baby bunnies did the mother bunny have? That is why there are so many rabbit counters in the bin! The wooden numbers give an opportunity for number recognition when counting rabbits.

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This rabbit-themed Chinese New Year rice bin is so fun to assemble. The bright and sparkly stuffed rabbit decoration is definitely the highlight of the bin.

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Related:

Year Of The Rat Sensory Bin

Year Of The Ox Sensory Bin

Year Of The Tiger Sensory Bin

Year Of The Pig Sensory Bin

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[Read more…]