Chinese New Year

Lunar New Year Lantern Craft

February 11, 2026 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

This Lunar New Year lantern craft is easy to make and looks stunning on display. The gorgeous craft comes in two sizes and five themes, and adds flair to Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year celebrations at home or in the classroom. The hanging lanterns are simple for both children and adults to make.

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At the start of many New Year celebrations in South and Southeast Asia, paper lanterns are displayed indoors in homes and businesses. Outdoors, they are strung along streets and hung on trees. They are most prominently displayed on the 15^th day of the New Year, the Lantern Festival.

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Making the Lunar New Year Lantern Craft

To make one or more of these classic hanging lanterns, first download the paper lantern printable set. It is available in my Skills N Smiles shop on Etsy for an everyday low price, and comes in both 8.5 x 11-inch and A4 sizes.

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Next, print a design you would like to craft. Cardstock paper is recommended for printing, but regular copy paper will also work.

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Fold the printed paper in half, with the parallel lines going upwards from the folded edge to the open edge.

Then cut along the lines from the folded paper edge to the open edge. Stop cutting where the lines end.

Next, unfold the paper and roll it into a tube.

Tape or staple the top and bottom edges.

Lastly, attach a paper or ribbon handle, about 8 to 10 inches long, with tape, a glue stick, or a glue gun.

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Skill Level

This paper craft is beginner-friendly and low-prep. Younger children may need help with each step, but will love the chance to use scissors, tape, and glue. Older kids and adults can easily assemble it independently.

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Lanterns in Two Sizes

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These paper lantern designs come in two sizes for versatile decorating. Both look beautiful on display. The smaller size is perfect for children to carry in a Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year parade, or at a Lantern Festival.

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Variation of the Lunar New Year Paper Craft

In addition to white, these striking lantern designs also look nice printed on pastel cardstock or copy paper. Light yellow, blue, green, cream, and pink paper work well.

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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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“Year of the Horse” Wall Art

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This “Year of the Horse” wall art is perfect for an entryway, classroom, or office. Download it at Skills N Smiles on Etsy for Lunar New Year or Zodiac-themed decor, or a cultural celebration display.

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The “Year of the Horse” art print will elevate your Lunar New Year decor, and is available as an instant download on Etsy. It comes in four print sizes, and PDF and PNG formats.

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Get this “Year of the Horse” Chinese Zodiac-themed wall art today!

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Chinese New Year DIY Decorating

Chinese New Year Sensory Bins

Chinese New Year Chickpea Bin

Chinese New Year Pretend Play

Chinese Money Tree Activities

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[Read more…]

Lucky Cat Sensory Bin

January 26, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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A smiling cat is popular in Lunar New Year décor. This cheerful cat decoration originated in Japan and is an ornament displayed all year round there. In Japanese it is called “maneki-neko”, meaning “beckoning cat”. The joy-filled cat has become popular in Chinese New Year celebrations, often called “Lucky Cat.” This Lucky Cat sensory bin incorporates the festive feline in a super fun early learning tactile activity.

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Lucky Cat Sensory Bin Supplies

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This playful Lunar New Year sensory bin contains the following supplies:

dyed chickpeas
Lucky Cat stuffed animal
miniature cat figurines
toy cat balls with bells
star-shaped snack cup and spoon
gold coins
gold bells
serving tray

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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The Lucky Cat Sensory Bin

Many of my Lunar New Year sensory bins have a rice base. Rice fits the theme perfectly as it is a staple ingredient in Chinese cuisine, often eaten at all three meals.

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Chickpea-based sensory bins are also a favorite. Chickpea dishes and snacks have become more popular in China in recent years. Most importantly, chickpeas are easy to dye red, a common Lunar New Year color. This Lucky Cat sensory bin features rows of chickpeas dyed in a few gorgeous colors for added beauty.

Note: To find out how to dye chickpeas view the blog post Unicorn Theme Sensory Play.

The joyful jingly Lucky Cat stuffie is the highlight of the bin. The cute character is the motivation for putting the sensory invitation together.

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Miniature cat figurines give more opportunities for more feline exploration.

Toy cat balls with bells are an unexpected sensory and musical addition.

Gold coins and bells fit the Lunar New Year theme, and are a standard go-to.

A star-shaped snack cup and spoon give opportunities for scooping and pouring.

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All the supplies are showcased in a round serving tray for one or two children to explore.

This Lucky Cat sensory bin is bound to be a hit with your little charges.

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More Lunar New Year Activities

Chinese New Year Dragon Craft

Chinese New Year DIY Decorating

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Dragon Necklace Craft

Chinese New Year Sensory Play

Chinese Money Tree Activities

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Chinese New Year Pretend Play

Orange-scented Playdough Invitation

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Chinese New Year Dragon Craft

Chinese Zodiac Sensory Bins

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[Read more…]

Chinese New Year Chickpea-based Bin

January 19, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Every January since I started this blog, making a sensory bin with the zodiac animal of the year’s Chinese New Year celebration has been a tradition. The 2025 zodiac animal is a snake, and it was super fun including snakes in a Chinese New Year chickpea-based bin.

This year’s Chinese New Year celebration starts on January 29, and the date marks the beginning of a Year of the Snake. The slithering reptile is the sixth of 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac, coming after the dragon and before the horse. People born in a Year of the Snake are thought to be intelligent, passionate, intuitive, diligent, creative, competent, and wise.

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Chinese New Year 2025 Sensory Bin Supplies

Early learners absolutely love sensory activities and get a sampling of the 2025 Chinese New Year celebration by exploring this red and gold chickpea bin with a few color-coordinating snakes set in.

The following supplies are in the festive bin:

dried chickpeas
gold play coins
ingot bowl
gold garland bits
red dessert cups and spoons
gold bells
gold buttons
snake figurines

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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The Chinese New Year Chickpea-based Bin

Dried chickpeas dyed in various amounts of red acrylic paint are the base for this simple Lunar New Year bin. For easy instructions detailing how to dye chickpeas, view my blogpost “Chinese New Year Sensory Play. “

A food service bus tub holds the chickpeas and other supplies nicely and allows two or three children to investigate the bin together.

A pair of nesting ingot bowls with oval lids was a new find, and I chose the smaller one for the bin. Its unique boat shape and shiny gold finish add interest.

Fun facts: In ancient Chinese culture, ingot bowls were made of gold or silver, and were used as currency. Today they symbolize wealth and hope for prosperity. The glamourous bowls are displayed in festival décor and are sometimes filled with candy, chocolate, or fruit.

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Gold play coins, buttons, bells, and garland bits are loose parts that complement the New Year’s theme.

Red snack cups and spoons give opportunities to scoop and pour, always a favorite activity of young children.

Various-sized red and yellow snake figurines are highlights of the Chinese New Year chickpea-based bin. Children love to use them in hands-on investigative activities.

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Related: Lunar New Year Paper 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 Chinese Zodiac Sensory Bins

Year Of The Rat Sensory Bin

Year Of The Ox Sensory Bin

Year Of The Tiger Sensory Bin

Year Of The Rabbit Sensory Bin

Year Of The Dragon Sensory Bins

Year Of The Pig Sensory Bin

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[Read more…]

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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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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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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