Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year Pretend Play

January 20, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Little learners will love to explore this Chinese New Year tablescape set up filled with Asian artifacts and red and gold loose parts.

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This Chinese New Year pretend play invitation features Asian artifacts and decorations. Little learners will love exploring the unique items and will learn about Asian culture.

Chinese New Year, also called the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival, is an important celebration held in late January or early February in China. Many other East Asian countries, as well as Chinese people around the world, celebrate the holiday too.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

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Chinese New Year Pretend Play Supplies

A Chinese New Year tablescape filled with Asian artifacts and red and gold loose parts for little learners to explore.

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The following red and gold Asian-themed supplies are featured in the pretend play tablescape:

wicker decorations and hat
gold serving bowl
chopsticks
red bowls
gold glitter cups
tiny cups with calligraphy
candy decorations
fish ornament
play food fish
gold garland “noodles”
game chip “play food”
tin ornament candies
coin purse
money envelopes
small tins
vase with artificial cherry blossom branch
gold coins
lion string puppet
fabric ornaments with tassels
plaque with Chinese calligraphy
red tablecloth

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Chinese New Year Pretend Play

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In setting up the dinner table play invitation, I used artifacts collected long ago, supplies available in stores around Chinese New Year, and red and gold loose parts.

Bowls and chopsticks are important pieces, as they are commonly found in Asian tableware.

Fish is a traditional New Year’s dish and is equated with an increase in prosperity.

The gold bead garland strips represent longevity noodles: long, uncut noodles that symbolize a long life.

A coin purse and money envelopes are ready for coins to be added.

And a lion string puppet is poised for the lion dance.

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More Chinese New Year Play Inspiration

This pretend play invitation is bound to engage little learners. For more Chinese New Year play ideas or to host a vibrant party, view the blog post “How To Throw A Stellar Lunar New Year Party” by So Fort Worth It. The post showcases a host of decorating and activity ideas that can be adapted for little learners.

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Lunar New Year Lantern Craft

Add a festive, cultural touch to your Lunar New Year celebration or Chinese New Year theme in minutes with this beautiful Lunar New Year Lantern craft! It’s a great addition to a pretend play center in a preschool, kindergarten, or elementary school classroom.

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This gorgeous printable set comes in five designs and two sizes, offering multiple decorating options.

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The paper lantern themes are dragons, cherry blossom branches, flowers, a knot emblem, and a lion.

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Download this easy-to-assemble, stunning lantern craft on Etsy today!

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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 Money Tree Activities

Chinese New Year (Year Of The Rabbit) Rice Bin

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[Read more…]

Chinese Money Tree Activities

February 2, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Chinese money trees have been part of Chinese New Year celebrations since the 1980s and are a symbol of luck and wealth. People buy money trees for their homes and place them in strategic places. They also purchase and display shiny, metallic tree ornaments laden with gold coins. Here are art and sensory Chinese money tree activities your early learners will enjoy.

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Chinese Money Tree Tray

Set a tree-drawing inside a wooden tray. Add containers with Chinese coins and green and gold gems.

Invitation to decorate a Chinese money tree with gold coins and acrylic gems.

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Feel free to download this template for the project.

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Tree PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Invite your little learners to decorate the tree.

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[Read more…]

Chinese New Year Sensory Play

January 14, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Chinese New Year sensory tub with red and gold accessories in a dyed chickpea base.

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Have you ever dyed chickpeas? I finally gave it a try, and it is soooo addicting! I made the first batch red to use for Chinese New Year sensory play.

In experimenting, I thought the chickpeas looked nice in a combination of dark red, speckled red, and natural hues. All deep red chickpeas seemed overpowering in the sensory tub.

Chickpeas dyed with varying amounts of red acrylic paint.

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How To Dye Chickpeas

A quick and easy way to dye chickpeas is with acrylic craft paint.

Supplies to collect:

large bag of chickpeas
red acrylic craft paint
measuring cup
tablespoon
large sandwich bags
plates or trays

Scoop one cup of chickpeas into a large sandwich bag. Add a tablespoon of red acrylic craft paint. Seal the bag well and knead the chickpeas for a few minutes until they are covered in paint.

Open the bag and set it on a table. After ten minutes, pour the chickpeas onto a tray or plate. They will be completely dry in another ten minutes.

Chickpeas dyed with red acrylic paint for sensory play.

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To get a speckled paint look, add half a tablespoon of paint to one cup of bagged chickpeas and knead well. Repeat the drying process.

Then color a cup of chickpeas with one-quarter tablespoon paint.

Leave some chickpeas undyed. This will give you four color varieties to add to a tub or bin for Chinese New Year sensory play.

To have enough chickpeas for a group sensory tub, dye more of them!

Note: Acrylic paint washes off hands, tables, dishware, and cutlery easily. If it spatters onto your clothes, wipe the paint off with a wet cloth before washing.

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Chinese New Year Sensory Tub

The tub for this sensory activity is a tulip-shaped punch bowl! Up to four children can gather around it to explore the contents. But a bin in any shape will work fine.

You can add undyed chickpeas, all red chickpeas, or chickpeas dyed with different amounts of red paint to the tub. Then look for gold and red items to include.

Red and gold accessories complement this chickpea-based Chinese New Year sensory tub.

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This tulip-shaped, chickpea-based tub holds:

chickpeas infused with varying amounts of red paint
red and gold buttons
gold stars
metallic gold pompoms
gold and red bead garland strips
red diamond acrylic gems
wooden ladle
red bowl
chopsticks
small cups with Chinese calligraphy

A chickpea-based Chinese New Year sensory bin.

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Your early learners will love scooping, pouring, and manipulating the red and gold pieces in this Chinese New Year sensory play invitation.

Dyed chickpeas in a tulip-shaped punch bowl with red and gold accessories.

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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 Rice Bin

Chinese New Year Money Tree Activity

Chinese New Year (Year Of The Rabbit) Rice Bin

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[Read more…]