Playing with Lanterns
LESSON 6
Children create lanterns and go on an evening walk as their final celebration of the Lunar New Year.
Materials
Gather materials.
Set up workstation for the lantern craft.
Choose the type of lantern you want to make. Plan for any extra materials you might need. Get ideas here or follow our instructions in the lesson plan to make the same ones we did.
Preparations
Initiate discussion about the important role parades play in the Lunar New Year Celebrations.
Highlight the importance of lanterns as a final tradition to the Lunar New Year.
Introduce and read the story to the children helping them connect with the characters and storyline.
Ask comprehension questions to encourage discussion about what they learned regarding lanterns.
Provide support and guidance as children create lanterns.
Objectives for Teachers
Children recall the special performances done during New Lunar year parades.
Children actively engage in listening to a story about lanterns.
Children practice reading comprehension skills as they engage in questions about the story.
Children practice creativity and fine motor skills while creating lanterns in preparation for a lantern walk.
Children gain an appreciation for cultural traditions by participating in a lantern walk.
Objectives for Children
Collect and Connect
Practice saying the poem “Lunar New Year Dragon Rhyme” with the actions indicated.
Lunar New Year Dragon Rhyme
There is a great big dragon coming our way,
A great big dragon on this holiday.
(Children wave up and down like a dragon bobbing up and down)
Let’s grab our lanterns and follow along,
Dancing and waving and singing a song.
(Children dance and wave)
There is a great big dragon coming our way,
Hip, Hip, Hooray!
(Children jump up and down)
Activity Flow
Begin by reflecting on previous lesson. Here are some questions you might ask:
What was your favorite part of creating ribbon streamers?
Do you remember other talents people shared in the Lunar New Year parade?
What has been your favorite tradition you’ve learned so far?
2. Introduce the book titled "Playing with Lanterns" by Wang Yage. Let your child know they will discover another special tradition. Ask if they can they guess what it is from the title. Share that at the end of the story, the children will do something to their lanterns. Ask your child to guess what they think the children will do to their lanterns. Invite them to pay attention and listen carefully to find out what happens with the lanterns. Then read the story.
3. After the story, initiate a discussion about what they learned. Here are some questions you might ask:
What was inside the children’s lanterns?
What did the boys do with their lanterns when they saw the girls?
How do you think the girls felt?
What did the children do with the lanterns at the end of the story and why?
What helped Zhao Din feel better when she was feeling sad about the celebrations being over?
4. Tell the children they will be creating their own paper lanterns. Depending on the lantern you have chosen, provide the materials and step-by-step guidance.
Paper Lantern:
1. Choose a colored sheet of paper for your lantern, then cut the paper into two strips: one 3.5 inches wide and the other 5 inches wide.
2. Trim the 5-inch strip to be 9 inches long.
3. Choose another color for the top and bottom trim. Cut half-inch-wide strips, each 9 inches long.
4. Glue these trim pieces along the top and bottom of the 5 x 9 paper.
5. Fold the same paper you glued the trim on in half lengthwise and cut slits every half inch along the folded edge, stopping at the trim.
6. Unfold the paper and glue along the inside edges.
7. Align this folded edge along the other strip of paper lengthwise, repeating along the other inside edge.
8. Glue the 2-inch flap of extra paper to the inside of the lantern to form it.
9. Cut another half-inch-wide strip, 9 inches long, of the first sheet's color for the handle.
10. Glue both ends of the handle on the inside top edge of the lantern opposite each other. Your lantern is now complete!
5. After making your lantern, join in a lantern walk to mark the end of the Lunar New Year. This is a perfect time for your child to share what they learned about the Lunar New Year. Enjoy your time spent together and have a happy new year!
