Lunar Chinese New Year Activities for Upper Elementary

Looking for engaging Chinese New Year activities for your upper elementary classroom? Teacher friend, you’re in the right place. Whether your students are already familiar with the holiday or this will be their first exposure, these activities offer a perfect mix of learning, creativity, and fun.

Celebrating Lunar New Year in the classroom is a meaningful way to help students learn about other cultures while reviewing ELA and math skills. It’s a great opportunity to foster inclusion and promote global awareness. I talk more about this in my post on culturally responsive teaching.

Ready for low-prep, high-impact Chinese New Year activities your students will love? Let’s jump in! 🎉

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Build Background Knowledge with a Reading Comprehension Activity

Start with a nonfiction passage that introduces students to the traditions, history, and celebrations of Lunar New Year. This kind of reading activity works wonders for activating prior knowledge and giving context to the rest of the day’s learning. Pair it with simple comprehension questions to help scholars process what they’ve read.

These types of Chinese New Year activities are especially great as:

• Morning work
  
  
• Literacy center tasks
  
  
• A springboard for whole-class discussion
  
  

Chinese New Year Matching Game with Task Cards

Let’s be real—our students love games. And when learning is tucked inside a card-matching activity? Even better.

Set up a review game where scholars match facts about the Lunar New Year to the correct term or phrase. These task card-style Chinese New Year activities can be used in stations, partner games, or even a scoot around the classroom.

They’re low prep but high engagement, and they reinforce vocabulary in a fun way.

Spark Class Discussion with a “Would You Rather” Lunar Edition

This is always a crowd-pleaser! Use silly—but themed—questions to spark discussion and build classroom community. Students choose between two fun scenarios, then explain their reasoning.

Here are some example prompts:

• Would you rather have a pet dragon or a hundred goldfish?
  
  
• Would you rather breathe fire or jump like a rabbit?
  
  

You can use this during:

• Morning meeting
  
  
• Class circle time
  
  
• Writing warm-ups
  

If you want to turn this into an art extension, have students illustrate their answers and turn them into a class collage. These types of Chinese New Year activities are also a sneaky way to practice opinion writing.

Review Math Facts with Lunar-Themed Color by Code

We all have those moments when we need our kiddos to quietly review math while staying engaged. That’s where color-by-code activities shine.

Give your students a fun way to practice multiplication or other math facts while uncovering a festive picture as they go.

These are especially helpful when you:

• Need a low-energy activity after recess
  
  
• Want something cheerful for hallway or door decor
  
  
• Need meaningful busy work for early finishers
  
  

They also make for great conversation starters when tied to Lunar New Year symbols like lanterns or zodiac animals. These colorful Chinese New Year activities double as student-made decorations!

Use Word Search Puzzles to Reinforce Vocabulary

Sometimes you just need a calm, focused activity to transition between lessons. A themed word search with key Lunar New Year vocabulary is perfect for that.

These help students:

• Recognize words that relate to the holiday
  
  
• Practice spelling and vocabulary
  
  
• Settle down with quiet focus
  
  

You can even extend the activity by asking students to write sentences or mini-stories using the words they found.

Psst—if your 100th day of school celebration falls near Lunar New Year, try blending the two! Here are some 100th Day of School Activities you can easily pair with Lunar-themed work.

Math Practice with a Cultural Twist

Want to sneak in some math that feels new and exciting? Use Chinese zodiac charts and cultural facts as part of your problem-solving math activities.

You can create word problems that include:

• Calculating years between zodiac cycles
  
  
• Estimating days in a lunar calendar
  
  
• Using data from zodiac charts for math comparisons
  

This approach not only keeps math skills sharp but ties learning directly to the theme of the day. It’s another way Chinese New Year activities can connect with your academic goals.

Solve a Cryptogram with a Lunar New Year Message

Looking for something unique? Try a Lunar-themed cryptogram! Students use logic and pattern recognition to decode a hidden message.

These puzzles:

• Encourage persistence
  
  
• Are fantastic for early finishers
  
  
• Work well as a quiet challenge or homework task
  
  

And once students crack the code? They can decorate the message with themed illustrations. It’s one of those Chinese New Year activities that mixes critical thinking with creativity.

Reflect & Write with Creative Prompts

Give your students space to think creatively and reflectively with themed writing prompts. These might include:

• “If I were a zodiac animal, I would…”
  
  
• “My family’s traditions include…”
  
  
• “If I could plan my own New Year festival…”
  
  

Prompts like these offer a gentle way to integrate personal narratives, build empathy, and connect cultural celebrations to students’ own lives.

You can extend this into a bulletin board project or a class book. These reflective Chinese New Year activities work well for SEL, too.

Chinese New Year Read-Alouds for Upper Elementary

Picture books aren’t just for younger readers—they’re powerful tools for building understanding at every grade level. These books offer windows into culture, characters, and storytelling traditions that enrich the Lunar New Year celebration.

Here are some favorites to check out: (#affiliate links)

• Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin
  
  
• Goldy Luck and the Three Pandas by Natasha Yim
  
  
• Ruby’s Chinese New Year by Vickie Lee
  
  
• The Night Before Lunar New Year by Natasha Wing
  
  
• Our Lunar New Year: Celebrating Lunar New Year in Asian Communities by Yobe Qiu
  
  
• The 12 Days of Lunar New Year by Jenna Lettice
  
  
  
  

Use these fun Lunar New Year books to:

• Launch discussions
  
  
• Spark writing prompts
  
  
• Connect to social-emotional learning
  
  

These read-alouds pair well with many of the Chinese New Year activities you’ve already got going in class.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chinese New Year in the Classroom

What’s the difference between Chinese New Year and Lunar New Year?


Lunar New Year is celebrated in many Asian countries, and Chinese New Year is one of the most well-known. The terms are often used interchangeably, but it’s helpful to be inclusive.

How can I celebrate Chinese New Year respectfully?


Use books by authentic voices, avoid stereotypes, and focus on honoring traditions rather than dressing up or doing overly simplified crafts.

Do I have to buy special supplies?


Not at all! With books, videos, and low-prep printable activities, you can create a meaningful celebration without running to five stores.

Should I involve students who celebrate at home?


Only if they’re comfortable! You can invite them to share something, but always offer an opt-out.

Grab These Ready-to-Go Chinese New Year Activities

If you’re looking for Chinese New Year activities that are meaningful and manageable, this activity packet has you covered! 🧧

• 14 engaging activities
  
  
• ELA + Math review
  
  
• No prep needed + answer keys included
  
  
• Works beautifully for morning work, sub plans, early finishers, or full lessons
  
  

These pages are teacher-tested and student-approved. I’ll let the reviews speak for themselves. Click the image to see them.

You can check out the preview or grab the full set in my shop today!

With these engaging Chinese New Year activities, you’re not just filling time—you’re helping your students connect, learn, and celebrate the beauty of different cultures in a thoughtful way. ❤️