I teach in a very multicultural school, and we love celebrating the many cultures in our building (and in the world)! One of my favorite lessons of the year incorporates the five senses as we learn about Lunar New Year.
The prep is pretty easy. Here are the materials needed:
- Audio source (computer or phone to play the fireworks sound snippet)
- An orange
- A red Lunar New Year envelope, a regular envelope, or another Lunar New Year decoration/object
- 2-3 small paper lunch bags
- (Optional) A Lunar New Year treat or snack
I start the lesson by explaining that we are going to use our five senses to guess the learning topic of the day. We review the five senses together, touching the corresponding body parts. Then the fun begins!
Sense of Hearing
For our first clue, we use our sense of hearing! I play an audio clip of fireworks (such as this clip from Sound Effects Plus):
We talk about the sounds we hear, and make some predictions about what we will learn. (We will later learn that fireworks are often a key part of Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year celebrations.
Sense of Smell
Now the students will use their sense of smell to learn a little bit more about the Lunar New Year. I have my students close their eyes and use their noses for this clue (a rather challenging task for kindergarten students!). I pass around a paper bag with an orange inside. Right before this lesson, I either peel the orange or use a zester/grater to release the wonderful orange scent from the peel. (Oranges are a symbol of good luck, and they are often a part of the celebration.)
Sense of Touch
Now it’s time to use our sense of touch to discover more about Lunar New Year. I like to pass around a paper bag with a traditional Lunar New Year red envelope inside. Another option would be to pass around any type of envelope, or a Lunar New Year decoration if you have one. Students use their sense of touch by reaching inside the bag and feeling the object.
Sense of Sight
Up to this point, my students have been very patient (most of them!) and have refrained from “peeking.” Now they are invited to look! I let them use their sense of sight to see the object they were touching. We reveal the red envelope (or whatever object you choose), and we talk about the attributes. (The color red is a sign of good luck!) Another option is to have another object to explore with the sense of sight.
Sense of Taste
If the lesson is timed correctly, we break for snack and use our sense of taste! We talk about our predictions and reveal the topic of the day: Lunar New Year. We talk about the meaning of the things we heard, smelled, and touched. We talk about the delicious foods we could taste at a Lunar New Year celebration. (If allergies aren’t a concern, a snack could be provided.) I love sharing books, so we usually end with a story. It’s my favorite lesson of the year!
More Resources:
Check out my newest resources: a YouTube video and Lunar New Year Sight Words Boom Cards! (Links below.)
English