Lunar New Year offers teachers an excellent chance to bring cultural celebration into the classroom with minimal preparation. Whether you’re exploring the holiday’s rich history and traditions or simply adding excitement to your lessons, these activities engage students across multiple subjects. From interactive games and surveys to math and literacy activities, there’s something for every learning style. Welcome the Year of the Horse in 2026 with these educational and entertaining classroom activities!
What’s Included in the Lunar New Year Low Prep Activities Packet?
How to Use the Lunar New Year Activities
This packet is designed to be easy to use in real classrooms. Print, copy, and go.
It works well for:
- math and literacy centers
- morning work or early finishers
- social studies and cultural celebrations
- homework or sub plans
- classroom decor and crafts
Included Lunar New Year Activities
The following activities are included in the Lunar New Year Low Prep Activities Packet:
- Chinese New Year Addition Bump
- Lunar New Year Addition Bump
- Chinese Zodiac Spin and Graph
- Animal Zodiac Spin and Graph
- Zodiac Animals
- Zodiac Animal Scramble
- Zodiac Animals ABC Order
- Zodiac Animal Word Search
- Chinese New Year Symbols
- Lunar New Year Symbols
- Can You Eat with Chopsticks? Survey Activity
- Comprehension Check: Chinese New Year
- Comprehension Check: Lunar New Year
- Comprehension Check: Chinese Lantern Festival
- Comprehension Check: Lantern Festival
- Writing Prompt: Lunar New Year (2 versions)
- Writing Prompt: China
- What Is Your Favorite Part of the Chinese New Year?
- What Is Your Favorite Part of the Lunar New Year?
- How Would You Catch a Dragon?
- Chinese Numbers 1-10
- Count and Color
- Dragon Ten Frames
- Chinese Coin Addition
- Chinese Dominoes Addition
- Chinese Coin Subtraction
- Money Envelope Count: Tally Marks
- Color by Code: Number Words
- Color by Code: Tally Marks
- Chinese New Year Word Search
- Lunar New Year Word Search
- Label the Dragon
- Chinese New Year 2026 Scrambled Sentence
- Lunar New Year 202 Scrambled Sentence
- The Dragon Dance Scrambled Sentence
- Chinese Zodiac Scrambled Sentence
- Lunar Calendar Zodiac Scrambled Sentence
- What’s Your Animal Sign?
- Zodiac Animal Coloring Pages (12 Pages)
- Comparing New Year Customs Diagram
- Chinese New Year KWL Chart
- Lunar New Year KWL Chart
- Draw a Dragon: Directed Drawing Worksheet
- Draw a Horse: Directed Drawing Worksheet
- My Chinese New Year / Lunar New Year Booklet
- My Chinese Zodiac / Animal Zodiac Booklet
- Zodiac Animal Crown Crafts (12 versions)
- Zodiac Animal Lantern Crafts (12 versions)
- Year of the Horse Poster Craft
Let’s take a look at a sample of the activities included in the Chinese New Year Activities packet.
Lunar New Year History and Cultural Traditions
Teachers can help students explore Lunar New Year’s history and cultural significance through various engaging activities. The KWL (Know, Want to Know, Learned) graphic organizer makes an ideal starting point. Begin by asking students to share their existing knowledge about the holiday in the “Know” column. Then have them record questions and topics they’re curious about in the “Want to Know” section. Throughout your lesson, students can document their discoveries in the “Learned” column, creating a personalized record of their learning journey. This simple framework activates prior knowledge, builds curiosity, and reinforces new concepts as students engage with the material.
A comparing New Year customs diagram encourages students to examine how different cultures ring in the new year. By identifying similarities and differences across celebrations, students develop cultural awareness and gain appreciation for diverse traditions. This comparative approach helps them recognize universal themes of renewal and celebration while understanding the unique customs that make each culture’s New Year special.
Exploring Lunar New Year Symbols and Traditions
Lunar New Year’s rich symbolism and traditions captivate students’ imaginations. From red envelopes symbolizing good fortune to glowing lanterns and the spectacular dragon dance, the holiday offers endless opportunities for exploration and learning. The 2025 packet provides comprehensive activities that bring these traditions to life:
- Comprehension checks about various festivals and celebrations
- Creative writing prompts that invite students to reflect on holiday customs
- Vocabulary booklets exploring symbolic elements and their meanings
- Hands-on craft activities for creating traditional decorations
These varied approaches ensure students engage with the material through multiple learning modalities while gaining deeper appreciation for the holiday’s cultural significance.
There are activities that are suitable for a wide range of student abilities. Younger students can complete the Lunar New Year symbols worksheet and practice reading and writing words at the same time.
By participating in these activities, students will not only learn about the history and cultural traditions of the Lunar New Year but also gain a greater appreciation and understanding of other cultures.
Year of the Horse Activities
Celebrate 2026 as the Year of the Horse with zodiac-specific activities that engage students’ creativity. Students can:
- Follow directed drawing guides to create detailed horse artwork
- Craft horse-themed zodiac crowns and decorative lanterns
- Discover what the horse symbolizes in Chinese culture – energy, freedom, and success – through a Year of the Horse poster craft.
These activities help students connect with the specific zodiac animal while developing artistic and literacy skills.
Zodiac Animals and the Lunar New Year
The Chinese zodiac – a twelve-year cycle of animal signs – forms the heart of Lunar New Year tradition. Students love discovering “What’s Your Animal Sign?” through an activity that connects their birth year to one of the twelve zodiac animals. After identifying their sign using the reference chart, they can explore what traits the Rat, Ox, Tiger, or other animals represent.
Extend the learning with zodiac-themed activities:
- Word searches building zodiac vocabulary
- Alphabetical ordering practice with animal names
- Data collection and graphing using class zodiac signs
- A zodiac animal booklet
These activities make cultural exploration hands-on while reinforcing literacy and math skills.
Lunar New Year Low Prep Literacy Activities
The 2026 packet includes numerous literacy activities that deepen students’ understanding of the holiday while building reading and writing skills. Popular activities include:
- Comprehensive word searches featuring holiday vocabulary
- Scrambled sentences about Lunar New Year topics for practice with syntax and sequencing
- Creative writing prompts that explore holiday traditions and personal connections
- Labeling activities for Chinese dragons
Another activity is using writing prompts to encourage students to reflect on the holiday and its cultural traditions. These activities not only help students practice their literacy skills but also allow them to think critically and creatively about the holiday.
The Label the dragon worksheet is a fun and educational activity for students to enjoy during the Lunar New Year. Students use the words to label the different parts of the dragon on the worksheet. This activity helps children learn new vocabulary and practice their reading and writing skills.
Lunar New Year Low Prep Math Activities
Mathematics comes alive during Lunar New Year with activities such as:
- Practice writing Chinese numbers 1-10
- Lucky coin addition and subtraction
- Chinese domino math games
- Tally mark counting with red envelopes
- Color by code activities using number words and tally marks
Writing Chinese numbers 1-10 is a fun and educational activity for the Lunar New Year. To begin, children can practice writing the numbers using traditional Chinese characters. This can help them develop fine motor skills and improve their handwriting.
Lunar New Year Classroom Survey
The “Can You Eat with Chopsticks?” survey remains a favorite interactive activity. Students practice data collection and analysis while learning about cultural traditions. The survey can spark interesting discussions about different eating utensils used around the world.
Lunar New Year Coloring Pages
Lunar New Year coloring pages are a fun and creative activity for students to enjoy during the holiday. These coloring pages feature the Chinese zodiac animals. Students can use a variety of coloring tools, such as crayons, markers, or paint, to bring the pages to life. As they color, students will practice fine motor skills and creativity. They can also learn about the cultural traditions and symbolism associated with the Lunar New Year. Coloring pages can be a great way for students to relax and have fun while also learning about this important holiday.
Creative Expression and Crafts
New to the 2026 packet are expanded craft options, including:
- Zodiac animal crowns for all 12 animals
- Traditional lantern crafts featuring zodiac designs
- Directed drawing worksheets for dragons and snakes
- Coloring pages featuring all zodiac animals
- A Year of the Horse Poster Craft
These activities not only help students develop fine motor skills but also provide beautiful decorations for the classroom during the Lunar New Year celebration.
Chinese New Year Activities for Google Slides™
Selected Lunar New Year activities have been created for Google Slides™. Click play on the video to see a sample of some of the activities in action. These digital activities have been updated for the 2025 Lunar New Year.
The 2026 Lunar New Year Activities packet provides a comprehensive collection of resources for teachers to create engaging, educational, and culturally rich experiences for their students. Whether used for math centers, literacy activities, or cultural exploration, these materials help make the Year of the Horse a memorable celebration in any classroom.
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