EHS A New Year

Changes to Environment   

New Year Hats, Glasses, Horns, etc

Paper lanterns (Chinese New Year)

Clock (for Countdown)

Books about family, friends, the new year, etc

Chinese Dragon (must not be scary)

Chinese Dress Up Clothes

Silver ball that represents the Times Square Ball

A Dragon Cape (add “scales” to a regular cape)

Bell like “London’s Big Ben” (people gather to hear the chimes of the bell in Great Britain when it’s the new year)

Appropriate pictures of different countries celebrating New Year’s

Teacher made confetti

Noise makers (homemade)

Homemade firework boxes

Teaching Concepts for Indoor Experiences

1. Talk about what new year means, draw a picture of what you do to celebrate

2. Color coffee filters with markers then cut towards middle to look like “fireworks”

3. Make “dragons” with playdough

4. Decorate New Year’s hats

5. Dress up in New Year accessories 

6. Talk about how different countries celebrate New Year’s and show pictures. (link below describes how some countries celebrate)

http://voices.yahoo.com/new-years-eve-customs-around-world-different-144186.html?cat=49

7. The Japanese laugh when the new year begins, this is to bring them good luck in the new year. Draw a picture or make a collage of what makes you laugh

​9. Practice cutting by cutting streamers

Teaching Concepts for Outdoor Experiences

1. Tickle, Tickle Dragon (played like Duck, Duck Goose)

2. Chinese Dragon Dance

3. Have a New Year’s parade

4. Roll or throw the “Times Square Ball”

5. Race (crawling or running)

Teaching Concepts for Music Movement Wellness IMIL

1. Cheer the Year (tune: Row, Row, Row, Your Boat)

Cheer, cheer, cheer the year,

A new one’s just begun.

Celebrate with all your friends,

Let’s go have some fun!

Clap, clap, clap your hands,

A brand new year is here.

Learning, laughing, singing, clapping,

Through another year.

2. It’s a New Year (tune: Frere Jacques)

It’s a new year, it’s a new year,

January first, January first.

Out with the old,

In with the new.

Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

Horns are tooting, horns are tooting,

January first, January first.

Throw some confetti,

Throw some confetti.

Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

3. Happy New Year (tune: Are you Sleeping?)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Rah! Rah! Rah!

Rah! Rah! Rah!

Good-bye to the old year!

Hello to the new year!

Rah! Rah! Rah!

Rah! Rah! Rah!

4. New Year’s Day (tune: Jingle Bells)

New Year’s Day, New Year’s Day

Comes but once a year.

On New Year’s Eve we celebrate

And ring it in with cheer!

New Year’s Day, New Year’s Day

Comes but once a year.

On New Year’s Eve we celebrate

And ring it in with cheer!

5. Chinese Dragon Dance

Teaching Concepts for Fingerplays

1. 10 Little Happy New Years

1 little, 2 little, 3 little, Happy New Years!

4 little, 5 little, 6 little, Happy New Years!

7 little, 8 little, 9 little, Happy New Years!

10 little Happy New Years Cheers!!!

2. 5 Green Dragons

Five green dragons Making such a roar

One danced away And then there were four

Four green dragons Dancing ’round a tree

One danced away And then there were three

Three green dragons Dancing ’round you

One danced away And then there were two

Two green dragons Dancing in the sun

One danced away And then there was one

One green dragon Having lots of fun.

She danced away

And then there were none.

3. New Years Dragon (tune: Itsy Bitsy Spider)

Oh, watch the New Year’s Dragon (point to eyes)

He likes to dance around (dance)

He listens to the music (cup hand around ear)

And makes his growling sound (growl)

When the dragon dances, (dance)

The New Year can begin,

And we won’t see the dragon again (shake finger no)

’til New Year is here again!

Teaching Concepts for distance Learning

1. Scavenger Hunt

You can gather a list, or some ideas include looking for particular shapes, colors, items that are a certain length, or items that start with a particular sound.

2. Dance and Freeze

Play music and encourage children to get up and dance, then children must freeze when the music stops.

3. Show and Tell

Tie it to learning objective. Ex: Bring something that is red, Bring something that starts with the letter P. Bring something you can wear on your hands, arms, feet, etc.