How to make Chinese New Year Activities engaging in music
See here how Chinese New Year Activities in the music classroom can be engaging! As the joyous festivities of Chinese New Year are ushered in, see how the music classroom can become a vibrant space that celebrates music from around the world. Let’s explore the culture, traditions, festivals, dances, and music to leave a lasting impression on students.
Learning about distant places is a great way to enrich students and grow cultural awareness and appreciation. Chinese New Year activities will open students’ eyes to music and traditions beyond their backyard.
Chinese New Year Activities: Virtual Field Trip
Embark on a Chinese New Year activities virtual field trip to the heart of the Chinese culture by unveiling historical facts that will set the stage for a memorable learning experience. China is one of the four ancient cultures, and students will be captivated by the depth and richness of Chinese history and artistic achievements.
During a Chinese New Year activities tour, it’s essential to incorporate visits to iconic landmarks. Enhance the experience by supplementing information with captivating pictures, ensuring a lasting and memorable impression on your students. Additionally, create a digitally narrated version to make the tour inclusive and engaging to students. This multimedia approach not only reinforces learning but also sparks curiosity and engagement among students, enriching their understanding of this vibrant celebration.
Pique your students’ interest by adding facts about China’s adorable national treasure, the panda bear, or ancient Chinese martial arts. The Great Wall of China rightfully earns its place as one of the seven wonders of the world. Then uncover the mysteries of a recently discovered treasure – a massive buried clay army featuring an estimated 8,000 life-size figures, horses, chariots, and soldiers. This archaeological marvel provides a unique insight into China’s ancient history and artistic achievements.
Celebrate the Chinese New Year Activities
Delve into the vibrant celebration of the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. It is a family reunion of sorts including family feasts, and red lantern decorations. People sweep away the old and invite good luck for the New Year. Engage students with traditions such as sending red letters containing money for protection, and exploring the zodiac animals and elements associated with each year, adding depth to their cultural exploration.
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Students are intrigued to discover their zodiac animal and that animal’s characteristics. Additionally, the five elements – wood, metal, water, fire, and earth – play a role in clarifying traits for individuals born in a particular year, adding depth to the cultural exploration.
Introduce students to the captivating Lion and Dragon dances, integral components of Chinese New Year activities and celebrations. From the mesmerizing spectacle of the Dragon dance to the thrilling stunts of the Lion dance, students will be inspired to explore rhythm, coordination, and teamwork while celebrating this significant cultural event.
Additionally, add movement to music activities. First view the graceful dances with ribbons, fans, and props, igniting excitement and fostering an appreciation for traditional Chinese arts. Then allow students to interpret these dances by encouraging them to mirror the graceful movements. Build a dragon for students to hold up on pools and weave movements through the classroom.
Exploring the intricacies of these dances provides an excellent opportunity for students to express themselves creatively through movement.
Chinese New Year Activities: Pentatonic scales
Incorporate the pentatonic scale, a hallmark of Chinese music, into your lessons to introduce students to its timeless beauty. Encourage exploration and improvisation on xylophones set up on a pentatonic scale, allowing students to discover harmonies that resonate with traditional Chinese music.
Students will be captivated by the freedom to play any note within the scale, fostering a sense of musical discovery and expression that effortlessly enhances your classroom experience.
Chinese New Year Activities: Drumming
Elevate your music activities with the rhythmic energy of Chinese drumming, seamlessly integrating vibrant beats into your Chinese New Year activities. Utilize YouTube videos to introduce your students to the captivating world of Chinese drumming showcasing different styles, techniques, performances, and drums.
Then engage them in hands-on activities to mimic drumming patterns, reinforcing the lesson and adding a fun dimension to the classroom experience.
Chinese Dramatic Art Form
Consider including information about Chinese opera one of the three oldest dramatic art forms. First, you will want to prepare your students for the unusual singing style which will sound completely different from what they expect and are used to. This can be a teachable moment on how singing is produced, vowel shape, and experiment with sound placement. See the design of a Chinese Opera mask freebie above for an additional hands-on coloring activity to foster creativity.
Chinese Music Instruments
Saving the best for last share the unique Chinese musical instruments. Chinese instruments are unlike any other. Chinese musical families are grouped into wind, percussion, bowed, and plucked. These instruments are vast and truly unique. Your students will be amazed.
The best way to experience this is through seeing and hearing them on a self-exploration choice board. See how to use a music choice board to turn your music lesson plans into a dynamic lesson here.
As we celebrate Chinese New Year activities in our classrooms, let’s infuse cultural richness into our music curriculum, creating engaging activities that deepen students’ appreciation for the beauty of Chinese music. Let the melodies of the East resonate in our classrooms, fostering a harmonious celebration of Chinese New Year.
View a completed lesson below along with other places to explore on a virtual tour of music around the world.
