Chinese Lunar New Year Elementary Lesson

This Lunar New Year Library Lesson includes a 55-slide presentation, scavenger hunt activity, and recommended reads list. Updated for 2026, the Year of the Horse.

The lesson focuses on China, and the product author (Mrs. ReaderPants) lived in Shanghai and Suzhou from 2014-2020. The author took several of the photos in this lesson herself when she lived in China.

This lesson has 78 total pages and slides, and it includes:

• 55-slide Lesson Presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint + Google Slides
  • All body text is editable; you choose which slides you want to use.
  • 21 slides are for the read-aloud and guided lesson that walks you through the lesson.
  • 34 slides are “scrolling presentation” slides that are great for extending the lesson or scrolling in the library during checkout and downtimes.
• Two (2) editable, differentiated scavenger hunts (3 pages, PowerPoint and PDF)
  • Students “hunt” for images and information in the Part 2 scrolling slides part of the presentation. This gives students something to focus on during library checkout and downtime.
  • “Easier” version – Students color the objects as they find them.
  • “Harder” version – Students answer questions about the information in the slides, plus find smaller images.
  • Answer key is included.
• List of 31 recommended books to accompany this lesson (1 page, PDF)
  • The list is editable and great to hand out to parents, teachers, and students looking for related books.
• Take-Home Extension Activities (2 pages, PowerPoint, Google Slides, and PDF)
  • Text is editable, and includes several ways for students to share what they learned during the lesson.
• Detailed, pre-filled Library Lesson Plan in editable PDF and PowerPoint formats (9 pages), aligned to:
  • AASL National School Library Standards for Learners,
  • National Common Core ELA Standards, and
  • Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
• Google Classroom Basics (4 pages, PDF)
• Instructions on how to set up PowerPoint slide timings for scrolling slides (2 pages, PDF)

21 Lesson Slides:

Part 1 is a guided whole-class discussion. The slides walk you through the entire class discussion, from start to finish.

• Introduction to China, and Lunar New Year celebrations in China
• ASL sign language for “China” — includes video links and step-by-step directions for making the signs
• China is on the continent of Asia.
• Lunar New Year dates change every year.
• Food, hóng bāo (red envelopes or packets given as gifts), and decorations
• Slide for your read-aloud (paste the book cover on the slide).
• Checkout reminders slide — Add your own reminders!

34 Scrolling Slides:

Part 2 is the scrolling slides. Set them on a timer to scroll on a screen during library checkout. Students can use the scrolling slides to complete one of the two Scavenger Hunts.

• Vocabulary Words of the Week: “dumpling” and “prosperity”
• Guided lesson on how to count to and write 1-5 in Chinese.
• Fun facts about the Great Wall of China, giant pandas, and high-speed trains.
• Library review question about the Dewey 900’s section
• Did You Know question slides
• Would You Rather and This or That question slides
• True or False question slides
• Trivia questions with answers
• This week’s birthdays and agenda

Take Home Extension Activities:

Students love sharing their knowledge! With the editable 2-page take-home activities, students can:

• quiz siblings, friends, and family members about some of the Lunar New Year facts they learned in the lesson,
• make a bowl of long noodles for Chinese New Year,
• read Chinese New Year picture books,
• review vocabulary words from the lesson,
• learn to draw a panda using simple, step-by-step directions,
• remember how to sign “China” in American Sign Language, and
• write Chinese numbers 1 through 10.

Standards Addressed:

AASL National School Library Standards – See the AASL Standards Framework for Learners to view full text.

• Inquire –  C.1. – D.3.
• Include – C.2. – D.2.
• Collaborate – A.2. – D.1.
• Explore – A.1. – A.2.

Common Core English Language Arts Standards –
© Copyright 2010 National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.10. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.2.1.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.3.10
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.4.10
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL5.10

Terms of Use
© Mrs. ReaderPants – By purchasing this product, you receive a one-user license. Copying or distributing to others is prohibited. See our Site Terms of Use for more information. For teacher-librarians: You may use this product with all of your classes and students.

Questions before buying? ​If the free preview file does not answer your question, you can contact us through ​​this link with questions.