Chinese New Year Mini Research Project

This three day Chinese New Year Research Activity has students working in groups to research nine questions in four categories. Students share their findings and teach each other on the third day.

Updated in 2026 for the Year of the Horse.

Important Note: This lesson focuses specifically on Chinese New Year as celebrated in China. The author lived in Shanghai for six years and learned a lot about this celebration in that time. This lesson mentions Lunar New Year (celebrated outside China), but this research activity focuses on how China celebrates.

This product has 22 total pages and it includes:

• 4 Research Guides, each with 9 student questions (8 pages, PowerPoint, PDF and Google Slides)
  • Symbols and Luck
  • Food and Drink
  • Chinese New Year
  • Chinese Mythology
  • Answer keys are included.
• Two versions of a crossword puzzle, including 1 in large print (6 pages, PowerPoint and PDF)
  • Great for early finishers!
  • Answer key is included.
• Detailed, step-by-step directions for teachers, divided into 3 days (4 pages, PowerPoint, Google Slides, and PDF)
• Google Classroom Basics (4 pages, PDF)

Day One

• Students watch a 3-minute video introducing Chinese New Year
• Students select from the four research topics (listed above)
• Students start research. Several links are included that will answer all of the questions in the Research Guides.

Day Two

• Students continue research in groups.
• Early-finishers can work on the crossword puzzle.

Day Three

• Students share what they learned in an Inside-Outside circle.
• Directions for Inside-Outside circles are included with the lesson plan.

Standards Addressed:

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

• Inquire – B.2. – B.3. – C.1. –  C.4.
• Collaborate – D.1. – D.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.RI.4.9. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.4.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.5.9. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.1. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.5.4.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.1. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.6.4.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.1. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.7.4.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.1. – CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.8.4.

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