Lunar New Year I Spy Printables
Lunar New Year is one of my favorite times to add something fresh to our lessons, especially when I need an activity that feels fun but still counts as learning. That’s why I made these Lunar New Year I Spy Printables.
If you’re building a themed unit right now, you’ll also want to check out my list of Chinese New Year activities for kids.
In this post, I’m sharing exactly what’s inside the printable pack, what skills your kids will practice, and a few easy ideas to stretch the activity even further. If you’re looking for a quick win for your lesson plan (with minimal prep), keep reading.
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Why do kids need to learn about the Lunar New Year?
Lunar New Year is a great way to introduce kids to world cultures while keeping learning hands-on and meaningful. It also opens up natural conversations about traditions, family celebrations, and how different communities welcome a new year.
- Builds cultural awareness: Kids get to see that celebrations can look different around the world, and that’s a good thing.
- Encourages curiosity: When my kids were younger, themed lessons always led to more questions, and I loved watching them get interested in new topics.
- Supports social studies naturally: You can connect Lunar New Year to maps, countries, and even family traditions.
- Creates a fun seasonal theme: I like using seasonal printables to break up the usual workbook pages.
- Invites family conversation: We’ve had some really sweet talks during themed activities, even with my older kids joining in for a minute.
My recommended Lunar New Year books
When I’m planning a Lunar New Year theme, I always add a few picture books and easy readers to our stack so my kids can learn the meanings behind the symbols in the printables. Check out my favorite books about this special holiday that I’m sure you will love, too.
Carter and the New Year’s ResolutionHolidays Around the World: Celebrate Chinese New Year: With Fireworks, Dragons, and LanternsOur Lunar New Year (Asian Holiday)Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan’s Chinese New Year (Rise and Shine)Press Out and Decorate: Chinese ZodiacA New Year’s Reunion
Skills kids will learn with this Chinese New Year printable
I love I Spy pages because they look like a game, but they actually work on so many important early elementary skills. These Lunar New Year-themed pages are a perfect mix of visual scanning, counting practice, and fine motor work.
Here are a few simple tips to get the most out of the pack:
- Start with one page at a time: My daughter did better when I didn’t hand her the entire set all at once.
- Let your child choose their tools: Crayons, markers, colored pencils, or even dot markers all work.
- Turn it into a counting and writing challenge: Have your child count each item, then write the number in the provided space.
Winter Printable Packs To Grab
If you want to turn Lunar New Year into a full week of learning, printable packs make it simple to cover multiple subjects without hunting around for extra worksheets.
Supplies needed for the Lunar New Year Counting Pages
This printable is easy to prep, and you probably already have everything you need.
- Printer (I have this one)
- Pencil
- Crayons or colored pencils
- Markers or dot markers (optional)
- Laminator and dry-erase markers (optional for reuse)
- Clipboards (optional for on-the-go homeschool)
I have the HP printer 8710, but it’s no longer available. It’s been running well for years now. Consider another HP Instant Ink-ready printer so that you can use their program to send you ink cartridges whenever your printer gets low on ink.
What’s included in the Lunar New Year I Spy printable pages?
I Spy Lunar New Year (Count and Write)
This first page is a classic I Spy activity with Lunar New Year-themed pictures to find and count. Kids will write the total number of each item in the blanks at the bottom of the page.
I Spy Lunar New Year (Count and Color)
This page includes a mix of Lunar New Year icons with circles at the bottom for children to write how many they found. It’s perfect for students who like a bit more structure when counting and tracking items.
I Spy Lunar New Year (More Pictures to Find)
This version adds even more themed images, such as lanterns, fish, flowers, and other celebration symbols, giving kids a slightly bigger challenge. I like using this one when my kids need a longer activity with more to search for.
I Spy Lanterns (Coloring Activity)
This page tells kids to carefully look at the picture, find all the lanterns, and color each lantern red. It’s such a fun way to work on attention to detail while also adding a creative twist.
Lunar New Year Icons (Count, Color, and Record)
This page asks kids to find ten Lunar New Year icons, count each set, and color as they go. Then they’ll write the number in the boxes on the side, which adds a little extra writing practice too.
Ways to extend the activity
Once we finished the I Spy pages, I always liked keeping the theme going for a bit longer, especially when my kids were in early elementary. These are easy add-ons that don’t require a big prep day.
- Pair it with more Lunar New Year worksheets: Add this set to your themed lesson plan.
- Try a hands-on science activity: If your child loves building and experimenting, these ideas are a great fit.
- Add a writing prompt: Have your child write a few sentences about what they noticed in the pictures.
- Create a mini word wall: Write words like lantern, dragon, coins, and fireworks on index cards and display them for spelling help.
- Use a timer for a challenge round: Set a timer and see how many objects your child can find in two minutes.
If you want a no-prep way to practice counting, visual discrimination, and fine motor skills, these Lunar New Year I Spy printables are a great choice for grades 1–3. They’re easy to use during morning work, quiet time, or as a quick themed break when you want something fun that still supports learning.
Download the Lunar New Year I Spy pages below
Other Fun Lunar New Year Activities for Kids
If you’re planning a full Lunar New Year unit study, there are so many ways to keep it interesting without making it complicated.