Lunar New Year STEM Activities for Elementary
Are you looking for fun and educational ways to celebrate the Lunar New Year with your kids? These Lunar New Year STEM Activities for Elementary are perfect for combining the holiday with learning. These activities will keep your kids engaged while learning valuable skills in STEM.
Your kids will surely love these Chinese New Year activities, too.
By adding the traditions and symbols of the Lunar New Year, these STEM projects offer an exciting way to explore different cultures while teaching kids about important concepts. These activities bring together fun and learning, making them a great addition to your lessons.
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Fun Lunar New Year Facts for Kids
Lunar New Year is a time full of exciting traditions and celebrations. Here are some fun facts about this memorable holiday that kids will love, from zodiac animals to lucky red envelopes and more.
- Red is Lucky – Red decorations and clothing are typical during the Lunar New Year. It’s believed that red brings good luck and drives away evil spirits, so you’ll see a lot of red during the celebrations.
- Cleaning Before the New Year – Before the New Year begins, many families clean their homes to sweep away bad luck and make space for good fortune to enter in the coming year.
- Fireworks and Firecrackers – To celebrate the new year’s arrival and scare away evil spirits, fireworks and firecrackers are set off.
Recommended Lunar New Year Books
Books are a great way to teach kids about this special celebration’s traditions and excitement. These books offer insights into cultural practices, family gatherings, and foods of the culture. Sharing these stories with your kids can teach them about other cultures while celebrating the Lunar New Year.
Holidays Around the World: Celebrate Chinese New Year: With Fireworks, Dragons, and LanternsHome for Chinese New Year: A Story Told in English and ChineseChinese New Year Lunar Snake Day: A Magical Storybook Adventure about Tale of Kindness , Spirit of the chinese spring festival (Chinese Lunar New Year Stories books for kids)Our Lunar New YearLunar New Year (Celebrations & Festivals)The Snake and the Lunar Treasure: A Chinese New Year Book: A Fun Children’s Story About the Year of the Snake for Lunar New Year Celebrations
Why should kids learn about the Lunar New Year?
Learning about the Lunar New Year is such an excellent way for kids to connect with different cultures and traditions. It’s a fun time of year full of rich customs, from the colorful parades to the delicious foods, and it’s a perfect opportunity to teach kids about respect for diversity.
My kids always love hearing the stories behind the traditions, like the legend of the zodiac animals, and they enjoy trying new foods and crafts that come with the celebrations. It helps them appreciate that the world is full of unique celebrations, and they can share that excitement with their friends.
I also love learning about the Lunar New Year because it’s a chance to discuss the importance of family and traditions. It’s a time when families come together, much like how we celebrate other special occasions in our culture. My kids understand that while the traditions may differ, celebrating with loved ones is the same, and everyone can relate to that.
Recommended Lunar New Year Toys
Toys can add a fun and interactive element to your celebration. They offer a way to learn about the customs, colors, and animals representing the Lunar New Year while making the experience even more memorable for the kids.
DAVAXI 20 CM Chinese New Year Plush Snake Animals 2025 Year of The Snake Stuffed Mascot Doll Snake Plush Toys Chinese Zodiac Snake Decor for Spring Festival Lunar New Year Gifts Blessing SouvenirBleacher Creatures Lunar New Year Dragon Kuricha 8XIZHI Rabbit Stuffed Animal Plush Pillow Toy Chinese New Year Plushes Year Zodiac Rabbit Mascot Decoration Gift for Adult Kids Spring Festival,11.8” RedLunar New Year Spin Drum Craft Kit, Makes 12Barbie Signature Lunar New Year Doll (12-inch Brunette) Wearing Red Satin Cheongsam Dress with Accessories, Collectible Gift for Kids & CollectorsBao Bao Learns Chinese Vol. 1, Chinese Books for Kids, Chinese New Year Gifts, Chinese Baby Book, Mandarin Chinese Board Books for Children, Chinese Learning Book, Bilingual Book & Musical Toys
Benefits of STEM Activities for Kids
STEM activities are a great way to get kids thinking and exploring. They help kids think critically and creatively.
It’s impressive to see how they approach problems and find new solutions, and I’ve noticed my kids becoming more confident when they realize they can figure things out themselves. These activities show them that it’s okay to make mistakes, as that’s part of the learning process.
What I love about STEM activities is how they help kids develop teamwork and communication skills. Many projects involve working together, and I’ve seen how my kids enjoy sharing ideas and listening to others. It’s wonderful to watch them collaborate, build on each other’s strengths, and celebrate their accomplishments.
These activities aren’t just about science or math. They’re teaching kids how to work with others and gain the confidence they need for whatever comes next.
More Lunar New Year Activities
There are so many fun ways to celebrate Lunar New Year with activities that teach kids about the holiday’s traditions. These activities keep kids entertained and help them learn about the cultural significance of the holiday.
- Lunar New Year Handwriting Worksheets
- Lunar New Year Coloring Pages
- Lunar New Year STEM Activities
- Lunar New Year Books for Kindergarten
- Lunar New Year Lacing Cards
- Year of the Snake Activities for Kids by 3 Boys and a Dog
- Easy Firework Painting for Kids by Darcy and Brian
Lunar New Year STEM Activities for Elementary
These Lunar New Year STEM activities are a fun and engaging way for kids to learn about science, math, and engineering while exploring the rich traditions of the holiday. These activities make learning feel like a celebration!
Create a chain reaction using popsicle sticks. The activity involves building a structure where each stick triggers the next in line to fall, teaching cause and effect.
These worksheets combine the Chinese Zodiac with math activities, allowing kids to practice their numbers while learning about the animals and their meanings. The worksheets are designed to engage children in math through a cultural lens, making the learning process both fun and informative.
In this challenge, kids are tasked with using different materials to build a structure inspired by the Year of the Pig. The activity encourages creative thinking, design skills, and exploration while tying into the cultural celebration.
Kids can design and launch their own paper rockets, experimenting with different shapes and materials to see which flies the best.
Create moving objects with cardboard! Kids can design and build their own simple automaton, exploring the mechanics behind moving parts while developing fine motor skills.
Using building materials, kids can construct a model of a traditional pagoda. The challenge is to create a stable, balanced structure, making this a fantastic activity for exploring engineering and culture.
This science experiment shows kids how oil and water don’t mix and how colors spread when dropped into the jar. It’s a fun way to explore density and the science behind fireworks, all while celebrating the spirit of Lunar New Year.
Kids can create their own vortex cannon and watch as rings of air shoot out. This activity demonstrates air pressure and the movement of air currents in a fun and interactive way.
This sensory activity allows kids to make slime with a twist! They can add colors inspired by Lunar New Year celebrations, exploring textures, materials, and the science behind slime while having fun with the squishy, stretchy creation.
Kids can craft their own paper lanterns, learning about their cultural significance while developing fine motor skills. This creative activity is a great way to explore paper crafts.
Lunar New Year STEM activities offer a fantastic way for kids to explore the holiday’s traditions while learning about science, technology, engineering, and math. These hands-on projects bring cultural lessons to life in an educational way.
Start exploring these exciting STEM activities today and bring the celebration into your home.