Asian History: Celebrate the Chinese New Year From Ancient Times to Now!
Are you learning world history/social studies? Write short stories (historical fiction) and develop a skit to be performed as you learn how the Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) was celebrated throughout Chinese history. ESL friendly!
Alaina Bell Gao
Average rating:
4.9
Number of reviews:(431)
Star Educator
What's included
4 live meetings
3 hrs 20 mins in-class hoursHomework
1-2 hours per week. Each week, there will be a composition to complete, whether it is a short story, a poem, or a script.Assessment
I will give personal feedback on each composition, but compositions will also be shared with classmates. These compositions will reflect each learner's understanding.Class Experience
US Grade 3 - 6
⭐This is a special class that is only taught once a year as I celebrate the Chinese New Year with my family! ⭐Lunar New Year's Eve - Tuesday, January 28, 2025 (which is the most exciting celebration) ⭐Spring Festival period - Wednesday, January 29th through Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 (15 days) ⭐Lantern Festival - Wednesday, February 12th, 2025 ⭐Unique interactive content developed after extensive research ⭐Taught by a Sinophile with ten years of experience in China, plus a Chinese home culture (Chinese spouse) ⭐Small class size! Come and celebrate the Chinese New Year with me! This class is a portal to ancient and modern China! You will travel back 3500 years and learn how the Chinese celebrated the Lunar New Year throughout the dynasties. We will make stops along the way, right up to the present! You will be able to imagine the scenes with short readings, discussions, and fun pictures of a soapy, sudsy emperor, future spirit warriors, popping firecrackers, sword swallowers, oxen in disguise, acrobats, and even Syrian and Roman visitors! Write short stories, a poem, and even develop and perform a skit. This is an informative, interactive, culturally-respectful class to introduce some key points about some of the most fascinating Chinese dynasties. TRAVEL ITINERARY: Day 1: The Shang, Zhou & Qin Dynasties (What is a dynasty; various cultures in early China; the king and the queen; priests, oracle bones, sacrifices & ancestors; New Year's wishes; good luck charms; the first emperor; unification & standardization, banquets, the Terracotta Warriors) Day 2: The Han Dynasty (The peaceful Han Dynasty; trade; foreign ambassadors; foreign entertainers; monks & Buddhist scriptures; inventions & development; fear & good luck charms; bamboo firecrackers; lanterns; seeing in the New Year; variety shows; dragon dances) Day 3: The Tang Dynasty (Multiculturalism; leisure time; hobbies; parades & entertainment; public celebrations; rhinos, tigers & lions; lion statues and lion dances; foreign dances; imported fashion; the Lantern Festival) Day 4: The Song, Qing, Ming & Now (Similarity to modern celebrations; fireworks; temple fairs & performances; lanterns; literature; Confucian scholars; riddles, word plays & puns; strategy games; celebrating in the streets; candy; food; family; red envelopes; mingling singles; the Spring Gala show) Along the way: -Imagine (and experience) the sights, sounds, and smells -Be curious, and ask powerful and complex questions -Consider how different types of people experienced the holiday and the dynasties -Talk about the art, architecture, and artifacts (pictures and replicas) -Brainstorm descriptive words -Discuss discussion questions together -Add captions to illustrations and roleplay the celebrations -Connect the celebrations and choices with your life -Compare the trends and changes from dynasty to dynasty -Understand why the Chinese celebrate the New Year at another time of the year -Appreciate Chinese traditions and history -Consider how historians learned about people and cultures from so long ago NOTE: Although I am Canadian, I am qualified to teach this class because I lived in China for ten years, integrated into the culture, studied the history extensively, learned Mandarin, and started an educational not-for-profit organization with my Chinese husband. I am an experienced educator and am trusted by Chinese parents, the Chinese Association of Mississauga, and school boards to teach about Chinese history and culture. I hope that I will have the opportunity to teach your child, too! ▶️I am dedicated to finding a solution for all families! Do reach out to me if your learner would like to take my class and you need a discount. I can set up pay-what-you-can plans. ▶️If you are able to pay the current fee, I thank you for your support since I work hard to provide creative, inspiring content while balancing the challenges of living with disability and chronic illness. Thank you!
Learning Goals
This class emphasizes communication, interpersonal, and critical thinking skills. Students will interpret information by stating the relationship between categories of information, draw inferences, and recognize and interpret different points of view. They will move past outdated and incomplete descriptions of the Chinese New Year to develop a full picture of this holiday's significance and to gain an overview of China's history. This will allow them to communicate with Chinese (about 20% of the world's population) in a deep and meaningful way, and to celebrate in a genuine and respectful fashion. Along the way, they will also compose multiple types of literature, including short stories, poems, and a skit.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
During the first class, we will reference the sacrifices that early Chinese kings and queens made during the New Year's ceremonies. While there will not be any gory illustrations or descriptions, it will be noted that animals like lambs and some people were sacrificed. There will also be some class discussion as to why this happened and whether we agree with these actions. This may be a trigger for highly sensitive children. Please contact me to discuss your choices if you feel that this may be uncomfortable for your child.
Aside from this, there will be brief references to historical religious beliefs, like Buddhism and Confucianism, but this is purely from an academic, historical point-of-view.
Supply List
Activity Book included at no additional cost (Value of $20): Colouring Ancient China: Chinese New Year & Lantern Festival Published by Cultural Explorers Digging to China Inc. (Canadian Educational Nonprofit Organization) I am the author.
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Joined January, 2020
4.9
431reviews
Star Educator
Teacher expertise and credentials
2 Degrees
Bachelor's Degree in English from University of Windsor
Associate's Degree in English from Canadian College of Educators
Although I am Canadian, I am qualified to teach this class because I lived in China for ten years, integrated into the culture, studied the history extensively, learned Mandarin, and started an educational not-for-profit organization with my Chinese husband. I am an experienced educator and am trusted by Chinese parents, the Chinese Association of Mississauga, and school boards to teach about Chinese history and culture. I hope that I will have the opportunity to teach your child, too!Reviews
Live Group Class
$20
weekly1x per week, 4 weeks
50 min
Completed by 20 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 8-12
2-6 learners per class
