Chinese New Year Classroom Activities: Celebrate The Year Of The Wood Snake 2025
Why not take this opportunity to share and educate your students about Chinese New Year, also known as the Lunar New Year? It's a vibrant, meaningful celebration filled with traditions, symbolism, and opportunities to learn about another culture in fun and engaging ways.
Chinese New Year is celebrated on a different date each year, based on the lunar calendar. In 2025, it begins on Saturday, January 29th, and lasts for sixteen days, ending with the Lantern Festival. During the first seven days, much of China comes to a pause as families gather and celebrate.
Red is the dominant colour during Chinese New Year, symbolising happiness, prosperity, and good fortune. One well-known tradition is the giving of red envelopes filled with money, which are gifted to children as a symbol of luck for the coming year.
2025: The Year of the Wood Snake
Each Lunar New Year is tied to a zodiac animal, and in 2025 we celebrate the Year of the Snake, specifically the Wood Snake.
In Chinese culture, the Snake is associated with wisdom, transformation, and elegance. Those born in this year are believed to be perceptive, graceful, and strategic thinkers. The Wood element adds traits like creativity, adaptability, and a growth mindset, making 2025 a year of renewal and fresh ideas.
Why Teach Chinese New Year in the Classroom?
Exploring Chinese New Year is a great way to:
✔️ Build cultural awareness
✔️ Promote diversity and inclusion
✔️ Engage students with hands-on learning
✔️ Spark meaningful discussions around tradition, identity, and celebration
Classroom Activities for Chinese New Year
Here are some fun, thoughtful, and age-appropriate activities to bring the Lunar New Year into your classroom:
1. Watch an Introductory Video
Show a short, engaging video that introduces the traditions, foods, and meanings behind Chinese New Year. This is a great entry point for all year levels.
2. Read Aloud Picture Books
Books are a wonderful way to connect students to different cultures through story. Try:
Chinese New Year Colors by Rich Lo
Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin (also a great visual introduction)
3. ADVENTUROUS Writing Prompt
Have students complete the following writing task; "The Wood Snake is known for being wise, clever, and creative. Imagine you are a Wood Snake starting a brand-new adventure in the New Year. Where would you go? What would you discover? How would you use your wisdom and creativity to help others or solve a problem?"
4. Make a SNAKE Puppet OR ARTWORK
Create a vibrant snake artwork using natural patterns and textures inspired by trees, leaves, and wood to reflect the Wood Snake’s connection to growth, wisdom, and renewal. Encourage students to use symbolic colours - red for luck and celebration, green or brown to represent wood and nature and gold or yellow for prosperity. Students can place their snake in a magical forest, a jungle, or a dreamscape, combining creativity with storytelling. Have students write a positive word or short wish (e.g., “wisdom,” “growth,” “bravery”) somewhere on the artwork to connect with the spirit of the new year.
5. Create Paper Lanterns
These classic decorations are a fun and simple craft that brightens up the classroom and ties in with the Lantern Festival, which marks the end of Chinese New Year celebrations.
6. Watch a Themed Episode
For younger classes, show a fun episode like Masha and the Bear's Chinese New Year special to entertain while still reinforcing cultural elements.
7. Learn About the Lantern Festival
For older students, dig deeper into the Lantern Festival with a video or article. Discuss its symbolism, origins, and modern-day celebrations.
A Note on Inclusion
Remember, not all students may celebrate Chinese New Year, but learning about different cultures fosters an inclusive and respectful classroom. Be sure to encourage curiosity and openness in your discussions.
Also, check out my Pinterest Chinese New Year board for many more activities, crafts and printables to use in your classroom.
Do you have favourite books, crafts, or videos you love using for Lunar New Year? We’d love to hear your ideas — leave a comment below and share how you celebrate with your students!
