Chinese New Year – Lion Dance

Salpy Baharian, M.Ed
Teacher.org Co-Founder

This lesson is great for grades K-2.  It integrates Social Studies with elements of visual and performing arts as the children create a Chinese lion and a dance.

Grade Level: K - 2nd

Subject:

Length of Time: About 45 Minutes

Featured Programs:
Sponsored School(s)

Objectives & Outcomes

After a lesson on Chinese New Year, the learner will learn/create a dance and create a Chinese dragon using construction paper, crepe paper, markers, and a large brown paper bag.

Materials Needed

  • Internet access
  • projector
  • large brown paper bag (typically found in grocery stores)
  • scissors
  • markers
  • construction paper
  • glue
  • crepe paper

Procedure

Opening to Lesson

  • Teacher  will read "Chinese New Year" by Lola M. Schaefer.
  • Students and teacher can have a discussion about what they already know about Chinese New Year and what they have learned.

Body of Lesson

Instructional activity/Development

  • Teacher will show a YouTube clip of a traditional Chinese Lion Dance  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWdnCSZSHtE).
  • Teacher will facilitate a discussion about what student believe the significance of the lion dance to be. What do students notice in the video? What is familiar? Why do you think certain things are there?
  • Teacher will elicit that the dance is done to bring blessings and good fortune in the new year and that lion dancers perform to the sounds of drums.

Guided Practice

  • Teacher will model the steps of creating the Chinese lion.
  • Open the large paper bag.  Cut two holes where the eyes will be.
  • Use markers, construction paper, glue, and crepe paper to decorate the Chinese Lion.
  • Give the lion a face, complete with teeth, a red tongue, and colored eyes.
  • As the lions dry, students will learn the steps to a simple lion dance.
  • Teacher will be guide students to bend up and down in synchronization.
  • Students will have five minutes to independently use the lions they created to practice or create their own lion dance  with partners.

Independent Practice

  • Using the lions they created, students will perform their lion dances.

Closing

At this time, teacher and students will gather back on the rug to discuss new concepts that were learned in the lesson.  Teacher will dictate student responses onto chart paper.

Read our guide on Teaching Holidays in the Classroom.

FIND SCHOOLS
Sponsored Content

Assessment & Evaluation

Lion

  • Teacher will assess students' ability to accurately follow the steps to creating the lion.

Performance Assessment

  • The dance will be used as a performance assessment.  Did students stay on task and attempt to learn the steps?   This provides students an opportunity to convey their understanding through gestures, sounds, and physical movement.  This provides students with a deeper connection to the material.
  • Teacher will assess students' ability to accurately follow the steps to creating the lion.

Performance Assessment

  • The dance will be used as a performance assessment.  Did students stay on task and attempt to learn the steps?   This provides students an opportunity to convey their understanding through gestures, sounds, and physical movement.  This provides students with a deeper connection to the material.

Modification & Differentiation

Learn how to teach students about holidays and history here.

Related Lesson Plans

Food Web Art Project

Students will discuss food webs and how animals interact together in an ocean biosphere and make a model of how animals get their energy from other animals and the sun.

Discovering Adjectives

Students will work in groups to describe various objects based on taste, smell, look, touch, and emotional feeling.

Coordination Course

This plan will allow students to practice coordination while staying physical.

And Freeze!

Students will practice listening skills and basic physical concepts as required in physical education class. Students will also work on balance and coordination.

Ready to Pursue a Master’s Degree in Education? Make it Your Time!

Teacher.org’s lesson plans encourage conceptual understanding and lifelong learning skills in students as well as empower and motivate teachers.

Are you currently teaching but have the desire to pursue a Master’s Degree in Education? Follow your passion for teaching but at the same time give yourself the tools to further your career and learning. Whether it’s higher salaries, advanced career opportunities, or leadership positions, earning your Master’s Degree in Education is one worth pursuing. Make it your time!