Baldwin Schools Celebrate Lunar New Year in Various Engaging and Meaningful Ways
For Lunar New Year, students across Baldwin Union Free School District decorated classrooms with lanterns, drawings of dragons, engaged in assemblies, and more! The following serve as example activities that occurred to educate students on the annual holiday and related customs:
At Meadow Elementary School, students participated in an elaborate and authentic school-wide celebration of Lunar New Year with the help of the PTA. The children learned about various Lunar New Year celebrations, including the Korean Lunar New Year (Seollal) and the Chinese New Year as well as the Cambodian New Year, the latter which is celebrated in April.
The assembly showcased cultural performances, featuring a Chinese lion dance and a Korean fan dance, allowing students to delve into the significance of these traditions. The lively event featured an genuine lion dance as well as a fan dance. They had the opportunity to learn how to say "Happy New Year" in Korean, Mandarin, and Cambodian, as well as customary practices associated with the Lunar New Year across various cultures. Additionally, students were able to view traditional Korean and Cambodian attire.
In preparation for the assembly, students engaged with books about Lunar New Year and how different cultures and communities celebrate in the U.S. and around the globe (including China, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia), and some classes created crafts to welcome the “Year of the Wood Snake.”
The assembly was made possible by Meadow’s PTA, PTA parents Helen Singson and Sophea Sainsurin, Sandy Singh, administration, teachers, and the performers.
Meanwhile, Brookside Elementary School students donned red attire, a color symbolizing good fortune and prosperity, believed to ward off evil spirits. The apparel served as an auspicious way to usher in the new year with positive energy.
At Steele Elementary School, the 3L class participated in a math activity to commemorate the holiday. They explored the special occasion through videos, songs, and discussions. Mrs. Lanci read "The Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year" by Kate Waters and Madeline Slovenz-Low. Students utilized pattern blocks to create representations of a lion dancer, assigning a unit value to each block. They applied their knowledge of multiplication and addition with regrouping to calculate the total value of their creations. The students enjoyed learning about the Lunar New Year while simultaneously refining their math skills. In addition, the second graders in Ms. Nancy Aquino’s class celebrated the holiday by making lanterns, exploring traditions, and receiving red envelopes, learning about how it's a time of reflection, renewal, and celebration.
Lenox Elementary School welcomed a virtual visit by author Mei Li, who celebrated the Lunar New Year through her books that highlight her rich Chinese cultural heritage. Her work encourages collaborative artwork and fosters thoughtful discussions, promoting social-emotional learning.