Starting the New Year on the Right Foot

New Year's Eve is fast approaching and holiday celebrations are coming to an end. For you and your class, the new year can mark a new beginning as well. The new year is celebrated in unique ways all around the world, and teaching your students about the traditions observed by different cultures can be a refreshing way to kick off the second-half of the school year. With the momentum high, and attention spans refreshed after the vacation, you can also introduce  goal-setting activities to get your students back into school mode.

Goals Instead of Resolutions

Instead of prompting your students to create a list of resolutions for the new year, have them write down three or more goals they want to set for themselves. While resolutions and goals are similar, goals are generally taken more seriously. You should encourage your students to really think about something they want to accomplish. These goals could be anything from eating healthier to perfecting a hobby or sport that interests them. Once they've created a list, have your students write a few sentences next to each one describing how they can work toward that specific goal.

A Letter to Yourself

Using the information gathered from the goal-writing activity, have your students write a letter to themselves explaining how they are going to reach their goals. Prompt them to answer the following questions in their letters:

• What do I need to do to reach my goal(s)?
• How will I do this?
• Who can help me reach my goal(s)? 
• Are there any time constraints?
• What obstacles might I face?

By writing letters to themselves, students articulate goals they are determined to reach in the new year. The letter is a useful reminder that they can re-read whenever they need encouragement. You can make copies of everyone's letter and put them into a "Goal Book." At the end of the school year, you can have your students re-read their letters and share their progress towards these goals with the class.

Different Cultures and the New Year

Your students may find it interesting to learn that not everyone follows the same calendar or celebrates specific holidays on the same day. Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays, and it is not celebrated on January 1st. While in some cultures the new year is marked with parties or watching a giant ball drop when the clock strikes twelve, the Chinese New Year is marked by more serious traditions. Click here for some crafts you can enjoy with your class to help students better understand the Chinese New Year. 

China is not the only country that rings in the new year in a special way. Countries aound the globe have traditions specific to their region. In the Philippines, it is common for people to celebrate by focusing on round objects. They might eat such things as grapes or wear clothing with circular patterns. This symbolizes the shape of coins (money) and the hope for prosperity during the new year. In Ecuador, people gather to burn pictures in order to rid their lives of things they do not want to carry with them into the next year.

For an interesting and informative assignment, have students research a country of their choice and find out how people there celebrate the new year. Have them write at least a page-long report of their findings, and then share with the class. Below, find more ways for your students to learn about New Year's traditions practiced in other cultures. 

New Year's Lessons:

Chinese New Year 

In this lesson, students learn about Chinese New Year customs. They also use higher order thinking skills to compare and contrast U.S. traditions with Chinese traditions. 

New Year Celebrations Around the World

Students learn about different ways the new year is celebrated throughout the world. Students are introduced to key vocabulary and read an informative news article. This leads to a discussion of how students can draft a piece of writing to share the information they learned about New Year's celebrations.

Chinese New Year Dragon Parade

Lead students in an exploration of the Chinese New Year by having them create arts and crafts that reflect Chinese traditions. Celebrate further by taking their creations on a parade around the school.