CHINESE NEW YEAR

[elaineg]

Does anybody have any ideas for activities to celebrate chinese new year, I have a little chinese boy and would like to do something for him.

love Elaine XXX

[sarah707]

You could visit Chinatown, make a paper lantern or dragon with instructions from here - http://www.show.me.uk/site/make/Art-and-Design/STO970.html
and let him help you prepare his fave noodles...

I'd involve his family and ask them how they celebrate - then come back and give us all some ideas :laughing:

[charleyfarley]

Great idea there , to ask parents and then pass it on to us

I've only done lanterns so not much help sorry

Carol xx

[manjay]

Lots of stuff to do on here!

http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/chinese_new_year.htm

Recipes, colouring, puzzles. posters, games!

Amanda xx

[charleyfarley]

I'll take a look at that

Thanks

Carol xx

[manjay]

There is some really good stuff Carol. Will be printing some of that myself

Amanda xx

[Spangles]

I've got a chinese boy starting soon so I've been looking as well and come up with these:

http://www.kckpl.lib.ks.us/ys/CRAFTS/Dragon.htm

http://www.dltk-holidays.com/china/mcalendarwreath.html

http://www.first-school.ws/theme/crafts/chinese-paper-lantern.htm

http://www.first-school.ws/activities/shapes/animals/panda-hearts.htm

http://www.first-school.ws/activities/shapes/animals/panda-hearts.htm

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/lion/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/chinesenewyear/

and this which was on the old Forum where you can translate english names into chinese - this is fab

http://chineseculture.about.com/library/name/blna_m_b.htm

[LittleMissSparkles]

some great sites there Lorri thank you xxx

[Cammie Doodle]

Caroline and I let the children try chopsticks to eat noodles, we have fortune cookies, make laterns etc. We attended a chinese evening a few years ago and the chinese man explained about customs , how red is lucky and how people give gifts in red envelopes, we have made these with the children in the past (age appropriate ) :D

[Monkey1]

Thanks Lorri, Just printed off all the kids names

[Spangles]

No problem! I can't take the credit for it though unfortunately!

[Rubybubbles]

good web site ideas there.

We always make dragons and put on a puppet show! It's really nice to look back on how the childrens creativety changes as they grow

[emler]

Me too - thanks Lorri

Emler x

[fionamal]

Make a paper mache dragons head and attach a sheet to it and let the kids be a dragon.

Make lanterns

Eat with chopsticks, rice and noodles etc.

Thats some of what we do

[miffy]

Thanks for all those links Lorri

Miffy xx

[elaineg]

Spoke to my chinese boys parents, they say they dont do very much as they just go into china town near us for a meal with a load of friends, and then fireworks are let off late at night with a dancing dragon, they take lanterns with them and its just a big party. She did give me a couple recepies though if anyone needs them

GOOD LUCK DUMPLINGS

1lb minced pork or beef or tofu drained of excess liquid
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 clove minced garlic
1 teaspoon ginger powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 cup chopped spring onions
1-2 packages of wonton wrappers
2 carrots grated (optional)

1. Combine all the ingredients, except the wonton wrappers and the grated carrot in a large mixing bowl and mix.
2. Put 1 1/2 tablespoons of the mixture in the centre of each wanton wrapper.
3. Lightly wet the edges of the wrapper with water and firmly pinch the edges together to make a parcel.
4. Place the dumplings into slightly salted boiling water and cook gently for about 10 minutes.
5. Drain the dumplings and run cold water over them so they do not stick.
6. Put spring onions and carrots over the top.


Chinese Mooncakes

1/2 cup salted butter
1/4 cup sugar
2 egg yolks
1 cup of flour
red jam of your choice

1. Cream together butter and sugar
2. Beat in 1 egg yolk
3. Add the flour and mix
4. Form the dough into one large ball and wrap it in foil, put in the fridge for 30 minutes.
5. Unwrap the chilled dough and form small balls in the palms of your hand.
6. Make a hole with your thumb gently in the centre of each moon cake and full with half a teaspoon of jam.
7. Brush each cake with beaton egg yolk.
8. Bake the mooncakes for about 20 minutes until the outside edges are slightly brown, oven 375 degrees,

Sorry dont know what gas mark that will be if you have a gas oven.

These sound quite nice and easy to make.

love Elaine XXXX

[elaineg]

Sorry I dont know if this should have been put in cooking activities.

love Elaine XXX

[Spangles]

They're brilliant and look very easy to do - not that I know what wonton wrappers are! Don't know of any chinese shops around here so hopefully they will be in Tesco somewhere?


Nearly forgot to say thank you - thank you!

[elaineg]

Oh sorry forgot to mention, she did say that her last childminder painted and decorated a blossom branch with tissue paper.

love Elaine XXXX

[Monkey1]

Thanks Elaine, we will have a bash at these

[emler]

Thanks Elaine

Emler x

[Angela234]

Heres a link i have put on before for anyone who hasn't seen it a site where you can find any name in chinesse
http://chineseculture.about.com/library/name/blna_m_c.htm
Ofsted was very inpressed we found all our names printed them off then glued to card put up on wall take photos then you can show ofsted

Angela

[emler]

Thanks Angela - I did these for the kiddies too

Emler x

[Monkey1]

Chinese New year poems:-

Dirt and dust is swept and gone,
Only Good Luck from now on.
Mother lays out fruits and sweets,
Entertainment in the streets.
Clash of symbals,
Bang of drums,
'Make way!
Make way!
The lion comes'
Brave and fearless, Red and gold.
Welcome New Year,
Goodbye old.

Ian Larmont.


Chinese New Year Dragon.

There's a brightly coloured dragon swaying down the street,
Stomping and stamping and kicking up its feet.

There's a multi-coloured dragon -green and gold and red-
Twisting and twirling and shaking his head.

There's a silky-scaled dragon parading through the town,
Swishing and swooshing and rippling up and down.

There's a swirling, whirling dragon, weaving to and fro,
Prancing and dancing and putting on a show.

There's cheering and clapping as the dragon draws near-
A sign of good luck and a Happy New Year!

John Foster.

[Spangles]

Thanks Monkey those poems are really good, totally in the spirit of Chinese New Year!

[emler]

Brill - thanks Monkey

Emler x

[angeldelight]

Thanks everyone for these ideas they are great

Angel xx

[deeb66]

Loads of great ideas

thank you ladies