There are so many wonderful songs and activities for Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year/Spring Festival! Beautiful pentatonic melodies, many percussion playing opportunities, and of course the favourite Dragon Dance and Lion Dance. Here's a sample:
Lesson 1
Introduction to Chinese New Year – Visuals with “Gung Hay Fat Choy”, Chinese characters, Lantern and Lights decorations in China, Chinese Zodiac, song- Gung Hay Fat Choy.
Sing song – Gung Hay Fat Choy (Children's Songs from Around the World)
Watch You tube video introduction to Chinese New Year. E.g. Cbeebies in Liverpool – Preparing for Chinese new Year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8ssHXZ9_qU&t=8s , Lunar New Year for Kids (K-2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm9LJC_5g2o
Watch You tube video – Lion Dance. E.g. Genting Championship 2017 (Discuss athletic skill and musicians) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Se2n0cmBefU&t=318s
Play Lion Dance game using scattered spots to represent rubber plates from Lion Dance video: Play Lion Dance music while students jump to empty spots without stepping in between (‘falling down’) or landing on one the same time as someone else. For older children, add elimination: remove spots gradually to eliminate players as the space between spots increases. Eliminated players choose a metal instrument/drum to accompany the remaining players.
Lesson 2:
Review song – Gung Hay Fat Choy. Add rhythic ostinato with metal NPP (finger cymbals, cymbals, triangles, bells): rest-ta-taa. Teacher plays BX (G-D) in same rhythm.
You tube video – Cbeebies in Liverpool – Celebrating Chinese New Year (Use guiding questions) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDD6Zv4q5sA
You tube video – Dragon Dance. (Point out and discuss the importance of following the leader).
Gr. K-2: Practice following the Leader: Use small cut-out of dragon on a popsicle stick, one for each child. Follow the actions and sing along with a dragon song-movement video E.g. Chinese New Year Song (I copied the dragon from this video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=by5sTzh67fU Add scarves for dragon tails (hold a corner of the scarf with the popsicle stick) and follow the actions with scarf movement video . E.g. Lunar New Year Scarf Movement Play Along https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2WAoH5Jbpw.
Perform the Dragon Dance in the next lesson after reviewing Dragon Dance video. I used two plastic dragons with long tails from Dollarama etc. Fits 5-8 small children under each. Encourage leaders to reach high, bend low, sway, etc. to make the dragon interesting and challenge the other players to follow the leader.
Gr. 3-6: Dragon Dance: I made two large placards with a lion mask and dragon mask and streamers, one for each dragon team leader to hold. I cut a long strip of tissue paper roll streamers to create a tail for each team member to hold on to in a line behind the leader. The challenge is to create interesting movement and follow the leader without breaking the paper. Use Dragon or Lion Dance music to accompany the Dragons.
Gr.3/4: As a class, create a 16-beat rhythm using word patterns to review Chinese New Year. Use ony ta and titi, two beat patterns.. E.g. lantern, lion dance, paper cutting etc. Students then create there own 16-beat rhythm selected from the same patterns and practice them. Each student claps their own pattern, then transfers to their choice of metal or drum non-pitched percussion instrument. Use the created rhythms a B section to the song Gung Hay Fat Choy (or any other you choose). Perform ABA, singing the song and playing the ostinato for the A section. Add verses as needed.
Gr. 5/6: Sing Chinese New Year Song, transfer G pentatonic melody to barred instruments (‘Gung Hay Fat Choy’ - John Jacobson, transposed). Add bass line, finger cymbals, triangles. Perform.
Lion Dance - Kindergarten
Dragon Dance with Percussion - Kindergarten
Gung Hay Fat Choy with Created Rhythms ABA - Grade 3/4
Gung Hay Fat Choy (Jacobson) - Orff Arrangement Gr. 5/6
Glow in the Dark Dragon Dance!
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